The Up Devotional

Have you ever wondered what the voice of Jesus must have sounded like?

Jesus would have spoken Aramaic. He would have known Hebrew and Greek as well. As a boy he would have received the standard education for his day, been raised in the synagogue, and learned the language of commerce when apprenticing under Joseph.

Unfortunately, we can’t go back in time to hear his tone of voice. But oh, how amazing that would be! My sense is that his tone would have varied depending on the situation. My guess is that he would be pastoral-yet-energetic through the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12); tender when offering compassion (John 8:10-11); unyieldingly firm as he chastised hypocrites (Matthew 23:13-15); and even more so when he called people to repent or perish (Luke 13:3)!

Even though we don’t know what his voice would have sounded like, we know many of the words themselves. We find them, of course, in the Gospels.

But we should also remember that Jesus would have been exceptionally familiar with the psalms. These were sung by God’s people week in and week out. Much of what Jesus did was in fulfilment of the psalms. He also pointed to their authority, and sometimes quoted from them, including when he was hanging on the cross (Psalm 22:1; Mark 15:34).

My point is this. If you want greater intimacy with the voice of Jesus, read and learn the psalms. If you are looking for something to memorize, turn to the psalms. (If you want some suggestions, let me know.) Speaking the psalms in the power of God’s Spirit is one of the best ways to draw closer to the personal voice of Christ.

Psalm 1 is sometimes called the “gateway to the psalms.” “Blessed is the man… [whose] his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season… In all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3).

I can picture Jesus as a young boy, singing the words to Psalm 23 as he wandered through a field. I can picture him reciting Psalm 46 as he and his family neared Jerusalem for the Passover feast. And I can picture him as a teenager pondering Psalm 91 as he lay in his bed waiting to go to sleep.

Let’s not forget the psalms. And draw even closer to the personal voice of Christ.

Notes:

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

“Hold loosely to the things of the world, and hold tightly to the things of God.” That’s something my colleague William Min says.What does he mean?The “things of this world” are fleeting. They won’t last. If you have a house or apartment, you probably spend a lot of money on it. Me too. But we … Continue reading Hold loosely to the things of the world

Daniel had a series of visions about the end of days. It’s big stuff. At one point he sees four dreadful creatures. “And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another” (Daniel 7:3).

The first was like a lion with eagle’s wings. The second was like a bear with ribs in its mouth. The third was like a leopard with wings and four heads. The fourth beast was “terrifying and dreadful” and had many horns. 

Daniel later learned that these were kings of the earth. It was most likely that they represented the kings and kingdoms that ruled in Daniel’s day and immediately beyond—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.

I go into more detail in a sermon on Daniel 7 (link below), but for today’s devotional let me simply point something out which was just as relevant to Daniel’s audience in the sixth century B.C. as it is to us today.

It is tempting to place too much of our hope in the kingdoms, governments and political parties of our day, rather than on the living God. 

As the people of God, when we align ourselves too closely with liberals or conservatives or democrats or republicans, it can obscure our ultimate allegiance to Christ. Sure, we may like certain policies more than others, and we will certainly make decisions when we go to the polls, but an uncritical commitment to any kingdom, government or party can, if we’re not careful, threaten our ultimate allegiance to Christ.

In an uncertain world, it can be tempting to put all our hope in a visible, tangible group of people. It can also be tempting to buy into the us-verses-them mentality which is made worse by the internet. 

Although we certainly want to advance policies and laws that are consistent with God’s will—and although there are good and well-meaning people who try to make this happen—we also need to remember that our help is in the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. His plan is best; his purpose is most glorious; and his hope is the only one which can fully and finally transform the world for his own glory.

Like Daniel, let’s work for a better world, but not overly commit our hearts to the wrong king. Let’s continue to pledge our allegiance to the King of kings, Jesus Christ.

Notes:

-“Answering Skeptics #2 – Hypocrites Disprove the Credibility of Christianity.” New podcast episode and blog. Click here, or find it on ‘The Pulse Podcast at Matthew Ruttan’ (Apple Podcasts or Spotify, etc.)

-“The World is Going Into Labour (Daniel 7)” Click here. Sermon.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

When reading the Bible, we can get so focused on the verse-by-verse details of a story or teaching, that we can sometimes forget to step back and consider the bigger picture of what is happening. The specific in-the-moment details are critically important, of course. But looking at the broader narrative can also be instructive for us.

For example, Daniel received a vision of four beasts arising out of the sea. This troubled him so he asked someone about their meaning. Here is what he was told: “These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever” (Daniel 7:17-18).

It is most likely that these four kings and kingdoms were the ones that ruled in Daniel’s own day and beyond—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.

However, as the vision stated, they would eventually fall. “But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.” In other words, God and his people would ultimately triumph, even though they were currently living through incredible difficulty. But they would have to wait. The fourth kingdom, Rome, was still ruling approximately 500 years later at the time of Christ! 

This is why it can be helpful to take a step back and consider the bigger picture of what is happening. It teaches us this very critical message: Delay does not mean defeat. 

