River's Edge Community Church

Thursday is a day where we focus on the salvation we have in Christ Jesus.

This is Week 1: Our focus is on Growing in Grace.

My prayer goal for this week is __________________________________________.

Let’s Pray:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us, not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Read the following passage from Romans 5.
      Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.


Wise for Salvation
The Bible is a lens through which we can see reality, life as God sees it, life as it really is. It opens our eyes to our own sin and need. It frees us to see God at work in our lives and in our world. It allows us to see how big our God is, as well as how good and gracious and wise. And it makes us realize that we have been made children of God, sons and daughters of the Most High God. This is the reality the Bible allows us to see and experience.

Today, we want to celebrate God’s work of grace in our lives. You may do so any way that moves you. You may spend the time praying, giving God thanks for such a great salvation. You may jot down a few thoughts about how this passage speaks to your heart. You may choose to pray for someone close to you who does not know God’s grace. You may read the passage, changing the first person plural (we) to the first person singular (I) so that the text becomes intensely personal. Or you can sing Amazing Grace and meditate on these well-known words:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me -
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught -
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear -
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares -
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far -
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me -
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be -
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years -
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise -
then when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me -
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.


Two Thoughts To Ponder
"Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected." (Jonathan Edwards)
"I do not at all understand the mystery of grace--only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us." (Anne Lamott)


Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, grant us your grace so that we may know you and love you more and more each day and love the people you put in our path. Open our eyes to see your goodness and grace. Fill us with the joy of your salvation and let us delight and revel in being called children of God. Today, we give you thanks and praise for the outpouring of your amazing grace. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.