The Up Devotional

In Mark 12:30 Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”We could take a lifetime to fully grasp the implications. With each new year we gain new insights, and seek fresh strength, to put those words from … Continue reading Not some, but all

We know that God answers prayer. We know that he is near to those who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18). We know that he hears us when we ask things according to his will (1 John 5:14). We know that when we draw near to him he draws near to us as well … Continue reading Delays are not denials

"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words" (Matthew 6:7).A man was nearing death. A priest went to visit him in the hospital a few days before he died.The priest noticed that the man had pulled an empty chair up … Continue reading Pulling up a chair for Jesus

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children..." (Ephesians 5:1)If you think someone is inspiring and want to be more like them, you probably pay attention to what they do and how they do it.How do they live their life? What makes them different? What can I learn from them and incorporate into my own … Continue reading How did Jesus pray day by day?

The apostle Peter warned his readers with these words:“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability” (2 Peter 3:17, ESV).Earlier in the chapter he had been telling them about Jesus’ return. They should live expectantly and with “holiness … Continue reading Stability

[New podcast link below.] In Mark 11 Jesus says something pretty harsh to a fig tree with leaves but no figs: “May no one ever eat fruit from you again” (verse 14).From there he went into the temple in Jerusalem and overturned the tables of the money-changers. Can you imagine the scene! Perhaps we could … Continue reading Going through the motions

In Mark 10, a blind beggar cried out to Jesus for help.Jesus heard his pleas and called him forward. A miracle followed. Jesus healed his sight! With a word, Jesus changed his life. In response, the man followed Jesus. He expressed his gratitude by dedicating himself to the Lord.But there’s a telling detail in verse … Continue reading Your Trust-O-Meter

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).Rick Warren states: “The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.”*He’s onto something. For some people, death is most certainly a tragedy. For God’s people, however, it is … Continue reading Tragedy: a lif

It’s no secret that God’s people are to be a people of prayer.Jesus taught us to pray with the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).n the book of Acts the early church devoted themselves to it (Acts 2:42). Paul taught to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to be “faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Another translation of that … Continue reading As wings burden t

You sometimes hear people say that they don’t read the Bible very much but they still follow Jesus.In saying this, they seem to suggest that the Bible is all about dusty doctrine and that following Jesus is where the real action is.But this perspective is flawed.Scripture is inspired by God. It is infallible, meaning “unable … Continue reading God’s word is an on ramp