From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 6:15 AM
Subject: 9-1-22 THOUGHTS
9-1-22 THOUGHTS
How’s our striving against sin going? The powerful passage area below was the subject of our class last evening. The “striving” word implies the battle in humans between good and evil, between flesh and spirit. The picture is of a Father and his children. “Mind Me” is the issue. Have my mind in you, and it’s for the good of the child. So discipline-training is the process. The text says it isn’t fun. “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;”
Something I don’t like guides me to what I OUGHT TO LIKE! The result is, 1. that we may share His holiness 2. The peaceful fruit of righteousness in our lives and 3. the healing of our weaknesses. Verse 12 begins a church level discussion. As God has placed us together to encourage each other and bear fruit, the patterns of discipline to move us toward God are ever-present. If we read God’s Word, we find that this is LOVE AT WORK! “FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,”. Our walking in God’s WAY is the goal. We must joyfully embrace this discussion and let it have it’s power and way in our lives. 1Cor 6:19b-20 “and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”
Heb 12:4-15 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
Jer 10:23-24 I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. 24 Correct me, O LORD, but with justice; Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.
My Prayer:
Discipline us, O Lord, for our eternal good. Help us to accept all of your wisdom in our lives. May we desire your mind in us at all times. Help us to see the long-term, and shun short-term gratifications. May we treasure loving discipline among ourselves, that as a body we can grow favorably. Father, help us to work toward a greater quality fellowship, as we seek heaven. Let love abound in us. In the name of our Savior, Amen.