Kerusso Daily Devotional

Are you the enviable sort of person who was born with an innate sense of direction?   Some of us know instinctively whether we are traveling North, South, East, or West. And some of us...would be lucky to find our way out of a paper bag, even with a map in hand.   If you’ve ever been lost on a country road at dusk, no road signs, no one to ask for help, and no idea which way to turn—you know how v...

The story of the Prodigal Son is one we can all relate to. The Bible tells the story of a brash young man who leaves his home after asking for his inheritance. His loving father complies, and let’s just say the son learns some valuable lessons on his travels.   Eventually, he humbles himself and comes home; he needs his father and his family. It’s really a story of Jesus and us.   Matthew 7:7, “As...

Have you ever been lost?    For the directionally challenged among us, being lost is terrible.    Imagine a time before Google Maps, before cell phones, and even before boxy little GPS devices for the car. Now imagine a time, way, way back—before every square inch of our world had been mapped. And those who journeyed far weren’t sure what they’d encounter, or whether they’d even make it home again...

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...

Where are you headed, friend?   Psalm 25:4 says, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.”   Whether you’ve lived in the same place your entire life, or you’ve been blessed to travel the world, each and every life is a journey. An opportunity to learn, grow, and impact others as we follow the path God has planned for us.    Moses and the Israelites must have been expert travelers by the time...

Today friends, we conclude our series all about the Bible, covering things like what it is, who wrote it, and ultimately its relevance to us and to our time.    The Bible stands alone in historical literature. The internal evidence is that it’s really the Word of God run all through scripture. Here’s one. Out of the many kings who ruled various nations from 2000 to 400 BC, the Bible lists 40 of th...

It’s part four in our series All About the Bible, covering things like what it is, who wrote it, and ultimately its relevance to us and our time.   Even though the Bible is world famous, we sometimes hear people say that it was really written for ancient people and that it isn’t relevant for us today. And in a lot of cases, this is totally wrong. It’s true that ancient people compiled the Bible, b...

Today we continue our series all about the Bible covering things like what it is, who wrote it, and ultimately its relevance to us and our time.    Some believe that the Bible was written and compiled over a very long period of time and was sometimes shared orally, but this would mean that the likelihood of mistakes and inconsistencies could be greater.   Exodus 34:27 says, “Then the Lord said to...

We’re in a series all about the Bible covering things like what it is, who wrote it, and ultimately its relevance to us and our time.    One of the most interesting features of the Bible is that it wasn’t written or compiled by the most impressive people. If we think a person who recorded God’s Word had to be Shakespeare, we’re misunderstanding how God works through ordinary people. Many of those...

Today, we begin a series all about the Bible, covering things like what it is, who wrote it, and ultimately its relevance to us and our time.    It seems that even today, even in the United States, a country some folks consider a traditionally Christian nation, there’s a severe lack of knowledge about the Bible. Now some would say otherwise, but the Bible is really a pretty straightforward account...

It’s all in how you see it.   The world we live in has plenty of problems, and they are huge. Don’t need to list them all here, but it’s fair to say we even suffer from some existential threats.   And yet, God’s Word tells us that this present life can have, and does have, peace. That’s our connection this week.   Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward me...

When the last artillery rounds were heard on the Western Front and World War I ended, good men of conscience tried to create a global body that would bring lasting peace to the earth. Their hearts were in the right place. History teaches us though that real peace is elusive and rare.    John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do no...

In our humanness, we struggle at times to achieve peace.   World War 1 ended 100 years ago, and all sides joined together as a League of Nations to make that conflict the “War to end all wars.”   Then World War 2 happened.   Our history is littered with noble attempts to make things right, but only God can bring peace to nations, and to individuals. He has promised both! One day, He will make ever...

Identifying where our problems originate is one thing, but locating the Divine Healer is key in getting clear of obstacles in our lives.    At each mile marker in our life journeys, God is standing alongside the road, smiling at us, and holding out his strong hand to guide us. And from the indispensable wisdom of scripture to stories of human triumphs over tragedies, He is always there reminding u...

When fear takes control, God just crushes it.   None of us are immune from feeling unsettled at times. Circumstances have a way of knocking us off balance. How we respond not only affects our lives, but those who are watching us.   In the film “The Patriot,” a Colonial militia leader sees the British kidnap his son. Taking the two younger sons with him, they wait in ambush in the forest. One of th...

Life is a process. We know that if we’ve lived very long at all. And this week, we’re talking about the process of trusting God.   John 16:24 says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”   Could Jesus meet our needs by just giving us something instantly? Of course. He made everything! And sometimes He does that; the miracles...

Standing in the door of the plane, with a fierce wind whipping his whole body, Curtis wondered why he’d volunteered for the paratroopers.    It was glamorous, they said.   It’ll make a man out of you, they said.   Shutting his eyes, Curtis prayed the most honest prayer of his life. He stretched out his hands and took a step...   Lamentations 3:25–26 says, “The Lord is good to those whose hope is i...

As a believer, have you noticed that it’s often easier to stay in God’s will when you’re at home? At work, it can get a little dicey.   It’s at work that people see us, and our decisions can have such impact. Not being in God’s will in that setting can be catastrophic.   Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”   Terry Looper is the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company. On...

When the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in 2011 in Arkansas, the vast sum of money spent on art caught some off-guard. One painting in particular, “Kindred Spirits,” was sold to Alice Walton for the museum for $35 million dollars!   It’s a beautiful painting, for sure. Two men are standing on a bluff, overlooking a scene of mountains and a river.   Some might have an issue with the...

Would it surprise you to know that God has always been interested in you? Did you know He knew you before you were born? He has a vested interest in how your life turns out.   Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”   He isn’t some remote deity. God doesn’t pay attention only most of the time. He doesn’t form His plans here and there. He is there for us all the time.   The...

Sharing our faith should be exciting to us. It is exciting. When we consider the free grace God gave us through His Son, telling others about Jesus should be on our priority list every day. For whatever reason, many find it very awkward to talk to others about Jesus. We can talk about just about anything else, though. That’s why it’s crucial that we look at sharing the gospel as an intentional thi...

Keeping things simple is usually the best path forward. For Christians, that means following Christ’s lead in everything.   This includes sharing and standing up for our faith.   The Bible is full of examples of how Jesus did this. Occasionally he got mad, as when he threw out the moneychangers. Other times he just quietly sat and taught what His Father had shown Him.   This is our model. When you...

Think of what Jesus was asking of His followers.   He had just risen from the dead. That doesn’t happen every day.   His ministry had been destroyed, so they thought. He wasn’t coming back. But then He did. Only days after being killed on a brutal Roman cross, Jesus was standing in front of His friends, looking very much alive. And He was telling them their futures were dicey.   Mark 16:15 says, “...

Table salt today is so common, it becomes another thing we take for granted. You go to the store, pick a cylinder or jar of salt off the shelf, and then go home. You don’t even think about it.   Now, consider that 1,000 and more years ago, if a person wanted to use salt on his dinner, this required some prior work. A lot of work! The Romans boiled seawater in huge, lead-lined pans. So valuable was...

Do you ever feel that you aren’t suited for sharing your faith in Christ? Maybe you’re not comfortable around people. Maybe you’ve encountered some who are hostile to faith.   If so, then we are speaking to you about sharing your light in a dark world.   Philippians 2:15 says, “Shine...like the stars in the sky.”   Have you seen the movie, “The Ten Commandments?” It’s doubtful the real Moses looke...