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When everything is stripped away
“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it” (Daniel 1:1). And with that, Daniel and his friends—and many others—were exiled to Babylon. As I study the book of Daniel, I’m struck by the abject calamity which… Listen ⇢
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Love makes you do things
Fred Craddock tells a story from when he and his wife lived in Oklahoma. There was a tornado warning. They went out on their porch. They could literally see the tornado coming. It looked like it was going to change directions, but it didn’t. In fact, it was coming straight… Listen ⇢
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He uses even our feeble efforts
“…put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). In “The Happy Hypocrite” Lord George was an immoral man with a bloated face. He fell in love with a lovely young lady. He figured that she would never love him back.… Listen ⇢
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When the Lord rubs off on you
“…whoever says he abides in [Jesus] ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6). Tucker was in grade eleven. He was in an apprenticeship program to become a welder. He was working and learning under Bill, a retired teacher. Bill was known for three… Listen ⇢
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Who are we most closely tethered to?
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ… Listen ⇢
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What is Epiphany?
Holidays like Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving are well-known. “Epiphany,” however, is a different story. (And it’s today.) It’s not a day when we get a vacation, which means it gets less attention. But since it has something to do with our faith, what is it all about? It’s a date… Listen ⇢
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Do “ordinary” things well
Happy 2026! After some vacation time, The Up Daily Devotional is back to your email inboxes and social media and podcast feeds five mornings a week. Let me also say welcome to the new subscribers who have joined us over the past few weeks! Okay, here we go: As we… Listen ⇢
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Glory to the newborn King
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) Christ is born! For today’s devotional I’d like to wish you a merry Christmas! I’d also like to remind you of the good news of Jesus’ arrival—and in general of his… Listen ⇢
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The bridge between heaven and earth
Welcome to Christmas Eve! Over 700 years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah spoke of a coming King. Like many prophecies, not only were the prophet’s words rooted in historical situations and concerns, but they looked ahead to the future. This King would bear divinity. He would be… Listen ⇢
Meet the producer, Matthew Ruttan.
Matthew is a disciple, pastor, husband, and dad of three who lives in the psalms.
