“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them…” (Luke 2:8-9) Have you ever wondered, “Why shepherds?” Why did the angel come to them of all people while they were actively watching against thieves and prey? There are probably … Continue reading Full of yourself, or the Spirit?
Author: Matthew Ruttan
When we hear it so much we stop hearing it
It’s one of the most famous stories ever told: The birth of Jesus. We’re about to celebrate it in a few days. Shepherds, angels, and hostile Inn-keepers have appeared in thousands of Christmas pageants for hundreds of years. But when we hear something so much, we stop hearing it. Instead of paying more attention, we … Continue reading When we hear it so much we stop hearing it
An idea to draw closer to God
A few months ago our church memorized James 4:8: “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” It’s one of my favourites, and I’ve quoted it many times. Writing about this very verse, biblical commentator Matthew Henry said: “If there be not a close communion between God and us, it is our … Continue reading An idea to draw closer to God
RationaLies
It’s easy to lie to ourselves, isn’t it? We take the easy path instead of the right path—and rationalize it.We can be lazy instead of diligent—and rationalize it.We sometimes avoid the reality of God’s word—and rationalize it. Psychologist Charles Lowery says this: “Rationalize means Rational Lies.”* Bam! When we say or do something that is … Continue reading RationaLies
The polarizing internet
The internet has a polarizing effect. Recently a well-respected Christian organization posted a blog. Since it touched on the topic of politics, the comments came fast and furious. (Apparently, politics can be a touchy subject these days. Have you noticed?) Unfortunately, the comments were highly charged, accusatory, derogatory, and unfair. Have you noticed how quickly … Continue reading The polarizing internet
Am I right with God and walking rightly?
Here are two very important questions: --Am I right with God?--Am I walking rightly with God? Even if you use different wording, these are the kinds of questions that are most likely bouncing around in your head as you paddle down the river of life. As you think about how you might answer them, consider … Continue reading Am I right with God and walking rightly?
Embody one of these traits this week
On Friday we explored the idea of wisdom. After looking at James 3:17 we found that wisdom is not just stuff you know; it’s who you’re known to be. Today let’s try to apply James’ insight about wisdom to our own lives. Let’s look at that verse again: “But the wisdom from above is first … Continue reading Embody one of these traits this week
Wisdom: who you’re known to be
Who or what is a wise person like? Many people, when they try to describe someone who is wise, start to list things they know—usually profound bits of knowledge which have been tried and tested though time and the refining grind of real-life experiences. I would tend to agree. That certainly sounds a lot like … Continue reading Wisdom: who you’re known to be
The grip of his righteous right hand
In the 1996 Olympics Derek Redmond was in the 400-metre race. During his heat he was out in front. But then his Achilles tendon snapped! He fell to the track. The crowd gasped. He got up, slowly. Limping. He was trying to move forward while dragging his leg behind him. The crowd started to cheer … Continue reading The grip of his righteous right hand
God is under no illusions about you
If you’re like a lot of other people right now and are struggling under the weight of a global pandemic, you’re probably having more bad days than you’re used to. As a result, maybe you beat yourself up. Perhaps you even feel like you’re letting God down. But God is not surprised by your frailty and … Continue reading God is under no illusions about you
