[Tuesday's Devotional] - Luther and the Reformation: Right with God

Luther and the Reformation: Right with God Martin Luther kick-started the Reformation by his posting of his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle church at Wittenberg (right) 500 years ago today.  But what had made him take this step?  A few years earlier, he had come across a passage in the Bible which worried him:   In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'  Romans 1: 17 [NIV]   Reading this, Luther could not see how God's justice (his righteousness) could be good news.  Surely God's justice condemns us because we are sinners.  He hated the term 'justice of God'!    But struggling to understand the book of Romans, Luther came to see that God's justice was not just something about God, but God's gift to sinners.  God gives his righteousness to us – he makes us righteous before him, so that we can stand in his presence.  God declares us to be righteous because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.    For Luther it was a lightbulb moment:   "When I had realised this, I felt myself absolutely born again.  The gates of paradise had been flung open and I had entered.  There and then the whole of scripture took on another look to me."   Heavenly Father, thank you for the amazing news that, although we are sinful people, we have been put right with you through the death of your son, Jesus.  Thank you that he died in our place on the cross, so that we can be reconciled to you.  Amen.   David Long   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] - Luther and the Reformation: What it all Means

Luther and the Reformation: What it all Means This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.  On October 31st 1517, Martin Luther, a Professor of Biblical Theology, published his 95 theses by pinning them to the door of the Castle church in the German town of Wittenberg.  These were provocative statements inviting public debate over what Luther saw as corruption by the church.   Luther's action began the Reformation, a movement which set out to reform the church, and which gave birth to the Protestant church.   Some see the Reformation as an unnecessary loss of unity in the church.  Others view it as a movement which returned the church to its roots.  This week we will look at some aspects of the Reformation and how it has changed the church.  We will listen, too, to the voice of Martin Luther.   Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  Psalm 95: 1 - 2 [NIV]   Before the Reformation, singing hymns was not part of normal church life.  Luther, himself a good musician, changed all that and wrote hymns with catchy tunes for congregational worship.  Here is part of one of his best-known hymns, Ein feste Burg:   A sure, safe refuge is our God, a good defence and weapon: He helps us from the mortal need that now on us has fallen.   Heavenly Father, thank you for the men and women through the ages who have sought to make the message of the gospel clear.  Help us to live in the light of that same gospel message and bring glory to you.  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.   David Long   Here are some books which will help you to find out more about the Reformation:   Luther and his world, Graham Tomlin, Lion.  A short introduction. Here I stand, Roland Bainton, various publishers.  The classic biography. Why the Reformation still matters, Michael Reeves and Tim Chester, IVP.  The theology of Luther and other reformers.     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] - Goodbye Loneliness, Hello Happiness (Feel So Different)

Goodbye Loneliness, Hello Happiness (Feel So Different) The observant amongst you may have noticed a running theme with the songs I've been posted. Yes they reflect my feelings on loneliness and my own personal journey, however they are all covers by Sinead O Conner. An artist who has had her own, very public, battles with many things, but loneliness seems to be the most common theme. Today's song however is an original and is my favourite song of hers. Since I heard it so many years ago, I listen to it almost once a week, sometime many times a day, I never tire of it And like with all great songs needs to be turned up all the way to 11. This song reminds me constantly that my battles with loneliness are over. They are in the past and like the song says. I feel so different now. I have had the privilege in my life to walk several people to Christ, some through Alpha and some just by talking about my own experience. And the one thing that is common amongst all of these journeys, is that each and every one of them, me included, will confess that there is definitely a before and after. A sense that things are most certainly different now with Christ on our side. Sure we face the same battles everyday as everyone else, but I always feel that I have the winning edge in my battles. I have Jesus on my side. I am not like I was before, I thought nothing would change me. I feel so different. And what a marvellous difference it is and continues to be just like Saul on the road to Damascus. Just like Moses. Just like Peter.  Just like so many others.  Just like me, I know with Jesus, I feel so different. Steve Fogo   Endnote: Loneliness kills. Talk to someone about it. Call the Samaritans in confidence on the following number 116 123 (UK) https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you/contact-usc   Feel So Different - Sinead O'Connor [YouTube Video - 6 mins 21 secs] 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] - The end to loneliness (Chiquitita)

The End to Loneliness (Chiquitita) I'd forgotten that Sinead O'Connor had covered this ABBA staple. I only re-discovered it a few months ago and for the first time in a long time I genuinely stopped in my tracks when I heard it. I must have heard the original over a hundred times, maybe a thousand. And never once did I listen to the lyrics. I just assumed, it was a jumpy pop song, meaningless pap. Sinead adds something to the song, slows it down and spells out the lyrics. A friend is in pain (Chiquitita) and the singer is saying we all have scars, we all heal, we all will dance again. Coming out of my depression some time back, I understood the value of speaking to people, not keeping things bottled up and allowing God to heal in his time, He knew when I was ready for the next stage. The song is a perfect realisation that life is painful, that if you get broken, the road back is long and painful, but as the chorus states, "The Sun is still in the sky and shining above" It's true, we miss the obvious because we are looking for the detail. As I said earlier this week, my greatest solitary joy is to walk with my Spaniel.  All he cares for is a ball to chase and the opportunity to go for a walk with me. He is so happy his tail swishes from side to side for the whole hour we are out. God promises the same. To walk with us through all trials and tribulations. To guide us and to comfort us, to rest in him and recover from our pain with him. And if we do, I'm sure we will be "dancing once again" Steve Fogo  Chiquitita - Sinead O'Connor [YouTube Video - 4 min 11 secs] 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] - The Loneliness of Heartbreak (Nothing Compares 2U)

The Loneliness of Heartbreak (Nothing Compares 2U) Most of us have had our hearts torn to pieces by love.  It can be a very wounding experience and very damaging, the damage can stay with us forever. The sun never shines. When my first marriage broke down, the loneliness I felt was crippling. Looking back, I knew I was already depressed, but the ending of my relationship just pushed me deeper into myself. I have always been a person who like his own company.  Don't get me wrong, I'll have a laugh and a crack with anyone who wants to.  But given the choice between going out for a meal with lots of friends, or spending the day on my own with a mad spaniel, then the spaniel wins - more times than not. However the despair and loneliness I felt after my break up was beyond anything I had ever felt before or since. Like the song below. The utter devastation in your life makes you think nothing compares to the loss. You'll do anything to win the person back. Anything! Even change yourself.  Fun becomes a concept that is for other people and you start to distance yourself. It was during this time that I re-discovered God, or as my best friend once put it better, "Maybe God decided to come find you" Its hard to admit, because, you feel so helpless and desperate. You want to blame others and in times of extreme pain, maybe kick out and blame God! I know I did. The thing is, that God never puts us through things we can't handle. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, they say. In any struggle in life, regardless of how much I want to blame God, I think, I feel, I trust he is on my side and whatever trials I go through he is there for support. Look at the story of Job! A wealthy Man, A happy man, a righteous man, and the Devil decides he can turn him away from God. Throughout all of his struggles, Job never loses faith. Through the loneliness, the loss, the heartbreak, Job knows he will be rewarded and he will dance again. "As long as there is breath in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils, my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will utter no deceit" Job 27 3-4 [ESV]   Steve Fogo Nothing Compares 2U - Sinead O'Connor [YouTube Video - 5 mins 9 secs] 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!