{See below for a vacation notice.}Why are we supposed to love our enemies?It’s a big question. I recently dedicated an entire sermon to the subject (which can you access in the footnotes below if you’re interested).Among the many answers to this question, here’s one that is worth pondering. People who are radically loved, love radically. Granted, … Continue reading Those who are radically loved…

We’ve been spending some time thinking about Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:44: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”With this in mind, I have a suggestion. Go the extra inch.Yes, our goal should be big. But let’s back up a minute.In October 2006, a gunman took hostages in a one-room Amish schoolhouse … Continue reading Go the extra inch

Jesus said: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).Actor Kelsey Grammer is best known for playing Dr. Frasier Crane on the hit shows Cheers and Frasier. A few years ago he was interviewed about playing a pastor in the movie “Jesus Revolution.” When asked about faith, he said: “The idea that … Continue reading The best thing yet

It’s one of Jesus’ most famous and inspirational statements. It’s also one of the most difficult: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).Sounds good in theory, but what about in reality? What about the people who have wronged you personally or who have done something against someone you care about?Miroslav … Continue reading Pray for those who persecute you

John Mark Comer says we should find our inner monk “to live with depth and serenity and focus right in the middle of the noise and traffic and hurry of the modern world.”*I like that. Depth.Serenity.Focus.Right in the middle of the…Noise.Traffic.Hurry of the modern world.Can I get an Amen?!The challenge isn’t whether or not we think … Continue reading Your inner monk?

“The time has come,” Jesus said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)We live in a time when many Christian movies and T.V. shows are being produced. They are high quality and can be very inspiring. Some of you have seen The Chosen (about the life of … Continue reading How to approach faith-based TV shows and movies

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).A chatbot is a computer-simulated feature of artificial intelligence. It mimics a human and is designed to interact with the … Continue reading Is A.I. neutral? 

One of the benefits of reading the whole Bible (instead of just small bits of it) is that you begin to gain a clearer understanding of certain concepts. Each time a biblical author mentions something about a specific word or idea it helps you understand more about it.Take, for example, the idea of coveting. The … Continue reading Life is more than possessions

Genesis 1:27 famously states that we humans are made in the image of God. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”Not only is this a statement of fact, but it’s something to aspire to. Yes, we are made in God’s … Continue reading The great beautifier of souls

After a week of vacation, The Up Daily Devotional is back five mornings a week. To the new subscribers who have joined us in the past week, welcome! Okay, on to today’s devotional…Your circumstances have a big impact on you. They can influence how you see the world. If someone in your day-to-day life is constantly … Continue reading The secret is Christ in me