The Up Devo

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Don’t pretend to be perfect The “Up!” Devo for July 18 Okay, let’s be honest. Some people who believe in Christ can fall into a trap: Pretending to be perfect. You’re right: It’s not ALWAYS true! But it’s SOMETIMES true, isn’t it? Speaking to the believers in Corinth, Paul said, “we are ambassadors for Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:20). And who doesn’t want to be a good ambassador for Christ, right? I do! But here’s what happens. We can be so keen to shine the light that we never admit to any darkness. But pretending to be perfect misses the point. When people ask Pastor David Robertson what it means to be a Christian, here’s what he says: “I tell people that we are a group of messed-up people in a messed-up world, with a great Saviour.”* Ain’t that the truth! Let’s be faithful ambassadors for Christ. Let’s share his light, speak the truth, love one another, be humble, and get in on the ways he is healing and renovating our troubled world. But let’s not pretend to be perfect in the process. First, we’re not. Second, it’s misleading to the people around us. And third, it downplays the awesomeness of the One who it’s all about: Jesus. “I tell people that we are a group of messed-up people in a messed-up world, with a great Saviour.” By Matthew Ruttan #savior #saviour #JesusChrist #church #perfection #humility #dailydevotional #faith #inspiration

“Fear not, do” The “Up!” Devo for July 17 Someone recently brought something to my attention. When you reverse the words “Do not fear” you get “Fear not, do.” Here’s why I like it. Some people get paralyzed with fear. They sense (or create) something to be afraid of in their minds—something invisible and possibly destructive—and, as a result, cease living their lives. What I like about the “Fear not, do” reversal, is that it encourages us to push back from the mentality-of-retreat: When you step out on faith to serve God and others, and when you try to be the hands and feet of Christ—even when you don’t have all the answers, and even when you don’t know what the outcome might be—your fear factor goes down. Here's why: When you actively serve God you see God act. And that reminds you he is near, which reduces your fear. “The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1) No one! The hands and feet of Christ are not intimidated by the invisible, destructive and unfounded fears that creep into our minds. “Fear not, do.” By Matthew Ruttan --Bible quotes are from the NIV. #fearnot #donotfear #notafraid #courage #powerofGod #dailydevotional #faith #inspiration #psalm27

You’ve ALREADY forgiven them, right? The “Up!” Devo for July 16 Many of us have memorized the Lord’s Prayer, including this line: “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The original Greek word for “trespasses” is epheilemata, which could also be translated as debt, or sin. But what I want to emphasize today is how the entire sentence should actually be phrased in English. I’ll include both “trespasses” and “sins” together simply as a reminder of the wider concept. With that in mind, here’s a more accurate translation of the line with an original emphasis that I think we’ve lost: "And forgive us our trespasses/sins, as we also have forgiven those who have trespassed/sinned against us" (Matthew 6:12). Did you notice the difference? In the version many of us have memorized, we are asking God to forgive us for our trespasses and sins, just as we are in the habit of forgiving those who trespass and sin against us. But the more accurate translation highlights the fact that we are bold enough to ask God to forgive us only because we have ALREADY forgiven those who’ve trespassed/sinned against us. It’s as if Jesus is presuming that we will FIRST forgive others before we have the audacity to ask God to forgive us. That’s an emphasis we need to get back. We should be so powerfully moved by the love of a God who is ready to eternally forgive us that we are proactive and free in the forgiveness we extend to others. As I’ve said before, forgiven people forgive people. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus presumes that we will FIRST forgive others before we have the audacity to ask God to forgive us. So forgive. By Matthew Ruttan #lordsprayer #prayer #forgive #forgiveness #faith #inspiration #God #JesusChrist #spirituality

Youth isn't tethered to your age The “Up!” Devo for July 15 A lot of people are concerned about looking young, staying young, or being youthful. This can be true for teenagers, middle-agers, or seniors—and for both women and men. And wow, there sure are a lot of books and blogs about it! I’m sure that, to a certain degree, people have always wanted to be at their best. But the obsession with looking or staying young has accelerated, and many people seem to be saying that you can only “be at your best” if you “stay young.” But the two aren’t the same. It’s kind of like we’ve turned youthfulness into an idol. That’s why I’d like to say that youth isn’t tethered to your age, but to the beauty of your heart. And a beautiful heart is bathed it wonder: -It wonders at the miracle of creation all around us -It wonders at the uniqueness in every person -It wonders about a world that is more truthful and loving -It wonders in moments of laughter and spontaneous joy -It wonders about eternity Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart…” Today, as you try to find your way in a world that often confuses youth with perfection, and which often passes over true beauty for fake substitutes, remember this: Youth isn’t tethered to your age, but to the beauty of your heart. By Matthew Ruttan --Bible quotes are from the NIV. #beauty #beautiful #youth #youthful #fountainofyouth #faith #inspiration #ecclesiastes #yourheart #heart #dailydevotional

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