That would have been a very welcome message for Daniel and his contemporaries. Just because God hadn’t acted yet, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. Victory would come—but only after a longer time horizon. 

The same is true for us today. We get impatient. Since we can’t always see God working, we assume he’s asleep at the wheel. But just because we can’t always see God working, that doesn’t mean he isn’t. 

This is true not only for the world at large, but for how God is working in our nation, communities, families, and souls.

Soldier, keep your head up. Delay does not mean defeat.

Notes:

-“Answering Skeptics #2 – Hypocrites Disprove the Credibility of Christianity.” New podcast episode and blog. Click here, or find it on ‘The Pulse Podcast at Matthew Ruttan’ (Apple Podcasts or Spotify, etc.)

-“The World is Going Into Labour (Daniel 7)” Click here. Sermon.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

Having a baby is at the same time exciting and scary, painful and joyful, dangerous and life-changing.

Let’s think about a pregnancy. The longer it goes, the more discomfort there is for the mother. After all, there’s a human growing inside of her; it’s getting bigger. Toward the end of nine months, labour begins. Contractions get closer together—and the pain increases.

Through all of this, what keeps the mom going? It’s the thought of a new baby at the end of the process—a baby who she already loves so incredibly much! 

Well, our world is going into labour. The idea comes from Jesus himself. When speaking about the period leading up to his return, he talks about a rise in wars and rumours of wars; of famines; of earthquakes; of living in a world where love decreases and wickedness increases—and then: “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:8).

I don’t say this to shock or upset you. In fact, my sense is that many of you already know that it is true. Things out there seem pretty crazy.

However, this doesn’t need to throw us off course. Just how a mom knows that at the end of her labour there is something beautiful and glorious waiting for her, so will there be something beautiful and glorious awaiting us when Jesus returns. He will usher in the “new heavens and the new earth.” Sin will be no more, pain will be gone, God’s people will be restored and rewarded, and the new creation will shine everywhere.

Even though life can be hard, and despite the distress and trouble that can surround us, God is at work. There is a plan. Just as in a pregnancy, things are developing beneath the surface. Jesus is working in and through his people, and one day he will return as Judge and Saviour to make all things new. 

Pray, serve Jesus, and trust God’s process. Hardship doesn’t last, but hope does.

Notes:

-“The World is Going Into Labour (Daniel 7)” Click here. Sermon.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

When someone uses the word “strict,” what comes to mind?

Maybe you think about a “strict” parent—someone who has lots of rules and doesn’t want their kids to have any fun. Some people think about God like this as well. 

But this simply isn’t true. 

Let me highlight one of the uses of the word “strict” in the Bible. In this passage from Deuteronomy 15:4-5 the people are told to be strict about something. This is what it says: “there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.”

Did you catch it? If the people are strict about God’s instructions to do with the Sabbatical year, God will bless them and there will be no poor among them! 

Here’s one of the reasons why I think this is significant. Following God’s commands isn’t just about doctrine and rules. These are definitely important. In fact, they are eternally important. But carefully following God’s commands also blesses others. Since God specifically instructs us about caring for neighbours, showing forgiveness, and helping the poor, being strict about listening to his voice spreads more grace and love, not less!

Do you trust what the Bible teaches about God?—about how he is good, holy, wise, loving and true? If so, listen to his voice and follow his paths. It’s not just about thinking in a certain way, but about living in a certain way too. 

This will bless you, your family and friends, your community, the disadvantaged, and the whole world.

Notes:

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

A regular habit of prayer shapes you. Let me explain.

In the sixth century B.C., Darius passed a law that no one could “petition” any man or god except himself for 30 days. It was most likely an act designed to consolidate political loyalty across the new empire. If anyone broke the law, he would be thrown to blood-thirsty lions.

However, Daniel refused. After learning about the law he “went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously” (Daniel 6:10).

Today, I would simply like to point out two details. 

First, this tells us that Daniel was a man of prayer. He didn’t just start praying because of this dangerous situation. He simply did something he was already in the habit of doing—pray. 

Second, this tells us that he didn’t pray occasionally, but consistently. The text tells us very specifically that he prayed “three times a day.” This wasn’t a new practice. It was something “he had done previously.”

My point is this. Regular, consistent prayer shapes you—day by day by day. Just how regular exercise makes you physically fit, so do regular spiritual practices make you spiritually fit. They fortify you and give you a certain kind of God-honouring strength. Neither one happens overnight. When you encounter serious difficulty, stress or hardship, you are better positioned to trust God, act wisely, and persevere because you will be operating from a position of spiritual strength.

If you’re not there yet, that’s okay. Start today. 

Tyler Stanton explains that a regular rhythm of daily prayer is “a quiet rebellion, a free choice to live our lives by a different order of loves, marching to a different beat in the procession of another King.”*

Our true King is Christ. A regular habit of prayer is one of the ways you march to a different beat in the procession of another King. It shapes you. And it fortifies you. 

All of this begins—or continues—today.

