The Up Devotional

Please note that after today, The Up Daily Devotional will be going on pause for a week. It will return on Monday, November 9th. For back issues, visit TheUpDevo.com, or you can listen to the podcast version on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Here’s today’s devotional:

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1).

Saint Anothony was an Egyptian monk from the fourth century. Even though he fled to the desert, people traveled for miles to get his wisdom and insight.

Recently, I interviewed C.R. Wiley about his new book: “Manmade: St. Anthony’s Guide to Surviving the A.I. Apocalypse.” If you’re interested in this in-depth talk, you can find the links below.

Why did St. Anthony go into the desert? It wasn’t just to flee a corrupt world. He went to spend time in prayer and to grow in virtue. Another reason was to battle evil spirits, just like Jesus.

Over the course of our conversation, Wiley talked about how the internet is everywhere. In our modern world, we can’t escape it. Even if we went to desert (like St. Anthony) our phones would still beep!

His point was that it’s hard to detach. “We have a problem,” he said. “There’s no physical place to retreat to.”

He then talked about going offline as a form of solitude. “Retreating from this digital virtual reality into the real is a discipline that we’re going to have to practice.”

I think that in a busy, noisy and digital world, that’s a helpful way to look at things. When we intentionally make space to go offline—going into the “modern desert,” as Wiley suggests—we are somewhat retreating from the busyness, noise and anxiety of the digital fracas.

And when that happens—maybe not all of the time, but some of the time—perhaps we can better discover those places of contemplation and prayer that were so common for St. Anthony.

“Retreating from this digital virtual reality into the real is a discipline that we’re going to have to practice.”

Notes:

–“Surviving the A.I. Apocalypse with C.R. Wiley.” Watch on YouTube here, or listen on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.). You can also find it on MatthewRuttan.com.

-Bible quotes, ESV.

[New podcast episode today! – Link below]

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers… what is man that you are mindful of him…” (Psalm 8:3-4)

Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (“A.I.”). It’s already a part of our lives more than we realize.

Recently, I interviewed C.R. Wiley. His new book is called: “Manmade: St. Anthony’s Guide to Surviving the A.I. Apocalypse.” I’m happy to say that the interview has now been released! You can watch it on YouTube or listen to it on my podcast. For those of you who are interested, the links are below.

We discuss the true nature of A.I. This is an important point because most people are somewhat naïve about this technology and don’t realize what it is, especially if their only exposure has been through the evening news, clever phone apps, or chatbots.

We also talk about what may be on the horizon—moving from ‘narrow A.I.’ to ‘general A.I.,’ the prospect of transhumanism, growing surveillance, how A.I. is starting to “think” for itself, and possible advances in the medical sciences.

But there are very practical dimensions to all of this that we need to keep in mind as people of faith.

For example, we can’t let our children be the guinea pigs. We already did that with social media and they are paying the price.

Further, we discuss the hidden cost of the digital world, the importance of detaching from computers and the internet, self-control as a spiritual discipline, evil and the necessity of discerning spirits, and the difference between using technology and being used by it.

We close our conversation by speaking about Saint Anthony, a fourth century monk who continues to speak wisdom into our lives today.

As you navigate the rapidly changing landscape that is modern life, let me encourage you in what Wiley calls “the preferential option for the physical.”

Will we use technology? Yes. But we need to stay grounded in the physical world God made. Human relationships need to remain a priority. We need to feel the evening breeze on our faces. We need to learn life-skills and not become too dependent on machines. As Wiley says, we need to stay human.

Let’s be discerning, not deceived.
Let’s be smart, not sloppy.
Let’s be stewards, not slaves.
Let’s be image-bearers of God, not blobs on the couch who lose even the capacity to tie our own shoes.

In short, let’s stay robustly human for the glory of God.

Notes:

–“Surviving the A.I. Apocalypse with C.R. Wiley.” Watch on YouTube here, or listen on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.). You can also find it on MatthewRuttan.com.

-Bible quotes, ESV.

How do we hear from God?

