The Up Devotional

“…make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). You can only have harmony if you’re singing the same song. That kind of seems obvious, doesn’t it? A song has a melody. A harmony is a different series of notes, but they complement […]

The biblical writers were very honest! What God says through them is refreshing, helpful, hopeful, truthful… and sometimes challenging. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Technically, it’s anonymous. Verse 71 says: “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” Can you repeat that again? Did […]

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11). There are days when we need a reminder that in Christ you are not […]

As you grow in your discipleship, and as you start to know more and more about the Bible, certain scriptural ideas will become increasingly prominent in your mind.  For example, you will most likely be able to quote the greatest commandment or the golden rule. You will be familiar with the “fruit of the Spirit.” […]

Generations ago, Lewis Bayly wrote a devotional book. It was a how-to manual for living faithfully in the modern world, beginning at home. A lot has changed in society since Bayly’s book was first published in 1611. But many of his insights endure, like this one: “wish rather a good life than a long.”* His […]

“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:17-18). Jesus’ first followers had different professions. Some were fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector. Jesus himself was called a carpenter, having apprenticed under Joseph.  Clearly, these were working-class people. But there’s […]

As a part of our daily discipleship, I think it’s helpful for us to continually think about how theory meets reality. If an idea is theologically important, I start to wonder about the influence it is supposed to have on my life as I walk out of the church and into the wider world. Speaking […]

Vanity Fair is a scene in John Bunyan’s famous book The Pilgrim’s Progress. It depicts a carnival-type atmosphere where morality is scorned, naysayers are suspicious, justice is denied, and vanity and pride are the rule of the day.  There are many good things about the times in which we live. I appreciate our freedoms (including […]

As Christians we often talk about being the hands and feet of Christ. This is based on passages like 1 Corinthians 12:27 where Paul says this: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” He also says that Christ is the […]

In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes a sower who sows some seed—which, he says, is a metaphor for the word of God.  Ideally, the seed lands on receptive soil. Luke 8:15 spells it out: “the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain […]

In the previous devotional I shared some words about the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8. A sower sows some seed—which, Jesus indicates, is a metaphor for the word of God. Ideally, the seed lands on receptive soil.  But there are a few situations which don’t work out. One is where the seed “fell […]

The Parable of the Sower is one of Jesus’ most famous parables.  A sower sows some seed—which, Jesus indicates, is a metaphor for the word of God. Ideally, the seed lands on receptive soil. That’s what you and I should want for everyone.  But there are a few situations which don’t work out. One is […]

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Let […]

In Colossians 2:6-7, Paul encouraged his readers like this: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him…” One of the reasons he wrote these words to them was because they were straying off course. They were devaluing Jesus. As a […]

We’ve been talking about Colossians 3:15. That’s where Paul told his readers to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” One of the ways we welcome and cooperate with that rule is to imitate Jesus. Paul gave some great wisdom about how to do that in verses 12-17. Not only did he tell […]

In yesterday’s devotional we talked about Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” I encouraged us to think through what this means.  First, in the Bible your “heart” often refers to your place of deepest convictions and commitments; this includes not just feelings but thoughts. Second, the “peace of Christ” is […]

We use a lot of metaphorical language in our faith. As a result, some things can be confusing.  “Inviting Jesus into your heart.”“Washed in the blood of the Lamb.” These are all good, biblical ideas, but they can also be confusing if you don’t know the theological backstory. Here’s another example: “Let the peace of […]

When a picture has been “photo shopped” that means it has been manipulated. Some sort of program has been used to change the image. Are there times when we are tempted to photo shop Jesus?  I’m not referring to physical pictures. I’m referring to the parts of Jesus we like, and the parts we would […]

There are times when we struggle with our faith. Perhaps we have an unanswered question. Perhaps we’ve experienced something that makes us doubt. Whatever it is, it can make us feel…  Stuck. When that happens you should definitely pray, learn and talk to others.  But there’s something else, and it’s today’s focus: don’t stop moving. […]

This is what Jesus says in Mark 8:34-35: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” Following Jesus means denying yourself, taking […]

Kyle Idleman came up with the term “Mesus.”*  It’s when we project the things we like about ourselves onto Jesus—and only those things. If we like acts of mercy and adventure, we focus on those things in Jesus (while neglecting everything else). We think we’re honouring Jesus, but we’re really just honouring what we like […]

“Don’t be afraid.”  That’s easier to say than it is to live.  Generally speaking, people need a reason to be unafraid. For example, if I’m an 8-year old and I see a bully on the playground, I might be afraid. But if I then see my big brother come onto the playground—who just so happens […]

In Colossians 1:25 Paul says that God has given him a specific mission: “to present to you the word of God in its fullness…”  This important theme comes up elsewhere too. When speaking to the elders of Ephesus he said: “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God” (Acts […]

In yesterday’s devotional I shared an anonymous saying: “God meets you where you’re at, not where you should be at.” It’s a reminder that God doesn’t require you to be in tip-top moral shape or a top-notch theologian to come to you and intervene in your life. But when that happens, what happens next? Cooperate […]

Johnny Cash is known as the “man in black.” Early in his music career he got into some pretty bad things. His life was not going well. At all. “I never wanted to see another dawn. I had wasted my life. I had drifted so far from God and every stabilizing force in my life […]