The Up Devotional

There are different kinds of prayers. There are prayers of gratitude. This is when we thank God for something. There are prayers of confession. This is when we confess our sin and ask for his forgiveness. 

There are also prayers of “intercession.” This is when we ask God to help someone. We are “intercessing” for someone before God. We are asking him to intervene. Perhaps it is a person who is sick, in need, desperate, or hurting.

I was recently made aware of a statement by Walter Wink: “History belongs to the intercessors.”*

First and foremost, history belongs to God, of course. But I think his point had to do with the colossal significance of intercessory prayer. In his sovereign goodness, God has chosen to work through the prayers of his people. Does he govern the world and work through our lives directly? Yes. But he also chooses to use prayer. So when he says that history belongs to the intercessors, he is saying that people who engage in intercessory prayer have a greater impact on history than other people. 

I think this motivates us to be a people of prayer.

Paul was always asking other people to pray for him. One example is 1 Thessalonians 5:25: “Brothers and sisters, pray for us.” Why would Paul ask for so much prayer from others? Didn’t he already pray for himself? Of course he did. But he also knew the power of intercession. 

Don’t just pray for yourself. Pray for others. Pray with honesty and urgency. 

“History belongs to the intercessors.” 

Notes:

-*Unfortunately, I don’t have the original source for this quote. It was attributed to him in another world. I would not agree with Wink on all matters, but this is a helpful word about prayer. 
-Bible quotes are from the NIV. 

When it comes to understanding the will of God, whether that be in relation to something you read in the Bible, or as you seek his direction for your life, let me make a very simple but important suggestion.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Before his crucifixion, Jesus said this to his disciples: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…” (John 16:13) Elsewhere, the Holy Spirit is called our Counsellor, Advocate, or Helper.

When was the last time you asked the Holy Spirit—who, by the way, indwells you as a follower of Christ—to guide you?

I recently spent a lot of time studying the book of Daniel. In my research, one of the resources I sometimes consulted were the lectures of Reformer John Calvin. Before he began, he would pray to God. Before one his classes he prayed these words: “Instruct us by the unconquered fortitude of thy Spirit.”*

How glorious! 

As we seek to understand God’s teachings, may he instruct us by the unconquered fortitude of his Spirit.

As we seek God’s will for our lives, may he instruct us by the unconquered fortitude of his Spirit.

As we seek to navigate relationships and bless others, may he instruct us by the unconquered fortitude of his Spirit.

What if your next best step was simply asking the Spirit directly for his help? 

Notes:

-*John Calvin, trans. Thomas Myers, Commentaries on the Book of the Prophet Daniel, Volume First (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1948), 213.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

In 1 Peter 2:17, the apostle says: “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

First, the word “honour” means “ascribing worth to someone—honour, revere, respect.”*

Second, “the brotherhood” refers to the church, including both men and women.

Third, “fearing God” is a posture of “reverential awe” (to use the phrase coined by Billy Graham).** I personally prefer the idea of “volcanic reverence.”

Fourth, when Peter said to honour the Emperor, the man in question was Nero. This is where it gets really interesting. 

Nero was not nice. He ruled from 54-68 A.D. In the year 64, he blamed the Christians for a fire in Rome. As punishment, he hoisted them up on poles and burned them alive. He made human torches to light his garden for parties! 

The reason I tell you all this is to show the force of Peter’s teaching. It’s one thing to honour the Emperor when there’s peace and calm—it’s another when there’s pain and intimidation. 

Does this mean Peter and the disciples should be blindly obedient? No, it doesn’t. In fact, when Peter was in trouble with the authorities in Acts 5:29 he said: “We must obey God rather than men.” Clearly, there are times when human rulers are not to be heeded. 

So, how do we honour rulers today, especially when we disagree with them, whether they are local, national or global?

Here are a few ideas:

First, we pray for them. We pray for God to give them his wisdom and justice.

