Welcome to The Up Devotional!
This is a devotional that comes out five mornings a week (Monday to Friday) at 5am. It is written by Pastor Ruttan.
Think of it as your 1-minute shot of daily soul espresso—biblical and down-to-earth.
You read back issues here and also find it on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
It is also available as a podcast through Apple Podcasts (iTunes), Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
Enjoy!
The Up Devotional
- Not just for your soul, but your brain December 20, 2024The American Bible Society conducted a survey. They found that there was a correlation between engaging with the Bible and having lower anxiety levels. This correlation exists, they said, among all Americans “but is especially evident among Gen Z.” “Young people who identified as “Bible Engaged” had an anxiety score of 3.4, while people in […]Matthew Ruttan
- A prayer for all Christians December 19, 2024“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). There are different types of prayers. Free-form prayers are prayers you say as the words come into your mind. There are also set prayers. These are where the words are always the […]Matthew Ruttan
- The slavery of sin December 18, 2024An angel told Joseph something significant about Jesus’ role: “[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). What does it mean for Jesus to save someone from their sins? Firstly, he saves us from the “consequence” […]Matthew Ruttan
- The Messiah’s (questionable) family tree December 17, 2024Matthew’s Gospel begins with a genealogy. By today’s standards, that’s not a particularly exciting way to begin. Wouldn’t you rather start with something attention-grabbing? But in Jesus’ time, it would have accomplished just that. In the ancient world, a genealogy functioned somewhat like a resume. If you wanted to know what someone was really liked […]Matthew Ruttan
- Who’s changing who? December 16, 2024You sometimes hear it said that as Christians we have three enemies—the world, the flesh and the Devil. The Devil is the Devil. That’s pretty clear. No ambiguity there. The “flesh” is a reference to the internal battle we experience with our own sin and temptation. The “world” is perhaps less understood than the previous […]Matthew Ruttan
- Friday the 13th December 13, 2024“Yet not one of [these sparrows] will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care” (Matthew 10:29). Today is Friday the 13th. Oh no, lookout! Some people think that Friday the thirteenth is unlucky. Why? I never knew the reason. After a quick google search it seems that there isn’t a clear answer. Today provides […]Matthew Ruttan
- Bringing heaven home December 12, 2024We’ve spent some time thinking about our true citizenship. Paul says that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). That reality has implications for the lives we are leading right now. The ancient city of Philippi was a Roman colony. Rome had tonnes of people, including retired soldiers. The city was too small to support […]Matthew Ruttan
- A colony of heaven December 11, 2024Let’s begin with two ideas. I’ll explain them and then bring it all together at the end. First, speaking to fellow Christians, Paul explains that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). We may be from Canada, Cambodia or Cameroon, but if we follow Christ, our true citizenship is in heaven. Second, Eugene Peterson explains […]Matthew Ruttan
- Whose kingdom? December 10, 2024Herod Antipas decapitated John the Baptist. In short, Herod married his brother’s wife, Herodias. This was contrary to biblical law. John the Baptist criticized him for it and was thrown in jail. During his birthday party, Herod made a lavish promise to his stepdaughter: “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my […]Matthew Ruttan
- When faith costs you December 9, 2024Jesus did a lot of incredible and mind-blowing things. Because of that, I think it’s easy to forget that he had human emotions too. He wasn’t immune to many of the feelings we experience on a daily basis. For example, he experienced hunger (Mark 11:12), tears (John 11:35), and fatigue (John 4:6). Mark 6 […]Matthew Ruttan
- Building muscle together December 6, 2024There are many biblical descriptions for the church. It is called the bride of Christ, the people of the Way, and a family. It is also called the body of Christ. This is captured in 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” […]Matthew Ruttan
- The threshold to God December 5, 2024In Mark 6 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles on mission. They cast out demons, healed people, and preached. Verse 12 tells us something specific about the content of their preaching: “They went out and preached that people should repent.” Let’s face it. Repentance isn’t a very popular topic. If you show up at a […]Matthew Ruttan
- What are your pennies? December 4, 2024“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Recently at a youth group event, my colleague William Min used this phrase in a prayer—that God would help us “hold the things of the world loosely.” The “things of the world” are the things that are temporary. They don’t last. They […]Matthew Ruttan
- A time is coming when men will go mad December 3, 2024Anthony was a well-known monk who became known for his close relationship with God, for fighting demons, and for his enduring wisdom. People would journey for days to find him and get his advice. One of those people was Abba Pambo. Over the course of their conversation, Anthony said this: “A time is coming when […]Matthew Ruttan
- Visual reminders December 2, 2024In Luke 8:44 we learn about a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. “She came up behind [Jesus] and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.” Jesus healed her. It was—and is—an incredible testament to his goodness and power. I was curious about Jesus’ cloak. The word for “edge” […]Matthew Ruttan
- God’s pure medicine for your soul November 29, 2024The 10 Commandments continue to apply to Christians today. Of all the commandments, do you want to know which one gets the most space? Is it murder, idolatry or adultery? Nope. It’s one day a week for Sabbath rest. Trust me: This isn’t a guilt trip. Many of us struggle to find time to rest. […]Matthew Ruttan
- Being knocked down and knocked out are different things November 28, 2024Some people think that being a Christian inoculates you from hardship. Not always. Yes, there are innumerable benefits; God is most certainly a provider, protector, rock and redeemer. At the same time, Jesus warns us against the delusion of smooth sailing. In John 16:33 he says: “In this world you will have trouble.” He also […]Matthew Ruttan
- Save Your November 27, 2024When we think of Jesus as “Saviour” we tend to think about his role after our time on earth. That makes sense. After all, he saves us from the consequence of sin and from being on the wrong side of eternal judgment. As (very!) important as those things are, we can sometimes forget that he […]Matthew Ruttan
- Not just eventually, but presently November 26, 2024Forever is a big deal. Heaven is a big deal. Eternity is a big deal. You and I have probably thought about those things a lot. That makes sense. We should. Not only is eternity with God something to look forward to, but it gives us hope in the here and now. That’s the part […]Matthew Ruttan
- You need to sift November 25, 2024People don’t write letters as much as they used to. They tend to text, call, email or video chat. But letters are still written and received. At the close of a letter, it is common to give an important summary statement—perhaps something like, ‘May God bless you,’ or ‘I’m always thinking about you,’ or ‘Be […]Matthew Ruttan