At The Movies | Wednesday
Wednesday | July 29
This Week's Focus:
As followers of Jesus, we are rescued by grace to share His grace; pulled from the depths to draw others to safety.
As followers of Jesus, we are rescued by grace to share His grace; pulled from the depths to draw others to safety.
Scripture
Scripture Helps Us Hear God And Live His Truth.
"I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway."
Romans 7:19 NLT
Romans 7:19 NLT
No Safe Harbor
One of the hardest things about rescue is reckoning with the depths of our sin. We have to be able to take a hard look at our hearts and realize that when it comes to our sinful nature. There is no safe harbor from its destructiveness, and we can’t possibly hope to save ourselves apart from God.
Paul’s words from Romans should feel instantly and uncomfortably relatable. Try as we might to make the right choices, say the right things, and do the right things, we simply can’t do it on our own steam, so we fail over and over again. And what’s worse, the outcome of those decisions wreaks continual havoc in our lives and the lives of those around us (Romans 5:12). Like the Israelites in Exodus, caught between Pharaoh’s armies and the raging sea, we find ourselves impossibly trapped by our sinful actions and inescapable consequences.
But in this place of realization, we make space for the real work of rescue and redemption to take place. Can you truly appreciate the gift of grace and salvation without first realizing you actually need it? Rest in this hope today, friends: God loves you at your darkest, but His love is far too great to let you stay there.
Paul’s words from Romans should feel instantly and uncomfortably relatable. Try as we might to make the right choices, say the right things, and do the right things, we simply can’t do it on our own steam, so we fail over and over again. And what’s worse, the outcome of those decisions wreaks continual havoc in our lives and the lives of those around us (Romans 5:12). Like the Israelites in Exodus, caught between Pharaoh’s armies and the raging sea, we find ourselves impossibly trapped by our sinful actions and inescapable consequences.
But in this place of realization, we make space for the real work of rescue and redemption to take place. Can you truly appreciate the gift of grace and salvation without first realizing you actually need it? Rest in this hope today, friends: God loves you at your darkest, but His love is far too great to let you stay there.
Reflection
Reflection Helps Us Pause, Listen, And Let God Speak To Our Hearts.
- When I fail to do the good I intended, do I try to rationalize the behavior, or do I confront it honestly as a struggle against my sinful nature? How has that impacted my heart
- What steps can I take to honestly acknowledge the sin in my life and surrender to my need for rescue?
Weekly Memory Verse
Read It Once A Day. Let It Shape How You Think And Pray This Week.
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
Colossians 1:13-14
Prayer
Through Prayer, We Talk To God And Listen For His Guidance.
Lord, give me the wisdom to seek your guidance before each day and opportunity to share who you are. Thank you for being generous and blessing me with all that I have. I praise you for rescuing me! Amen.
Come Back Tomorrow
Join us tomorrow as we wrestle with our inability to overcome sin on our own and recognizing our need for God's grace.