Second, we remember that the office of a leader is always bigger than the leader themselves. Leaders come and go, but the office they represent endures long after they are gone.

Third, we advocate for change, but do so in a way that is legal.

Fourth, we don’t perpetuate falsehood and unhelpful gossip.

When Peter said to honour the Emperor, he wasn’t being naïve. In fact, a few years later he would be crucified under Nero! Yet he always had his eyes fixed on the God who was bigger than any temporary human ruler.

As followers of Christ who acknowledge that the people around us are made in God’s image, let’s honour everyone.

Notes:

-*This is from the standard Friberg Greek lexicon of the New Testament.

-**Billy Graham, Nearing Home (Thomas Nelson: Nashville, 2011), 80.

-New podcast episode and blog: “What Jonathan Haidt just said about A.I. and the next generation.” Click here, or find it on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you listen (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)

-“Honour everyone–emperors, slaves, masters, husbands, wives (1 Peter 2:13 – 3:7)” Sermon. Click here.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

Recently I was driving on a four-lane highway. Everyone in front of me started to break. Some started to veer off at the next exit. Since I wasn’t very far from my destination, I did the same. “Problems ahead, better go around.” 

This is often how we treat difficult parts of the Bible. Perhaps we encounter passages about the necessity of forgiveness, about marriage, about demons, about loving enemies, about bloodshed in Canaan, or about repentance, and metaphorical brake lights start flashing in our minds. “Problems ahead, better go around.”

My suggestion is that we deal with difficult passages, instead of avoiding them.

This might include getting a solid Study Bible (if you need recommendations, let me know). It might include consulting some resources that give you historical or cultural context. It might include speaking with a wise Christian and accessing some helpful, biblical teaching or preaching from someone who is trained to do so.

And it will definitely include prayer.

You may not have the time to go deeper every single time you open your Bible. But if there are topics or issues that continue to challenge you, don’t keep avoiding them. Set some time aside to go deeper. 

2 Timothy 3:16 is used to highlight how the bible is inspired by God: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

But notice the four different uses it provides: teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. All of these are intended to help us mature in our faith. And then there’s a specific purpose statement: “so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 

But that can’t happen if we leave our Bibles closed, skim it, or take a mental off-ramp every time we encounter something challenging. 

Let’s commit to growth as we swim in the depths of the Word of God.

Notes:

-New podcast episode and blog: “What Jonathan Haidt just said about A.I. and the next generation.” Click here, or find it on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you listen (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)

-Bible quotes are from the NIV.

“…as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

Our faith is good news. Part of the reason it is good news is because it addresses so much of the bad news around us, including the bad news from within our own souls.

Today’s devotional is a simple prayer for those times when we become aware of our lack of faith, and when we know we need to honestly come to God’s throne of grace, trusting in his forgiving heart.

“We praise you, Lord, that you are the perfect King—
not a tyrant, not an abuser of power. 
But a King who is eternally charitable with us—
the One who lays down is life for us.
The One who guides us, protects us, teaches us, 
corrects us, upholds us, loves us, fights for us, 
intercedes for us, and changes us.
With all these realities in mind, 
we confess to you the times,
even today, 
when instead of living in Christlikeness,
we have lived Christ-un-likeness. 
Instead of truth we have often walked
an intentional path of fabrications,
as if Christ our King was someone else’s King, not ours.
Instead of love, we have often walked 
an intentional path of irritated impatience,
as if Christ our King was someone else’s King, not ours.
Instead of holiness, we have often walked 
an intentional path that belittles
the One who laid down his life for us. 
We are sorry. We repent. Forgive us.
We wholeheartedly thank you, 
that in addition to guiding us, protecting us, 
teaching us, correcting us, upholding us, loving us, 
fighting for us, interceding for us, and changing us…
that you forgive us. 
You open your heart and give an invaluable 
gift, identity, purpose and inheritance. 
Remind us that we are royalty—rescued, yes—
but royalty all the same. 
All these things we pray in the name
of the glorious King of kings, Jesus Christ,
Amen.”

