Month: June 2021

During this series of devotionals we are considering Romans chapter 8 verse 1, where it says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In part one we established that there is a struggle in the Christian life. However, that struggle is without condemnation. Remember? “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That verse can be understood as the topic verse for all of Romans 8, since everything Paul says all the way through to verse 39 is simply defined as “No condemnation”.
Continue reading “No Condemnation (Part 2), By Rev. Ernie Banwell”

Many thanks to Ernie for writing this week’s devotional.
I’d like us to consider one verse today. It’s a verse I’m sure you all know. It comes from Romans chapter 8 verse 1, and it says: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” For those who are in Christ Jesus, not today, not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, but NOW, there is no condemnation. This is going to be the best news you’ve ever heard. But it is not always easy to believe.
Continue reading “No Condemnation (Part 1), by Rev. Ernie Banwell.”

There are only two passages in the Bible I could confidently quote from memory. Even then, I’m not sure I could count on a hundred percent accuracy. The first is the Lord’s prayer, and the second is Psalm 23. I’ve written before about how over-familiarity with a passage can lead us to miss out on its full meaning. Yet I had an amazing experience with Psalm 23 a few weeks back that made me realise it wasn’t just the depths of beauty in the Psalm I was failing to understand, but more frighteningly, the Shepherd himself.
Continue reading “My Shepherd In The Valley.”

In my last devotional, I left the challenge, it was time to get out of the boat and leave the last year behind, which due to the pandemic has affected our lives. However, as we move out of Lockdown we must evaluate and allow ourselves to break free of those restrictions, for if we are not careful some habits formed by lock down could become new comfort zones. As we revaluate what lies ahead in ‘The new normal’, we ask what is God saying to us?
Continue reading “You Cannot Change The Past, But You Can Mould The Future, By Pastor Peter Norris.”

I have recently been reading Ephesians chapter 1 as part of a group Bible study, and I was struck by Paul’s references to adoption. In verse 5, he says: “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Then in verse 11, he goes on to say: “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” As I read those verses, I can’t help feeling incredibly loved. And I hope you do too.
Continue reading “Adopted Into God’s Family”