That’s a big question. And a lot of very smart and faithful people have spilled a lot of ink about it.

But there’s something that a lot of people haven’t thought about when it comes to hearing from God.

The Second Helvetic Confession is a statement of faith from the sixteenth century, mostly authored by Heinrich Bullinger. Here is what it says in chapter one:

“Wherefore when this Word of God is now preached in the church by preachers lawfully called, we believe that the very Word of God is proclaimed, and received by the faithful; and that neither any other Word of God is to be invented nor is to be expected from heaven: and that now the Word itself which is preached is to be regarded, not the minister that preaches; for even if he be evil and a sinner, nevertheless the Word of God remains still true and good.”*

There’s a lot there, so let’s slow down on a few of the critical points.

When trained and ordained preachers speak from the pulpit by explaining and applying a biblical text, and when those words are received by a congregation of faithful people, the Lord can and does use those words to communicate with them.

And let’s not miss the incredible fact that God does this even if the preacher “be evil and a sinner”! Wow, that sounds harsh. But the point is that the Scriptures have power to communicate because they are inspired by God, even if a preacher is an imperfect sinner and is having a bad Sunday. Nothing can get in God’s way!

When I first thought about this, I felt a bit awkward. After all, I’m a preacher. But after I spent some time contemplating it, I realized that it made perfect sense. It’s all about the power and goodness of God, not the preacher.

Here are a few practical applications.

First, God will communicate with you in a variety of ways. One of them is Bible-based preaching.

Second, if your preacher is less-than-ideal, you can still get something out of the sermons. As long as the Scriptures are being read, you can be built up in faith. The main thing about a sermon is the text—not how clever the preacher is (or isn’t).

Third, you have a role to play. Be an active and prayerful listener. In Romans 10:17 Paul writes: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Look for God’s wisdom from the text and expect God to communicate with you.

Sunday mornings can look pretty normal. People say Hi in the parking lot, comment on the weather, take their seats, and sing to God’s glory. But just because things seem normal, that doesn’t mean they are.

God uses normal things, and normal people—and even sinful people!—to do extraordinary things. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Notes:

-*As quoted in: John Leith, ed., Creeds of the Churches, 3rd ed. (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1982), 133.
-Bible quotes, ESV.

In Ecclesiastes 7, the Teacher is sifting for wisdom. He’s sifting through his own thoughts and experiences to see if there is anything that can help when life feels fleeting or frustrating.

In verse 8 he says, “the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” When life gets tough—and even when life is happy and calm—patience is better than pride.

Pride and arrogance make things worse, but patience allows for perspective and better decision-making.

Pride is the chief sin. It extends all the way back to the Garden of Eden. In fact, it could be argued that many of the other sins flow from the root of pride.

In contrast, patience is good for the soul, and also for our relationships.

Tim Keller defines patience like this. It is “an ability to face trouble without blowing up or hitting out. Its opposite is resentment toward God and others, and its counterfeits are cynicism or lack of care…”*

It’s easy to get frustrated at what is happening in your life. Perhaps things are going well in general, but you really want God to give you strength for something challenging, or to provide you with guidance about a big decision. When God doesn’t seem to respond how we want, we can jump to the conclusion that he isn’t paying attention or that he doesn’t care.

But this me-first thinking, not patience. Why else would we think that we know better than God? Your timetable isn’t necessarily THE timetable.

Patience is hard. We live in a world that doesn’t like to wait. Maybe that’s why so many things are so messed up! We all need the reminder that God is sovereign, loving and good. And his timetable is better than ours.

Pause, think, pray, wait and trust.

Patience is better than pride.

Notes:

-*Although Ecclesiastes 7:8 is in Hebrew, this definition is from the Greek word for patience (makrothumia) as found in Galatians 5:22. Timothy Keller, Galatians For You (The Good Book Company, 2013), 154.
-Bible quotes, ESV.

Do you want to be wise? If so, Ecclesiastes 7:5 has something practical and instructive to say: “It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.”

Let’s unpack this important verse.

