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Author: MatthewRuttan

Having the light of life

August 5, 2022August 1, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Jesus said: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). It’s a promise. If you follow him you will have the light of life. The light of life doesn’t necessarily equal happiness and freedom from care. Sometimes, yes; but not always. The light might not always … Continue reading Having the light of life

Lightsome

August 4, 2022August 8, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Thomas More was beheaded in 1535 at the order of King Henry the 8th. The last thing More wrote while imprisoned in the tower of London was a devotional work called The Sadness of Christ. In it he penned this moving phrase about God: “he that by the infinite brightness of his divine majesty maketh … Continue reading Lightsome

Real believing and real following

August 3, 2022August 1, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever WATCHES me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Oh, wait a second. That’s a misquote. Of course he didn’t say that. Here’s what he actually said. “I am the light of the world. Whoever FOLLOWS me will never walk … Continue reading Real believing and real following

Following the pillar of fire

August 2, 2022August 1, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Very famously Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). I love that verse. I quote in on Christmas Eve when we light the Christ Candle and pass out the light to the congregation while singing carols. … Continue reading Following the pillar of fire

Cheap grace vs. costly grace

August 1, 2022July 28, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Jesus said: “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” (Mark 8:34-35). Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and professor who was … Continue reading Cheap grace vs. costly grace

The rut of cynicism

July 29, 2022July 28, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

I heard about a judge who was hearing the case of a young repeat offender.  He was getting sick of seeing his face and was about to be harsh. But something came over him. He started to ask the young man why his life was so hard. What was making things so difficult?  Then, in … Continue reading The rut of cynicism

The older ones first

July 28, 2022July 27, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus famously said this to the mob of scribes and Pharisees: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). He turned the situation around and appealed to their own conscience. Verse 9 tells us … Continue reading The older ones first

How can you still attend church?

July 27, 2022July 26, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

“Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world” (Isaiah 12:5). Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States. Some of you will remember the Monika Lewinsky scandal. It’s kind of hard to forget. Sometime later at a conference, someone asked Clinton: “How can … Continue reading How can you still attend church?

Grace opens doors

July 26, 2022July 25, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

She had been caught in the act of adultery. In the very act! She was dragged out in public for everyone to see. According to the law, they could have stoned her. They brought the case to Jesus to test him. He said: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first … Continue reading Grace opens doors

Science AND faith

July 25, 2022July 22, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

In a Jack Black movie called Nacho Libre, a character says: “I don’t believe in God, I believe in science.” It reveals an error in thought that some people have, as if you can’t believe in God if you “believe” in science. But the two are not opposites. This kind of statement usually comes from … Continue reading Science AND faith

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