From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Thu, Sep 8, 2022 at 5:37 AM
Subject: 9-8-22 THOUGHTS
9-8-22 THOUGHTS
Prior to the reading below, Jesus discussed the “mote-beam” problem. Now He talks of “narrow and wide” gates which many have taken to mean the right church. Jesus is talking about people in this chapter, particularly the potential we have of fooling ourselves. The words FEW and MANY are sobering. It is human for me to assume that I am "in the narrow"! The discussion that begins at verse 21 must not be ignored! Some will be surprised... in fact MANY! Verse 23 ought to cause us much self-examination. We want to be wise and build our lives properly. The gate discussion is about me being God’s person. We must be the person “who hears these words of Mine and acts on them”. Be wise, build on the Rock! No surprises please!
Deut 6:4-5 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” I believe this is an “ALL IN” discussion.
Matt 7:12-29 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall." 28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
My Prayer:
No falling we beg ,O Lord! Make our minds keen in knowing and following your word. Help us to absorb your words deeply and powerfully so that we can, in a true, real way, apply them to our lives. Please, O Lord, may we not deceive ourselves. May our lives and our religion be alive and active in love. Help our faith to be zealously motivated to have a closer walk with You each day. Give us confidence and assurance that we are yours, but do not let us manufacture that confidence and assurance on our own. In the name of our Savior and Lord, Amen.
[pray for our sister Heather]