First, what does the Teacher mean by listening to “the song of fools”? In this context, it means flattery or false praise.

Second, what is meant by “the rebuke of a wise person”? That’s a bit more obvious. It is simply being corrected by someone who is wise.

Taken together, these words force us to answer some honest questions. Are we willing to be corrected? Are we willing to change? Or would we rather just listen to foolish people who flatter us, or who thoughtlessly affirm what we already think?

It can be hard to receive correction. Sometimes we take things too personally. And there are other times when we dismiss constructive criticism simply because we don’t want to do the work of looking in the mirror.

In life, however, our goal isn’t to stay the same. We want to glorify God and become more like Christ.

When someone faithfully, honestly and lovingly shares a word of rebuke or correction, don’t just dismiss it or fly off the handle. Listen, pray, think. Do their words line up with what Jesus’ teaches?

I’m not suggesting that we need to agree with or adopt everything people say. We need to be discerning. But God often uses other people to move us from point A to point B.

“It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.”

Notes:

-Bible quotes, NIV.

September 11th was a day of disaster. Among other things, that’s when terrorists few planes in the World Trade Centre.

It was also a day of heroism as first responders, military personnel, and citizens rallied to help one another in the face of evil.

It was also a day which, for many people, was a day of frantic goodbyes. When people in the World Trade Centre buildings realized something was terribly wrong, they started to make phone calls.

Who did they call? They called the people who mattered most. They didn’t call their bosses or anyone like that. They called their loved ones.

And when some of them realized that they probably wouldn’t make it out alive, they said the things that matter most.

“I love you.”
“I’ll always love you.”
“Take care of the kids.”
“You mean the world to me.”

I realize this devotional is a bit heavy, but the message is important.

Life can be incredibly short. Don’t be passive about your priorities. Live with intentionality. Say the important things. Don’t put it off. Put God and people first.

In my house, we have Luke 10:27 hanging on the wall: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Moments of duress have a way of clarifying what is and isn’t important. How wonderful would it be if we had that same clarity each and every day?

Like today.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Notes:

-Bible quote, ESV.

“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

As a pastor, I often get asked for advice about what to do when prayer gets hard.

First, it’s good to acknowledge that you’re not alone. It happens to a lot of people. There are tough seasons.

Second, it can be helpful to switch things up, like trying a new format, habit or style.

Third, it is useful to re-read what Jesus says about prayer. Seeing him in action, or studying his own teachings about prayer, can breathe new life into your own situation.

Fourth—and this is today’s focus, and it might come as a bit of a shock—it is critical to know that the devil is working against you. There are times when prayer feels difficult because there are actual dark forces trying to sever your connection with the Lord.

Agathon was an Egyptian monk who lived in the desert in the fourth century. People would travel to see him and ask him questions. Someone once asked: What is the greatest virtue to cultivate?

He said that it was prayer. Then he provided this explanation: “For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies, the demons, want to prevent him, for they know that it is only by turning him from prayer that they can hinder his journey… [This is why] prayer is warfare to the last breath.”*

He said that the demons proactively try to shut down your prayer life. That’s how dangerous prayer is to them, and that’s how important it is to you!

I’m not someone who thinks there’s a demon behind every bush. And I think a lot of people can oversimplify spiritual warfare and become over-the-top. However, it’s still true, and there are legitimate dark forces trying to throw you off the narrow path that Jesus is calling you to walk.

Personally, keeping this in mind really helps my prayer life! It’s a natural motivator. Life is a battle, and so is prayer. But with Christ our King, we can’t lose.

“For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies, the demons, want to prevent him, for they know that it is only by turning him from prayer that they can hinder his journey… [This is why] prayer is warfare to the last breath.”

Notes:

-*Benedicta Ward, trans., The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (London & Oxford: Mowbrays, 1975), 22.
-The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on October 26, 2026.
-Bible quotes, ESV.

“So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).

As you look around at the world, rearrange the price tags. Let me explain.

