The Up Devotional

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 […]

In yesterday’s devotional I highlighted a Chinese proverb: “A millimeter discrepancy leads to a thousand mile loss.” To explain it, Christopher Yuan tells the tragic story of Korean Airlines flight 007 which veered off course. A problem had occurred with the autopilot. At first, a few degrees wasn’t such a big deal. But after a […]

Christopher Yuan’s mother taught him a Chinese proverb: “A millimeter discrepancy leads to a thousand mile loss.” To explain its meaning he tells the story of Korean Airlines flight 007. It departed from New York City for South Korea in 1983. After refueling in Alaska, something went wrong with the autopilot. It was off by […]

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). Tim Peeters wrote a book about the Carthusian order. The Carthusians were founded in the 11th century. They are monks who live a life of solitude, prayer and contemplation. Many consider their way of life to be austere. Reflecting […]

When facing a new or difficult challenge what do people ask for? Among other things, courage. Let’s look at the word itself. “Corage” is an old word which means “heart.” To have courage is to have an enlarged heart (metaphorically speaking, of course). It is to do good even when facing adversity or uncertainty. Here’s […]

Christian calendars call January 6th “Epiphany.” It’s coming up on Saturday. It’s a date which is associated with the visit of the wise men to see Jesus: “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” […]

Hello!  After a short break, The Up Devotional is back to your email inboxes, social media feeds, and podcast platforms five mornings a week. Here we are in 2024. Wow, that sounds futuristic. But it’s the new now. The start of another twelve-month cycle gets you thinking about priorities. If you have them (and you […]

Merry Christmas!  After today, The Up Devotional is going on pause until January 3rd, but I just wanted to send you one last message on Christmas morning.  Christ is born! Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah—God’s chosen king and representative on the earth. But something his followers came to learn was that Jesus was more than […]

Have you ever noticed how much angels tell people to not be afraid? When Gabriel appeared to Mary, he said: “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God…” (Luke 1:30) When the angel appeared to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, he said: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good […]

Caroling. It’s one of those things that just might be fading away. I hope not. But it may be. I wonder why. Perhaps as towns turn into cities fewer people know their neighbours and therefore feel uncomfortable singing to them. Perhaps it’s because as a society we tend to do less singing in general. Perhaps […]

I’ve been reflecting a lot about Mary. A messenger from God named Gabriel came to her. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28, ESV). He went on to tell her that she would miraculously give birth to the Messiah.  Here is her response: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; […]