The Up Devotional

  • The recipe for greatness

    John the Baptist tells (and shows) us what humility is like. Speaking about Jesus, he said: “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). A lot of people think about what it means to be “great.” Is it fame or fortune? Is it awards or achievement? Is it… Listen ⇢

  • The ongoing billboard of Satan’s defeat

    The church is an easy target. We follow a perfect Saviour (but are far from perfect ourselves); we have a moral voice through the Scriptures (but often find ourselves on the “wrong side” of shifting contemporary values); we have a history of building hospitals, feeding the poor, working for justice,… Listen ⇢

  • The battle you’re in whether you know it or not

    “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). Spiritual warfare. William Gurnall says that all Christians are in the battle whether they realize it or not, and that the war is so serious that it makes the cruelest battle between human armies seem like child’s… Listen ⇢

  • People-pleasers or God-pleasers?

    I live beside a cemetery. Some people might think that’s creepy, but not me. Maybe it’s because I’m not afraid of death. A few months ago I wandered through it, looking at the names on the headstones. Some had lived a hundred years, others a hundred days. It was a… Listen ⇢

  • More him, less me

    Speaking about Jesus, John the Baptist said: “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).  This is a succinct statement of what it means to be more like Christ and to grow in holiness. The voice, influence, and power of Jesus must become greater and greater in our… Listen ⇢

  • Our fears are afraid of God

    Fear is all around us, and sometimes within us. That’s why Psalm 27:1 needs to be invisibly tattooed on our heads and hearts: “The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” It’s a rhetorical question. The answer is ‘No one!’ Recently I was listening to… Listen ⇢

  • Jesus: the choir director who reshapes our moral tune

    I’ve been highlighting John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” A much-neglected aspect of this verse is how it compels loving transformation in our lives. Bible scholar N.T. Wright… Listen ⇢

  • The value of a lifebuoy

    I’ve been sharing some thoughts about John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Max Lucado says: “If you know nothing about the Bible, start here. If you know everything… Listen ⇢

  • If I should wake before I die

    When Tony Campolo was in college a professor talked about the well-known childhood prayer: “If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” He then pointed out what he perceived to be a flaw. Couldn’t it also say: “If I should wake before I… Listen ⇢

Meet the producer, Matthew Ruttan.

Matthew is a disciple, pastor, husband, and dad of three who lives in the psalms.

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The Up Devotional

Your 1-minute shot of soul espresso

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