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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Aug 6, 2021 at 5:41 AM

Subject: 8-6-21 THOUGHTS

8-6-21 THOUGHTS

There are two case studies below.  Both show greedy selfish men who loved money.  Maybe the most telling characteristic is shown however, by the fact that they both were closely exposed to great men of God for lengthy periods of time, AND FAILED TO LEARN! Neither had a mind or heart like the one they served.  Judas lived with Jesus for about three years.  
 
2Kings 5:20-27    But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, "Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him." 21  So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is all well?" 22  He said, "All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.’" 23  Naaman said, "Be pleased to take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them before him. 24  When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25  But he went in and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went nowhere." 26  Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants? 27  "Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
John 12:1-6    Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  2  So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3  Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4  But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, 5  "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?" 6  Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.
Mark  8:36     "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
These are sad cases indeed.  SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR...      THINK!

My Prayer:
O God, we praise and love you, we lift up your name.  Father, keep us from the lust of the flesh, the lust of eyes, and the pride of life.  Help to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  May our hearts be pure and clean as we seek to influence the world around us.  Give us zeal to live for you and to tell the story of Jesus.  We want the promise of heaven dear God.  
In the precious name of our Lord            Amen