Notes:

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

In the previous devotional, I talked about holiness. These days, we don’t tend to talk about holiness too much. Perhaps we think it will make us sound snooty. 

Or weird.

However, the fact remains that God’s people are called to live in a way that is distinct from the world around us. With God’s help, we are to increasingly reflect his character while here on earth.

But what does this look like?

In addition to things like faithfulness, being different, showing fervent love, a commitment to the truth, and to gratitude, is glorifying God. That’s right—pointing to the greatness of God is a part of our holy vocation.

Among other places, we find this detail in 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

The prevailing view of the culture around us ignores or belittles God. Not so with us. God has “chosen” us and made us “royal” and “holy.” In response, we “proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

When we praise God in a worship service, we are definitely glorifying him. But we also glorify him when we love others as Jesus’ hands and feet, when we talk to others about the hope he gives us, when we use the gifts and abilities God has given to us, when we give him priority in our lives, and when we work to advance his good causes in our families and wider world.

It’s okay to be weird. But let’s be weird for the kingdom. 

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Notes:

-The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on May 25, 2026.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

A few years ago, I came across this prayer from Thomas Watson: “Perfume us with holiness and make our hearts a map of heaven.”*

To be holy is to be set apart (i.e. distinct) for God’s special purposes. He calls us to reflect his character in the world. In this sense, holiness is heaven’s map on earth. When we live in a way that reflects the character of God, we are communicating something of the geography and goodness of heaven.

But when people think of holiness, they often have a truncated view of what it means. They think it has to do with unattainable moral perfection or a lack of joy. That’s why it can be helpful to take a second look at some of the biblical teachings. 

For example, gratitude is a part of holiness. Our world is increasingly characterized by entitlement and arrogance. “I deserve this, that and the other thing.” “I’m the best because of A, B or C.”

Not so with the people of God. 

In a letter dedicated in part to describing holiness, the apostle Peter reminds his readers: “you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ…” (1 Peter 1:18-19) The fact that they (and we) are “ransomed” with the most precious thing on earth (Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross) fills us with gratitude.

Then, a few verses later, he talks about how we—as a holy people—are to “love one another earnestly (i.e. fervently) from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). In a culture like ours that promotes a version of love that is either misguided or lukewarm, the fervent love we share with one another is increasingly counter-cultural.

Did you realize that gratitude and fervent love are a part of your holy calling under God?

Let’s not blend. Life is too important for that. 

Holiness is heaven’s map on earth. 

Notes:

-“Why loving people isn’t the same as liking them.” Click here, or listen on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you subscribe (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)

-*Quoted in: Tim Chester, ed., Into His Presence: Praying with the Puritans (The Good Book Company, 2022), 42.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

Something we all have in common is that we’re surrounded by people, and that our lives are embedded in relationships. 

If we’re being honest, some people drive us crazy. 

These are people at school or work, at church, out there in the community at large, or even in our own families or friend circles.

So how do you be at your best when some people put you at your worst?

This is the subject of blog and podcast episode I recently put together. If you want to read or listen to the full version, simply click on the link below. For today’s devotional, however, let me stress this: It helps to not be naive about what love means, and to know what Jesus meant by love.

Based on the uses of the word “love” in the New Testament—both as a noun and as a verb—here is a definition: “Love means acknowledging that other people are made in God’s image, and pursuing God’s best for them, often in a way that is self-sacrificial.”

Let’s look at each of these ideas separately. 

First, all people are due a certain dignity and respect since they are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). 

Second, love is action-oriented, not feelings based. It is “pursuing” God’s best for someone.

Third, we are seeking “God’s” best for someone—and, let’s be honest, this is not always the same as what that person may think is the best for them. Sometimes, but not all the time. How do we know what God’s best is? The Scriptures.