Notes:

-“Daniel, The Lion’s Den, and True Bravery Today.” Click here. Sermon.

-Tyler Stanton, Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer (Thomas Nelson, 2022), 200.

-The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on February 23, 2026.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

Today, let me offer this definition: True bravery is kneeling before God while facing the lions. 

It is inspired by Daniel in the lion’s den. It’s one of the most famous Bible stories—and for good reason. Daniel had served in a foreign court for nearly 70 years. At this point, he was in his early 80’s. So much had been taken from him. 

A law was passed specifying that no one could “petition” any god or man except the king for 30 days. This would have included prayer. It was most likely intended to shore up political loyalty to the new superpower who was now governing a very large geographical region. The penalty was being thrown to lions—a cruel form of punishment that the new empire had a record of using.

Nevertheless, Daniel put God first. He “went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously” (Daniel 6:10).

He was caught and thrown to the lions. But in his power and mercy, the Lord saved him.

Daniel was truly brave. He knew the threat, but he put God first anyway. He kneeled before God while facing the lions.

Although our situation today is different from Daniel’s, there is still a need for true bravery. What are the lions you are facing?—not physical lions of course, but metaphorical ones.

There is a need for true bravery in a world literally going mad, in a world that spits on the Word of God, and that shows increasing apathy to people’s pain.

There is a need for true bravery in a world that celebrates and perpetuates lies, that distorts God’s design and plan for life and family, and in a world where the lost and confused are forgotten, misled or discarded.

There is a need for true bravery in a world that will increasingly put God’s people in jail, that will call you crazy for simply being sane, and in a world where you are told to shut your mouth if you don’t agree with the crowd.

It’s easy to say you “put God first” when everything is nice and cozy. But what about when things get rocky?

True bravery is kneeling before God while facing the lions.

Notes:

-“Daniel, The Lion’s Den, and True Bravery Today.” Click here. Sermon.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

Today is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. 

The word itself, Lent, was chosen for convenience. It traces to an old English word for “springtime,” lencten. More literally, it means “lengthen,” which is a reference to the lengthening of days after a long, dark winter. It was the perfect title since the seasonal change corresponds to the lead-up to Easter.

Some Christians observe Lent, others don’t. (For a podcast episode and blog explaining more, click on the link below.)

For today’s devotional, I’d like to explain the significance of the forty-day time period. It provides an opportunity related to our faith. 

The forty-day timeline recalls other forty-day periods in the Bible. It rained forty days and forty nights when Noah was in the ark. Moses was on the mountain of God for forty days. It recalls Jesus’ experience too: “And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan” (Mark 1:13).

Although the Bible never provides an explicit answer about the meaning of “forty,” it seems that forty is a period of preparation for a new time and task under God. That was certainly true for all the examples I just cited.

With this in mind, the period leading up to Easter can serve a similar purpose. It can be a time of spiritual preparation and strengthening. This is partly why some people spend more time in prayer or fasting. Others go without social media or a bad habit. “I’m giving up such-and-such for Lent.” 

Others, instead of giving something up, take on a new practice to help them draw closer to God—perhaps a prayer habit, memorizing some psalms, or volunteering for a special project.

Do we have to do these things? No. But if we’ve swerved off course and need a re-do, or if we’d like to go deeper with our faith, Lent can be a helpful time to intensify our relationship with—or commitment to—the Lord.

Think about your own faith or discipleship. What is lacking? What needs strengthening? What is going well? What needs to go? What needs to stay?

Whatever you do (or don’t do), let’s heed the instruction of Hebrews 12:1-2: “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…”

Notes:

-“What should Protestants think about Lent?” Click here, or find it on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.

Today is known as “Shrove Tuesday.” It’s the day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

What does it mean?

The name comes from a practice in England to “shrive” on this day—meaning confessing our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness.

Since many people fast during Lent, there was a custom of using up fatty foods on this day to get them out of the house before Lent starts. Hence, pancake time!

With that brief history lesson out of the way, let’s get to the heart of the matter: confessing our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness.

If you’re looking for a place to start, how about confessing to God the times you have not shown mercy to someone. Jesus said: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). In fact, he even went so far as to say that if you don’t forgive others their sins, God won’t forgive yours! (Matthew 6:15)

Perhaps this is someone in your home. Maybe it’s someone at school, work or church. Perhaps there is some other relationship where this is needed. Ask God to forgive your lack of mercy.

All of this is to drive home the point: tell God when you’ve neglected to show mercy towards other people and ask him to forgive you. 

Shrove Tuesday isn’t just about clearing fatty foods out of the house, but about clearing unconfessed sins out of the heart.

Ask God to forgive your lack of mercy, and re-centre your mind on a merciful God.

Notes:

-“What should Protestants think about Lent?” This is my latest podcast episode. Click here to listen, or find it on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)

-“Daniel, The Lion’s Den and True Bravery Today (Daniel 6).” Click here. Sermon.

-A version of this devotional first appeared on February 21, 2023.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.