Rev. Luke Powell Daily Devotions

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated Jesus now and ever is my plea Oh the chains are released, I can sing, "I am free" Yet not I, but through Christ in me #yetnotibutchristinme

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven The future sure, the price it has been paid For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon And He was raised to overthrow the grave #yetnotibutchristinme

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me Through the deepest valley He will lead Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome Yet not I, but through Christ in me #yetnotibutchristinme

The night is dark but I am not forsaken For by my side, the Saviour He will stay I labour on in weakness and rejoicing For in my need, His power is displayed #yetnotibutchristinme

'To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus For my life is wholly bound to His Oh how strange and divine, I can sing, "All is mine" Yet not I, but through Christ in me' #yetnotibutchrist

"What gift of grace is Jesus my Redeemer There is no more for heaven now to give He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace" #yetnotibutchristinme 

Jesus said that God does not will for one of his sheep to perish. How about us - since even "the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives"?

God rejoiced when we came home with Him. Do we rejoice when others find Him? Or do we judge?

Is God's love reckless? Or does he leave the 99 safe while seeking the lost 1?

Do you believe in guardian angels? I do. Jesus spoke of them.

Today we consider challenging words from Jesus - to not despise even one of his children. 

We Christians believe that Jesus will come again! We wait excitedly for the day, and share the good news with all, so that all may come to know his saving grace and not be without God for eternity.

What is the church all about? The Nazarene Church's Articles of Faith #11-14 show us - we are a united body of believers who are on a mission, and we celebrate Jesus together at worship. Two sacraments - baptism and the Lord's Supper - shape our worship.

A passion for holiness defines all Christians! How are we made holy? By God's sanctifying grace. Today we look at the Church of the Nazarene's 10th Article of Faith to show us this glorious truth.

What is the gospel? It is the good news that though we are sinful, God's grace enables us to repent and be made right with him. The Church of the Nazarene's Articles of Faith 5-9 guide us as we reflect on this wonderful truth today.

Let's get back to basics this week! Using the Church of the Nazarene's Articles of Faith we will have a look at what it means to be a Christian. First, let's remember that we serve ONE God who is revealed in three persons. Are the Father, Son and Spirit all part of your faith? 

Rooted in Christ, we always have joy. For, as manning says "whatever happens, the Lord is risen!"

Discipleship without sacrifice is hardly discipleship at all. Manning reminds us today that when we follow Jesus, we must be stamped with his signature - the cross of suffering.

When we are in Christ, we see the world as a good creation, not an evil one. Jesus redeemed us - not only reconciling us to God and each other, but to the good world! Let's see the world as God does - saying "it is good".

Paschal Spirituality - centred on the death and resurrection of Christ - was never meant to be lived in isolation. We are a family in faith, and loving each other is how we express our love for God!

Paschal Spirituality is rooted in Christ's death and resurrection... and it means Christ being formed in us. A story of two prisoners illustrates this today.

During his time doing mission work, Uncle Howard had many moments that can only be described as miracles! Today he tells 2 stories - of lepers holding a cement arch in place, and a fire changing directions at a crucial moment - explained only by the God we serve.

Doing mission work in the Congo, Howard and Pam encountered many snakes. One particular incident became a "living parable" to them, reminding them of evil's presence in our lives.

Uncle Howard spent many hours tending to a young boy on crutches named Debonair. Years later, Debonair wrote to Howard to tell him what an impact this had on his life. What small act of kindness could you do today? It might just change someone's life.

Howard and Pam gave up everything for God... and at one point, Howard "lost it" with the Lord as he contemplated the struggles they were facing. But, he came to see, that it was when they had nothing but Jesus that they truly learned to live the faith life.