There’s a story about a boy who went into a toy store and noticed that the owner was in the back. This was at a time when the price tags were written on little paper slips and connected to objects with little strings.

Because the boy was mischievous, he scurried around and switched all the price tags so something worth $10 was listed as 10 cents, and something worth 10 cents was listed as $10!

The values were all mixed up. For the next 30 minutes, before the owner knew what had happened, there were a lot of confused customers!

Here’s the connection.

The people of Jesus are people who rearrange the invisible price tags of the world. Why? Because the world is very, very confused about what is actually valuable and what isn’t.

The world says that having money and power makes you wealthy. But to God the price tags are different. To him, the big-ticket items are love and humility.

The world says that loud and influential people should be followed. But to God the price tags are different. To him, the big-ticket items are self-sacrifice and truth.

The world says it’s all about the latest experience and whatever makes you happy. But to God the price tags are different. To him, the big-ticket items are salvation and the kingdom.

The world says bigger-better-more. But to God the price tags are different. To him, the big-ticket items are faith and relationships.

We live in a world with mixed-up price tags. Be discerning. Take a second look, and maybe a third.

The people of Jesus are people who rearrange the invisible price tags of the world. Let’s take note of the things God values, and live accordingly.

Notes:

-Bible quotes, ESV.

I think you should get rich…

But probably not in the way that you think!

In yesterday’s devotional, we explored the idea of “interior wealth.” This has to do with who we are on the inside. It has to do with character and faith—things that can’t be stolen or pickpocketed by others.

In a sermon from about 1500 years ago, Gregory the Great said: “The only real riches are those that make us rich in virtues.”

When the stock market crashes or when your bank account goes south, virtue will not have depreciated in value.

Let’s be honest. “Virtue” isn’t a word we hear much anymore. It’s gone out of style. And yet, it appears in the Bible in a very positive light. In 1 Peter 2:9 we are encouraged to proclaim the virtues of God. In 2 Peter 1:5 it says to “supplement your faith with virtue.” And in Philippians 4:8 we are told to spend time thinking about whatever is virtuous.*

The bottom line is that virtue is good. We should strive to attain it—not to think we’re better than others (an idea which doesn’t sound very virtuous!), but because we want our lives to increasingly exude the fragrance of Jesus.

Many of us have had an Xray at some point in our lives. What if we had an Xray of our inner being? Would there be some junk in there? Sure. Thankfully, we worship a forgiving God! At the same time, and with God’s gracious help, we are seeking to fill our selves with virtue.

-Who am I when no one is looking?
-What do I value in the moments of silence?

Generally speaking, hoarding isn’t a good idea—except when it comes to virtue.

“The only real riches are those that make us rich in virtues.”

Notes:

-*The Greek word that appears in these three verses is arete, translated as “virtue” or “moral excellence.”
-Bible quotes, ESV.

Let me introduce you to the phrase “interior wealth.”

We all know what exterior wealth is. It’s money and other valuables we accumulate. This includes gadgets, clothes, cars and homes.

Interior wealth is something else.

It’s not unrelated to what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount: “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21).

No one can pickpocket your interior wealth. Why? Because it’s on the inside of you, not on the outside.

Paphnutius was a Christian bishop in the early fourth century. He said: “I say nothing is ours except what is in our hearts, what belongs to our souls, what cannot be taken away by anyone.”*

I mostly agree with that assessment. It’s a bit simplistic because we do also have other things, like relationships and responsibilities. But I know what he means. When it’s all stripped away, what is a part of our souls? What cannot be taken away by others?

In a world that lusts after money, power and influence—i.e. “exterior wealth”—this devotional is a simple opportunity to re-consider the value of interior riches.

Faith.
Honour.
Character.
Humility.
Respect.
Love.
Truth.
Courage.

The world will try to devalue you ten ways to Sunday. Your mirror might try to do that as well. Don’t be duped. The fabric of your being is more important than your material “net worth.”

Let’s invest in what (actually) lasts. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Notes:

-*John Cassian, Conferences (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1985), 91.
-Bible quotes, ESV.