In the autumn of 445 B.C., the governor Nehemiah had finished rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem after it had been destroyed. After exile, the people had gathered for a festival. Nehemiah 8:8 says: “They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the … Continue reading Being proactive about sermons and Bible study
Being faithful, or fitting in?
The book of Daniel tells us that Daniel and his friends were exiled to a foreign nation, Babylon, after Jerusalem was besieged. The text tells us that they were young. We find this in Daniel 1:3-4: “Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the … Continue reading Being faithful, or fitting in?
Devotion changes you
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).Writer Selma Lagerlöf tells the story of a knight from Italy. This was the Middle Ages, the time of the Crusades. He was a warrior, capable of dark things. When he got to the Holy Land he found himself at the … Continue reading Devotion changes you
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 came up on him:His ancestors had rejected … Continue reading When everything is stripped away
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 toward their house! So they jumped in … Continue reading Love makes you do things
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. So, as the story goes, he covered … Continue reading He uses even our feeble efforts
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 things: his sense of humour, his … Continue reading When the Lord rubs off on you
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 in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).What does … Continue reading Who are we most closely tethered to?
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 which has become associated with the visit … Continue reading What is Epiphany?
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 look upon the next twelve months, I … Continue reading Do “ordinary” things well
