The Up Devotional

Let’s take a quick look at a much-neglected aspect of the third commandment which says: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…” (Exodus 20:7, ESV) It has to do with the word “take.” In Hebrew it’s the word “nasa’.” It means to take, to bear, or to carry. It’s […]

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7, ESV). Let’s be honest. Attitudes have radically changed about how we use God’s name. Up until recently it was actually illegal in England to misuse God’s […]

James H. Taylor was the pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Washington. There was a time when he was at a party with a lot of big wigs, including the British Ambassador. “It is an honour,” he said, “to meet the ambassador of so great a king.” Knowing Taylor was a pastor, the ambassador replied, […]

“You shall not bow down to [idols] or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:5) Some people are surprised when they learn that God can be “jealous.” However, it makes perfect sense. God chooses to use words that we can understand. “Jealous” is certainly one of those words. […]

In yesterday’s devotional I highlighted two questions from Tim Keller’s book, Counterfeit Gods.** Today I’m going to highlight two more. They are designed to help us think about our ultimate commitments. Is God number one in our lives, or have we let something or someone else compete for the throne that only belongs to him? […]

In Exodus 20:3-4 God says: “you shall have no other gods before me.” Makes sense. After all, he is our Creator and Redeemer. He goes on to say: “You shall not make for yourself an idol…” No problem. Back in Egypt and Canaan, people crafted idols, usually out of wood or stone. They represented the […]

The first commandment is well known: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). It’s about putting God first. But we easily miss something else that is very important. It’s connected to the word “gods.” Let’s be honest. That word can make many of us uncomfortable. We know there is only one true […]

Blaise Pascal was a well-known mathematician. He said: “There is a God-shaped hole in the heart of every person.” He wasn’t talking about a physical hole, of course, but an existential one. We have a deep, inner yearning for God. We will never find true rest until we make that connection with God. But here’s […]

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6). Andy used to have conversations with Agnes in the laundromat. They would talk about a bunch of different things. It would often come up that she kept the 10 Commandments. It was basically her way of shutting down the conversation. […]

“They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God” (Exodus 19:2-3). The mountain in question is Mount Sinai. It’s where God gave the 10 Commandments to the people through Moses. The traditional location of […]

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute” (Psalm 82:3). As discussed in yesterday’s devotional, many modern people think the 10 Commandments are random. They also think of them as restrictive rules that are designed to make life worse. But when you look closely at the […]

“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love…” (John 15:10) I can’t overstate the global influence of the 10 Commandments. They have shaped not only individuals, but entire societies.  To a lot of people, however, they seem random. But they’re not. Amongst other things, they actually reflect God’s character.  For example, we […]

John F. Kennedy was an American President in the early 1960’s. That office is considered by many to be the most powerful in the world.  Apparently, when JFK was having important meetings at the White House, his son would sometimes wander in. John-John (as he was called) would walk over to his dad and sit […]

It’s hard to deal with change. Depending on what it is, it can make you feel like you’re standing on quicksand. It can make you lose sleep or worry about the future. It can disrupt your sense of stability. That’s why I’d like you to consider Mark 13:31. It’s one of my favourite Bible verses. […]

Modern people tend to be very tactile. “Actions speak louder than words.” We like physical results. We like concrete, measurable objectives. I get that. Our actions need to back up our words. Physical results and measurable objectives are important. But when it comes to being like Jesus, we can mistakenly conclude that it’s only about […]

Several years ago I was invited to give a talk to some high school students at a church in Toronto. During a question and answer time at the end one of them asked me this question: How do we know what is or isn’t true online? Wow, what a question! In short, it’s becoming increasingly […]

In yesterday’s devotional we looked at the story behind the popular war-time slogan: “Keep calm and carry on.” We modified it to say: “Keep calm and follow Jesus.” It’s amazing how many times Jesus urges faithful vigilance even in the face of uncertainty and danger. In Mark 13:32-37 he was teaching about his return: “Be […]

During World War Two the British government commissioned posters to keep the public focused on key ideas. They were written with white letters on a red background. There was a crown at the top. One said: “Freedom is in peril. Defend it with all your might.” A second one said: “Your courage, your cheerfulness, your […]

“In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ…” (Ephesians 1:4-5) Imagine you’re a parent. Your child has been learning the piano. She’s got a school concert coming up. She chose the music carefully and has practiced a lot. You bought her a new dress. She is excited but nervous. So are […]

One of the things that has really stuck with me recently is the foreknowledge of Jesus. He knew he would be tortured, abandoned and killed. And yet, he did it anyway. Why? Let’s pretend that I’ve had a direct message from God for you. Here it is: “Tomorrow is going to be the most painful […]

Tony Campolo tells a story about the movie, The Seventh Seal. In short, a medieval knight plays a dramatic game of chess with death himself, the prince of darkness. Throughout the whole movie they go back and forth making moves. Right at the end, as things are reaching a climax, the prince of darkness makes […]

There are times when everything seems chaotic. Problems everywhere—not only in the world generally, but in your life specifically. Pain, confusion, hardship. It’s pandemonium.  The word “pandemonium” literally means “demons everywhere.” That’s very fitting, isn’t it? That must have been what the disciples felt like during Jesus’ trial, torture and crucifixion. Demons everywhere! That’s why [&#8230...

Jesus actually rose from the grave. Actually. Physically. Incredibly! Because of that, everything was different. Everything is different. He paid for and conquered sin. He defeated death. He saved his people. His love triumphed! His reconciling work extended—and extends—to the entirely of the world, bringing unity to all things in heaven and on earth (Ephesians […]

Today is Good Friday. It’s a solemn time to remember and give thanks for what Christ did for us on the cross. Billy had a younger sister who was confined to a wheelchair. He took her to school and brought her from class to class. He was happy to do so. He was caring for […]

Today is Maundy Thursday. It’s not as well-known as Palm Sunday, Good Friday or Easter Sunday. But many churches have special services. The name comes from Jesus’ words in John 13:34. He gave us a “new command” (Latin: mandatum novum) to love one another as he has loved us.  In Mark 12 we have a […]