In John 13:34 Jesus gave this new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Sounds nice. But what is love? When you look at the use of this word in the New Testament here is what you find. To love someone in this way means acknowledging that … Continue reading Helping someone in their sea of alligators
Author: Matthew Ruttan
Desperate times call for…
Desperate times call for desperate measures. It’s an expression we’ve all heard. Maybe even used. Think of a hail Mary pass near the end of a football game. Or the person who is in such financial ruin that the only thing they can think of doing to help their situation is to rob a bank. … Continue reading Desperate times call for…
An alien visitor at Christmas
It’s December. Christmas is approaching. Indulge me with an illustration. Imagine an alien from another planet was sent on a mission to earth to learn about Christmas. And imagine that it came to your house to watch your celebrations and to collect data. And then imagine that it had to report back to its mothership … Continue reading An alien visitor at Christmas
Happiness and contentment
A woman named Sarah went to visit Martin Thielen. She had marriage problems, problems with her children, and overwhelming stress in her job. He asked her what she wanted most out of life. Turns out, she wanted to be happy. After thinking for a few moments she explained further: “I make a lot of money. … Continue reading Happiness and contentment
The Topsy-Turvy Kingdom
In the previous devotional I highlighted Henri Nouwen’s phrase “downward mobility.”* It stands in stark contrast to modern definitions of success (including “upward mobility”) which are focused on accumulating influence and power. When I was young we would sometimes read the Mr. Men books. One of them was Mr. Topsy-Turvy. Things were very unexpected in … Continue reading The Topsy-Turvy Kingdom
Striving to do good, or to look good?
One of Jesus’ most memorable actions was washing his disciples’ feet. The one who had walked on water and turned water into wine took the posture of a servant, even a slave. Foot washing was a job normally reserved for the lowly. But that’s what he did. Consider this context which helps us appreciate his … Continue reading Striving to do good, or to look good?
It’s okay to simplify Christmas
Christmas is coming. “It’s practically here!” So sayeth the Grinch. This past Sunday marked the beginning of Advent. That’s a word which means “coming,” referring to the coming of Christ. It’s the four-week period leading up to Christmas. As December 25th draws near, so do many complicated feelings. Because of the pandemic, our celebrations have … Continue reading It’s okay to simplify Christmas
Losing ego, finding God
John 12 tells us about some Greek people who wanted to see Jesus. Verse 25 records a part of Jesus’ response: “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” In view of these seekers, Jesus cuts to the heart of … Continue reading Losing ego, finding God
Presently, not just eventually
“make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue…” (2 Peter 1:5, ESV) Salvation. It’s a big word. When a lot of people hear that word, they think about heaven. And they should; it’s one of God’s promises. When you believe in who Jesus is and what he has done for you on the cross, … Continue reading Presently, not just eventually
Before darkness overtakes you
Jesus said: “Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you” (John 12:35). One of the stories I have read my kids is “The Dark” by Robert Munsch. A shadow comes to life and starts eating other shadows. As a result, he keeps getting bigger and eventually lives on top of the house casting … Continue reading Before darkness overtakes you