Fourth, biblical love is often self-sacrificial. Why? Because it’s patterned on Jesus’ own example. As he says in John 13:34: “just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

We live in a world that is rich in people and poor in love. Sure, people give lip service to “loving God” and “loving people,” but what kind of love are they talking about?

Let’s look to Jesus as our instructor and example.  

Love means acknowledging that other people are made in God’s image, and pursuing God’s best for them, often in a way that is self-sacrificial.

Notes:

-“Why loving people isn’t the same as liking them.” Click here, or listen on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you subscribe (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)

-“Holiness is heaven’s map on earth.” Click here. Sermon.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

When you’re young, certain ideas seem big, bad or burdensome.

One of them is “responsibility.” It probably made you think about cutting grandma’s lawn or doing chores when you didn’t want to.

Over time, however, you realize there’s more to it than that. It’s “response-ability.” God has given us certain abilities, and when we respond to the various needs around us consistently it is a good way to honour God and the other people around us. 

Even as adults, the word “holiness” can be like this too. When we first learn about it, we think it has to do with unattainable moral perfection or even a lack of joy. 

Bobby Moore was an English soccer player. After they won the championship, he was supposed to shake the Queen’s hand. He was nervous because he was sweaty and dirty and she had white gloves. There’s a video of him nervously wiping his hands over and over. When it comes to thinking about holiness, this is often how we feel! 

It helps, therefore, to have a clearer understanding of holiness. Here’s a definition. It is to be set apart (i.e. distinct) for God’s special purposes. Are we imperfect? Definitely. And yet, our discipleship makes us different.

Granted, in Christ we are already made holy before God (see Hebrews 10:10). At the same time, we are in the process of growing in holiness. Yes, we are also growing in love, in truth, in mercy, and in faithfulness, but we tend to skip over the idea of holiness, perhaps because we don’t want to sound “holier than thou.” 

But like these other concepts, holiness is a repeated biblical theme. It is an ongoing process of becoming more and more like Christ. It is about increasingly reflecting the character of God. In Leviticus 11:44 he says: “be holy, for I am holy.”

Today, resist blending in. In Christ, you are set apart for God’s special purposes in the world. 

J.I. Packer writes: “We cannot follow Christ in holiness unless we are willing to stand out from the crowd and swim against the stream.”*

Notes:

-*J.I. Packer, Rediscovering Holiness: Know the Fullness of Life with God (Wheaton: Crossway, 2021), 2nd ed., 278.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

Faith is more than feelings. And that’s actually very good news. Let me explain.

Our feelings are important. They tell us things about what we are experiencing. The risk is when we falsely equate certain feelings with the presence of God, or with a “spiritual” idea that we think is God-given. 

For example, if I’m in a worship service and have a wonderfully warm feeling while singing, that’s great. But then if I’m doing something sinful a few days later and have that same warm feeling, I might falsely conclude that that too is from God, when it’s not.

In Jeremiah 17:9 God issues this warning: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” When you look at the logic in the wider passage, the answer is, only God!

In 2 Corinthians 11:14 Paul says: “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Visions or ideas that seem good at first aren’t necessarily from God. 

The same is true for feelings. Dr. Jeremiah Johnston says: “I don’t ‘feel’ my faith because my feelings betray me all the time.”* That’s someone who knows that a strong faith runs deeper than the ebbs and flows of our emotions and fleeing inclinations.

So, why is any of this good news?

First, if you don’t always “feel” the presence of God, that’s okay. Sometimes you can feel his presence, sometimes you can’t, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t there.

Second, your faith is rooted in something much more permanent and trustworthy than your feelings. It is rooted in God’s truth in Christ as revealed in the Bible.

Discernment is needed. Let’s pay attention to our feelings, but not be ruled by them. That job is reserved for the Lord.

Notes:

-*In his interview with Shawn Ryan, published April 2, 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyuDXp8BlqU
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.