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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Sep 24, 2021 at 6:14 AM

Subject: 9-24-21 THOUGHTS

9-24-21   THOUGHTS

We approach the weekend and the Lord’s Day.  May I suggest that we each begin to prepare our minds for fellowship and worship?  It is God’s plan for us.  It is a REMEMBER-CONNECT time.  WORSHIP is the HONORING OF GOD!  The passages below refer largely to the tithes demanded by the Law.  But THE MIND WAS TO PRECEDE THE TITHE!  
Ex 23:15   "You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed.
Ps 122:1    I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

See the following spiritually more than physically...  First things first.
Neh 10:32-38    We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:  33  for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God. 34  Likewise we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites and the people so that they might bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers’ households, at fixed times annually, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law; 35  and that they might bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the LORD annually, 36  and bring to the house of our God the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks as it is written in the law, for the priests who are ministering in the house of our God. 37  We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns.  38  The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.  39  For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.
1Chron 28:9   "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

My Prayer:
O Lord, help our minds to belong to you.  May we give you the first part of all that we are and have.  You bless O God,  and we receive.  Keep us ever in mind of your great salvation.  Set our minds on the eternal and help us to shun the things that will pass.  Help us to shield our hearts from the continual onslaught of this world.  Purify us for yourself.  We worship you O God.    
In the precious name of our savior,        Amen