The Up Devotional

Today is Ash Wednesday. It’s the official start of Lent, the forty day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to Good Friday and Easter. [It’s also Valentine’s Day. If you’re curious about who Valentine was, see the link at the bottom of this devotional for a short explanation.] Back to Ash Wednesday. Some Christians put ashes […]

[For a short post which explains the meaning of Shrove Tuesday, see the link at the end of this post.] “Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown […]

The word “doctrine” has received a bad name. I once saw a social media comment which captured something of the spirit of the age: “People should spend less time thinking about doctrine and more time actually loving like Jesus did.”  I get where that person is coming from. If people spend all their time debating […]

Right from the start, Wayne Gretzky was a hockey genius. He had a rink in his backyard. He also had an overflow of natural talent. But he also had supportive, smart parents. There’s a story about something Wayne’s father Walter did which gave his son an added advantage.  While watching some games, Walter took a […]

I recently saw a video of a boy named Carter.* It was Christmas morning and he was at the home of the Kipharts. Carter needed a family. The video shows them giving him a gift which included a letter. In it they told him that they were going to adopt him.  The video is quite […]

Do you ever get frustrated at your lack of spiritual progress? If so, you’re not alone. I recently came across a cartoon from an account on Instagram called BestChristianMemes. It quoted 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV): “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” In effect, Paul was saying to the Corinthians that since they […]

According to Jesus, Satan is a liar. In fact, he calls him the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Here is a doozie he loves to tell God’s people. “You are not enough!” “Do you see yourself in the mirror? How in the world can you think that a backsliding sinner like you could ever be […]

Harold Kushner tells a cautionary story about the man who invented the transistor radio.  He was headed to a convention and stopped at a restaurant to have something to eat. There was another family there. He noticed that each one of them had one of his inventions. As a result, no one was talking to […]

There’s an expression: All hands on deck. It comes from the world of ships. When there is trouble, all hands (i.e. people) are needed to pitch in and help. A storm isn’t a time to stargaze or to nap in a hammock somewhere. You’re needed! With that in mind, one of the historic metaphors for […]

Ephesians 4:11-13 is held dear by many pastors and church leaders. In fact, it’s often read at ordinations. But it is of significance to all Christians, not just leaders. Let me share it with you, and then I’ll explain why. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to […]

In the book of Revelation Jesus gives a series of warnings to churches. When Jesus warns you, you had better take notice! Then he comes to the church in Philadelphia. (This would have been located in modern-day Turkey, not Pennsylvania). His tone changes. Here is what Jesus says: “I know that you have little strength, […]

One of the most famous verses in Ephesians is chapter 4 verse 15: “speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” The famous part is right at the start: speak the truth in love. My guess is that […]

In some jurisdictions they make convicts wear neon vests while out in the world doing community service.  The neon vests are partly for safety, but they serve another purpose as well. Some say something like ‘Community Rehabilitation Program’ on the back. It’s to make the public aware that they are prisoners. I once heard of […]

Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God is flawless…” The Bible is God’s word to us. That statement is true. It is also under constant attack. I tend to read books, listen to podcasts, and talk to people about biblical interpretation and authority. I want to be well-informed and well-equipped. Over time, you start to notice […]

“whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…” (1 Corinthians 10:31) In the movie Chariots of Fire Eric Liddell is a fast runner. He wants to honour God as a missionary, but he also wants to run. There’s a scene where he explains to his sister that he will go to China […]

There are different lists of “spiritual gifts” in the New Testament.  1 Corinthians 12:7 says: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” Each Christian has at least one gift. These are given to God’s people to benefit “the common good.”  But hold on a minute. What is […]

One of the most well-known verses from the book of Romans is chapter 12, verse 2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” After teaching about […]

Within Christianity there is an emphasis on being “like Jesus.”  Among other places, this idea is rooted in verses like 1 John 2:6: “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” Just look at the word “Christian” itself. We are to be “of Christ” or like little Christs. There is a sameness […]

“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts…” (Galatians 4:6). Barry Cooper provides a helpful illustration when thinking about the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of a Christian. “Imagine you want every room in your home painted white. And imagine that you already have a painter standing […]

Many of us grew up playing team sports—whether soccer, baseball, football, hockey or something else. Early in the game you tend to identify the strongest players on the other team. You pay special attention. You check them more closely. They’re the ones who can really sting you if you’re not careful. In this I see […]

January can be tough. If you think it’s just you, think again. December bills are rolling in, the Christmas tree is (probably) put away, it still gets dark fairly early in the evenings, and it’s cold. Oh, and seasonal affective disorder is a real thing (especially in colder climates), and the world seems to be […]

Spiritual growth is a good thing. We like progress. It reassures us that we’re heading in the right direction. There is, however, a danger. Something can creep in. It’s a sense of spiritual superiority. “I can’t believe so-and-so didn’t know what book of the Bible that story was from.” “That person should have done such-and-such […]

It’s probably a problem if other people are always the problem. Let me explain. Have you ever had one of those days where other people are always a problem? They say the wrong thing. They get on your nerves. They just don’t “get” you. They just seem so… annoying! Granted, there are times when people […]

In the previous devotional I said that it’s sometimes hard to see how God is working in your life, especially when you’re going through a time that is particularly head-scratching or uncertain. But just because you can’t see how God is working, that doesn’t mean he isn’t.  Let me build on a related theme. There […]

It’s sometimes hard to see how God is working in your life, especially when you’re going through a time that is particularly head-scratching or uncertain. Consider the events that took place after Jesus was born. King Herod was feared for his brutality. He drowned his brother-in-law, executed his sister’s husband, decapitated his wife’s grandfather, murdered […]