[Tuesday's Devotional] - Walking in Darkness

Walking in Darkness If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  1 John 1: 6 [NIV] Perhaps the most logical definition of darkness is absence of light. I find that when I feel far from God, it is akin to "walking in darkness".  Perhaps I don't think of it in those terms always, but slipping into habitual sin takes us away from God – and not realising how dark things have become we are in danger of "not living out the truth".  Complacency is a dangerous thing.  On the one hand guilt and shame are uncomfortable and can be damaging to our self-esteem, but the conviction that comes from the Holy Spirit in our lives leads us to wish to put ourselves right with God again. On the other hand, we have Satan the "prince of darkness" – who loves to have us living in sin, shame, guilt and remorse.  His preferred tactic is to convince us to give up because we will never succeed.  He wants us to continue walking in the darkness, until it seems comfortable and familiar – and we forget how dark it is. All that is needed to banish darkness is a little light.   The good news is that there is a way to shine light into our lives – every day we can restore our relationship with God through confession, repentance and forgiveness which God longs to grant us. Is there some darkness in your life that is becoming familiar?  Have you lost the sense of purpose and urgency to deal with it?  Come close to God and he will come close to you. Dave MacLellan   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!

[Monday's Devotional] - God is Light

God is Light This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1: 5 [NIV] This week we are going to look at a passage from 1 John 1 and focus on darkness and light.  The world has been living in separation from God, since the time of Adam and Eve.  God is pure, holy, perfect and without flaw – like a perfect light which shines so brightly it hurts to look at it. Throughout the bible we see much evidence of the holiness of God.  When Moses came down from meeting with God on Mount Sinai, he (Moses) shone so brightly that the people of Israel were afraid to approach him.  Whenever an angel appears throughout the bible, the first words normally said are "Do not be afraid".   In the presence of God "every knee will bow", meaning that the pure light will shine on the darkness of our lives to reveal our true status.  Jesus also said: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8: 12 [NIV] What might the Light of God look like?  What would the world be like without the darkness of sin? Can you begin to imagine eternity in Heaven? Dave MacLellan   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!

[Friday's Devotional] - Be Strong

Be Strong He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.   1 Corinthians 1:8- 9 [NIV]   And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 [MSG]   No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 [NIV]   Can we even begin to get a grasp of this?  The ultimate power, the source of life, of everything, loves you.  He will not give up on you.  God acts with gentleness to draw you to himself.  Despite all we do that rejects him, he will use his perfect love, not to compel us into submission, but to draw us to him in freedom. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.   Lord – Thank you.   Guy Mowbray   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!

[Thursday's Devotional] - Be Enriched

Be Enriched   Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 [MSG] When we say yes to God we set out on an adventure – we don't know where it will lead, we may be fearful of what the future holds, but one thing, one promise we can hold on to is that we have everything we need (not everything we want, but everything we need).  There goes our excuses; can we replace our fear with faith? Why do we so often revert to trying to do things our own way, in our own strength – it does not work; the Chinese have a phrase:  "it's like trying to sail a boat on dry land" – impossible, ridiculous and we are missing out on the promise of Jesus – to trust in God's provision.  We need to take hold of the promise – 'All God's gifts are right in front of you' and 'God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track'. Lord help us to be enriched in your Holy Spirit. Guy Mowbray   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Be Thankful

Be Thankful I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  For in him you have been enriched in every way – with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge –  God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  1Corinthians 1:4-8 [NIV] Paul gives thanks for the faith of the believers.  As JB Phillips phrases it: "I am always thankful to God for what the gift of his grace in Jesus Christ has meant to you—how, as the Christian message has become established among you, he has enriched your whole lives, from the words on your lips to the understanding in your hearts. And you have been eager to receive his gifts during this time of waiting for his final appearance". Paul knows the church at Corinth has issues, but he is clearly thankful that Jesus is working through their lives.  When we think about our fellow believers, how much time is spent moaning and complaining? - if only he or she would… How much time do we spend being thankful: thankful for their gifts, their love, their help, their God given gifts, the enriching of their lives through Jesus.  If we seek to see them as God sees them, we see their positive qualities and their potential as Gods sons and daughters. Lord help us to be thankful for our fellow believers. Guy Mowbray   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!