Kerusso Daily Devotional

Do you ever stop and think about the routine things you do every day? Buying detergent so you can wash your family’s clothes. Fixing a couple of boards on your deck. We even grind through staff meetings at work. All of this of course mixed with life, laughter, and love.   But do you think about why you can do these things in our country?   Primarily it’s because of the sacrifices of our fallen sol...

From earliest times, God commanded His people to see their national home through His holy eyes. In other words, countries around the world are to follow the Lord. Of course, many don’t.   Jeremiah 30:22 says, “So you will be my people, and I will be your God.”   Many great civilizations have risen, but few last beyond a couple hundred years. Although history is debated, the foundations of America...

We as Americans tend to relish our history—and most countries do. Famous eras and the glory of battle and all that. Americans love the beautiful land that we’ve been blessed with, as well.   The Bible tells us the true source of our blessings. It points us to the One who made all things possible.   Psalm 115:1 tells us, “Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your lo...

Today in America, two million men and women serve in our armed forces. More than 200,000 of them are deployed to various points around the world.   Joshua 1:9 reminds us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”   The Lord has told us directly not to be afraid. We aren’t even to be discour...

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the original settlers in America? As a person leaving the safety of England to come to the New World and start over?   Those people came here for religious freedom and risked it all. When they landed in New England, they literally put down roots as they built and planted the beginnings of an amazing experiment that is still ongoing....

Have you ever hunted and hunted for something—maybe your car keys, and you finally find them? The old saying goes (and it’s very unhelpful!) that you find them in the last place you look.   There’s a lot of truth to that.   It also is very relevant to our walk with Jesus. Often, we work really hard to solve our own problems, then we give in and ask Jesus for help.   Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will b...

The Bible tells us that King Solomon was a very wise man. He ruled over his kingdom from Jerusalem, and built the famous Temple there.   He was also very human.   This son of King David eventually let his wealth and power go to his head, and he began to follow other religions and almost seemed to enjoy sinning.    And yet God loved him.    In his later years, Solomon realized how wrong he had been...

Do you feel like you’re falling apart today? It’s okay to say yes.   Life is life, and we all have obstacles to overcome. Maybe your issue is ongoing, or maybe it’s a sudden thing. But please think of it this way: Jesus is alive and He knows who you are—and He cares about you and your problems.   Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”   Jesus is not c...

Do you find it hard to trust some people? Do you find it hard to trust anyone? Our society is full to the brim of people who have been hurt, wounded, and devastated. It puts up a wall and we live behind it in silence and fear.   After the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the people of that captive country were free for the first time to tell their stories. One woman said that she had been driven ne...

There is a common metaphor of life being like a road, and with good reason. We are in essence walking a path in life, from beginning to end. For each person, the journey is at different times joyous, grueling, and full of wonder.   2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we live by faith, not by sight.”   This week we’re talking about walking by faith, something us as humans find difficult to do—especially w...

We often hear that it’s harder to raise kids today than ever before. That isn’t true, of course. All eras down through history have been challenging. We live in a world scarred by sin, after all, and children grow up among all sorts of temptations.   That’s why the role of a parent is something to take seriously, as a sacred duty.   We’ve been discussing the best practical guide for living: the Bi...

Noah was far from perfect, but he was a humble man, and protective of his family. He stands out among fathers in the Bible as a man who remained loyal to God, in spite of the wickedness of the world around him.   Doesn’t that sound a lot like life today? Fathers who choose to follow a life of faith are surrounded by temptation and downright evil in this world, but God is pleased by our devotion, a...

What is your relationship with your father like?   That’s kind of a personal question, right? And for some people, it may be a topic they really don’t enjoy discussing.   Sometimes people who don’t have a meaningful relationship with a father or father figure, struggle to grasp just how much God, our creator and provider, loves us. It can be challenging to develop a personal relationship with your...

Joseph was a hardworking tradesman who God hand-picked from all the men in the world to be the earthly father of His own Son, Jesus Christ. What an honor! And in some ways, what an incredibly challenging task.   Joseph wasn’t a king, a politician, or a recognized leader of any kind when he was betrothed to a young woman named Mary. A simple carpenter, he was also a man of compassion. When he learn...

One of the things that mark a healthy society is the consistency between generations. In other words, adults who care about the future of their children will invest the time to make sure tomorrow is bright.   God the Father is the ultimate parent, and we would do well to model His love for us.   Luke 18:1 says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and neve...

Are you struggling right now? Are you listening to this while gripping the steering wheel, wondering how you’re going to go on?    1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, “May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.”   He has a purpose for you; He really does. God want...

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is widely looked upon as the most famous painting in the world.   By some historical estimates, the Mona Lisa took as many as 16 years to finish! Capturing Mona Lisa’s famous smile on a poplar plank was no hack job; Leonardo accepted a commission for the work in the year 1503, and completed his masterpiece supposedly around the time of his death in 1519. Clearly,...

Do you struggle to wonder what God’s will is for your life? Many of us do. Although it isn’t a quick answer, the best way to find God’s will for your life is to read His Word. The Bible will tell you the answer to that question.   Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”   Actually, finding God’s will isn’t the hardest part. Deciding to follow His will is where we get tripp...

Roaming, travel, wandering…all have been part of the human psyche since the beginning. Because we all have that God-shaped hole in us, needing to be filled with Him, we search.   Some find God, and some don’t.   The sense of aimlessness and lack of purpose haunts some. We think of the classic novel “On the Road,” which is the story of two characters traveling the country. At first, the lure of fre...

Have you ever wondered what your place in this world is?   Of course, you have. That’s the human experience. Alone with our thoughts, we wonder who we even are, and what we’re meant to do. It’s a mysterious journey, but the fog lifts and the way becomes clear when we get to know King Jesus.   Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepar...

We as people tend to be goal-oriented. Even if you think you’re not, you really are.    Maybe you don’t have a burning ambition to work in finance on Wall Street, or you aren’t going to be a pro athlete any time soon. But you do want to earn a living for your family. Hey, maybe you even want to get your chores finished before your favorite show comes on TV.   Sometimes, this love of goals can trip...

Francis was just 6 weeks old when she became ill in the spring of 1820. The family doctor was out of town, and a charlatan pretending to be a doctor prescribed a treatment that rendered the baby completely blind, although she recovered from the initial illness. A few months later, her father died, and her mother went to work as a maid to support the family. She was raised by her grandmother, a dev...

Tim closed his laptop and wondered what to do next.   He had a degree. Great job experience. Enthusiasm and passion for his work… But the job market was tough in his new hometown, and his savings was running out fast.   “Lord,” he prayed, “please help me find a job. You know my talents, and what I need to help support my family. Please provide.”   He’d been praying this same prayer daily, but no j...

Judson Van DeVenter was an art teacher and artist when he became a layman in the Episcopal-Methodist Church. He was passionate about his work, but also actively devoted to the evangelistic meetings held at his church.    Seeing his abilities, Judson’s friends urged him to quit his job and become an evangelist. For five years, he wavered between the ministry and seeking recognition as an artist. He...

Nick Vujicic, born without arms and legs, faced obstacles few could fathom. Less than 10 people worldwide have this condition. He’s now a person of faith, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world.    Oh—and he’s married with four kids.  Oh—and he graduated from college with a double major.    Nick, now 35, was born with a condition known as Tetra Amelia syndrome. Not surprisingly, he...