At The Movies | Thursday
Thursday | July 30
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.
"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:4-6 NLT
Ephesians 2:4-6 NLT
A Daring, Scandalous Rescue
Now we come to the incredible turning point, the moment where rescue becomes a startling reality. God’s mission to save us can truly be summed up as audacious, powerful, and wholly unexpected.
Our Heavenly Father made an intentional choice - rather than staying distant and removed from our circumstance, He draws even closer. Scripture teaches us that He emptied Himself to become man, allowing Himself to be subjected to the ultimate humiliation of death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-11). The infinite God of the universe traded glory for servanthood. For the Jews who were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, this flew in the face of every expectation they held for a conquering deliverer. But Jesus didn’t come to become an earthly king, overthrowing governing principalities; He came to reconcile us to God.
Consider this then, as you reflect today on God’s bold rescue mission for you and me: the full expression of God’s grace and power is not dimmed by weakness or suffering. In fact, those are the very things that magnify our dependence on the Father, encourage ownership of grace, and direct all praise and Glory to Him. Rescue isn’t something that happens from the outside or simply takes away all our weakness. Instead, we are changed through our weakness—sharing in both the suffering of the cross and the incredible power of resurrection, all because we’re united with Christ.
Our Heavenly Father made an intentional choice - rather than staying distant and removed from our circumstance, He draws even closer. Scripture teaches us that He emptied Himself to become man, allowing Himself to be subjected to the ultimate humiliation of death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-11). The infinite God of the universe traded glory for servanthood. For the Jews who were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, this flew in the face of every expectation they held for a conquering deliverer. But Jesus didn’t come to become an earthly king, overthrowing governing principalities; He came to reconcile us to God.
Consider this then, as you reflect today on God’s bold rescue mission for you and me: the full expression of God’s grace and power is not dimmed by weakness or suffering. In fact, those are the very things that magnify our dependence on the Father, encourage ownership of grace, and direct all praise and Glory to Him. Rescue isn’t something that happens from the outside or simply takes away all our weakness. Instead, we are changed through our weakness—sharing in both the suffering of the cross and the incredible power of resurrection, all because we’re united with Christ.
Reflection
Reflection Helps Us Pause, Listen, And Let God Speak To Our Hearts.
- How does the phrase "But God" change the trajectory of my story?
- How does living from a place of victory, united with Christ, change the way I face things like anxiety, temptation, or hardship?
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, thank you for being a God rich in mercy and boundless in love. You stepped in and rescued me, making me completely alive together with Christ. May my life be a daily reflection of this saving grace and a testament to the immeasurable riches of Your kindness. Amen!
Come Back Tomorrow
Join us tomorrow as we realize God’s rescue mission revealed in Jesus, who humbly entered our world to reconcile us through the cross.