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Jesus Christ

Don’t beat yourself up

April 20, 2020April 19, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Today I’m here to tell you to cut yourself some slack. Here’s why. We’re living through a global pandemic. Has buying groceries ever been this complicated? More people are working from home (or adjusting to a new work situation), homeschooling their kids, trying to think through extracurricular (if even possible), dealing with limited access to … Continue reading Don’t beat yourself up

The Righteous for the rebel

April 17, 2020April 16, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

In the book of Isaiah there are four “servant songs” which include prophecies about a future Messiah who is also a servant who suffers on behalf of his people. This Messiah and servant is Jesus. Isaiah 53:12 (CSB) says that “he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.” At first glance, this … Continue reading The Righteous for the rebel

Why it’s called ‘good’ Friday

April 10, 2020April 9, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

There’s a marine training facility called Parris Island. A young man signed up who was a bit out of step with the others. He was nice enough—but he just didn’t fit in. As a result he got picked on. A lot. In his barracks there were guys who were particularly mean. One of them came … Continue reading Why it’s called ‘good’ Friday

The house started to sink

March 25, 2020March 24, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Billy Graham tells a story about a family who purchased a plot of land for a home in the Appalachian Mountains. It was breathtaking, overlooked a valley, and faced some beautiful mountains. They made plans, chose a builder, and the house was completed. After about a year, things started to go terribly wrong. They noticed … Continue reading The house started to sink

Going Thud on the metaphorical ground

March 10, 2020March 9, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

I once heard a story about a 5-year old boy who lived on a farm. His parents were harsh, especially his father. It was a brick farm house with a large porch that wrapped around the front. In those days there weren’t always railings so children had to be careful, especially since it was about … Continue reading Going Thud on the metaphorical ground

My sheep listen to my voice

March 3, 2020March 2, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

A group of young people saw a downhill skier going down the hill with someone else super close behind them. The skier in the front was an instructor. They were yelling instructions to the person behind: “Left, right, straight, right.” Thinking it would be funny to mess them up, the youth started calling out their … Continue reading My sheep listen to my voice

Eternal things more than temporary things

March 2, 2020February 28, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Over the past few devotionals I’ve been helping us reflect on the fact that mature people mature people. Adjective, noun, verb, noun. In other words, people who are mature can help other people become more mature as well. Because of their faithfulness and maturity they can be a positive role model for us. In addition, … Continue reading Eternal things more than temporary things

The word she wrote across her chest

January 31, 2020January 30, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Here is one of Paul’s prayers for the Ephesians: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19). … Continue reading The word she wrote across her chest

Super-conquerors

January 28, 2020January 27, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

If you’re a follower of Christ you’re a “super-conqueror.” Did you know that? Do you feel like it? (Need some convincing?) In Romans 8:37 Paul writes: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” The words “we are more than conquerors” translate a Greek word meaning, quite literally, … Continue reading Super-conquerors

Personal THEN powerful

January 17, 2020January 16, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

At a monthly, regional meeting of church elders in central Ontario, my colleague and friend, William Han, spoke about evangelism. He’s served as a pastor, as the Executive Vice President at Lausanne Canada, and is currently a church planting catalyst with the North American Mission Board. The more he spoke, the more passionate he became. … Continue reading Personal THEN powerful

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