From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Aug 3, 2021 at 6:03 AM

Subject: 8-3-21 THOUGHTS

8-3-21 THOUGHTS

So many passages remind us of our reasons to be thankful.  That’s one of the reasons I spend a lot of time in the Psalms.  Our God is presented in glorious terms that I NEED!

Ps 118:1-24      Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.  2  Oh let Israel say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting."3  Oh let the house of Aaron say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting." 4  Oh let those who fear the LORD say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting." 5  From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place. 6  The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? 7  The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. 8  It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. 9  It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes. 10  All nations surrounded me; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. 11  They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. 12  They surrounded me like bees; They were extinguished as a fire of thorns; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. 13  You pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the LORD helped me. 14  The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 15  The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 16  The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 17  I will not die, but live, And tell of the works of the LORD. 18  The LORD has disciplined me severely, But He has not given me over to death. 19  Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD. 20  This is the gate of the LORD; The righteous will enter through it. 21  I shall give thanks to You,  for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation.  22  The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. 23  This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24  This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Prophecy is amazing to me. A major prophecy of Messiah is planted in the midst of this psalm.   Given years before, then brought into play by Jeus himself as his purpose unfolds.  It isn’t just a repeat of words, the events referred to have to make the words make sense!  Oh how they do it here!
Matt 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

My Prayer:
We give thanks to you O Lord, for your loving kindness is everlasting.  It is in Christ Jesus and through your love and grace and mercy that you have redeemed us.  We are saved because You, O God, are for us.  Help us to return our all by joyfully serving you in love.  May we see the cross and the resurrection so clearly and so continually that we overflow with righteous fruit.
In the name of Jesus       Amen