Kerusso Daily Devotional

John MacArthur once wrote a book called “Our Sufficiency in Christ.” In it, he revealed the path to finding true peace and contentment. And he says, “There’s a single word that encompasses all the riches we find in Christ—grace.” What a magnificent word it is. It’s used more than 150 times in the New Testament to speak of divine favor, bestowed on undeserving people. It is the means by which we re...

As we continue in our series on finding contentment, today’s message is really about taking the long view.    The human attention span is short. Like really, really short. Between the World Wars, Winston Churchill warned Europe that Hitler was a threat to the continent at least. But people ignored him. And then when the Nazis turned violent, the people turned to Churchill as their prime minister. ...

The big question for today is, can we find contentment in things? Have you ever listened to a very successful person complain about the fact that his wealth doesn’t make him happy, how the success of life has left him or her empty? Of course, you have. We've all heard stories like that. But, pay attention to that because it’s really important. Watch people roll their eyes when they hear those...

Today, our big question is, can we find contentment in relationships? How many times has this scene been repeated? A guy sees a girl he can’t live without. He thinks she will bring him happiness, and for a while, that’s how it plays out. But then one day he’s melancholy just like he used to be.   Or how about the woman who believes marriage will fulfill her heart’s desires, but then over time, her...

The diversity of life on this planet is astonishing, good, bad, beautiful, painful. Our world is a place of blessing and it’s also a struggle for a lot of people. Each of us has a whole batch of issues to deal with every day, ranging from physical challenges to emotional needs. And a fascinating element in all this is how we see contentment.    What is it?  Where is it found?  Is it lasting?   Mat...

You know, someone may have tried to convince you at some point in your life that we’re alone in the cold void of the universe, but that has never been true.    It’s especially false for the believer who understands what God has done for all people everywhere.    He, the Creator of the universe, formed us long ago, and His Word tells us clearly that He never takes a second off in His pursuit of us....

Today, we continue our series on healthy relationships, and we’re talking about managing difficult relationships.    There’s a wonderful scene in the classic film to kill a Mockingbird, when the attorney Atticus Finch is confronted by the father of a girl who has accused a black man of rape. The father, enraged, walks up to Finch—played perfectly by Gregory Peck. He spits in Finch’s face as the at...

One of the richest gifts God has given us is healthy relationships.   A marriage in balance, friends who mutually respect each other, and most of all a strong “God connection” can be the ticket to a healthy, whole life. The full life that Jesus spoke about!   Hebrews 10:24–25 says, “And let us consider how to spur one another to love and to good works. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselve...

God’s Word shares powerful wisdom for dealing with harmful relationships. A damaged marriage, child-parent relationship, or friendship gone bad can cause us to spiral downward. Everything is affected. Work, sleep, even our prayer life.   When a relationship sours, it’s important to remember we bear responsibility for doing everything possible to nurture healthy relationships. Our prayer life and r...

God created humans with a spirit, soul, and body. And in order for each aspect of our being to function in harmony, our relationships should also be in harmony.   From the beginning, God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, talking with them and nurturing a personal relationship with them. In fact, throughout the scriptures, God built foundational relationships, whether it was with the reluctan...

Bill was a very successful businessman for a lot of years. About 10 years ahead of retirement, he decided to entrust a lot of money to the investment wizardry of Bernie Madoff. And when Madoff’s Ponzi scheme imploded, Bill joined many others who now had to wonder where their money went. And he thought of suicide.    For fully two years, he struggled to get out of bed. He felt sapped of energy ever...

Sandy was facing some really tough choices. Her daughter needed a life-saving treatment. The girl’s father was out of the picture, and she faced this moment without support. Even the doctors didn’t seem overly optimistic. So this embattled mom did what moms do. She prayed. She told God she didn’t have the strength to see this thing through.    No bright light appeared, and things didn’t get better...

Quitting is something our culture really frowns upon. We’re all taught not to be a quitter, but honestly, it’s one of the easiest things in the short term any of us can do. Quitting is seductive, and taking the easy way out just feels right sometimes.    Well—fight that impulse. Too many outcomes are riding on your willingness to hang tough.    Luke 18:1 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a para...

Are you having a bad day? Feeling exhausted? Ready to throw in the towel? Have you considered telling God that?    Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”   Sometimes all things means conquering a mountain, but sometimes it means putting one foot in front of the other when you just aren’t feeling it.    When Paul wrote those words 2,000 years ago, he was...

The prophet Isaiah lived during a difficult period for the ancient Israelites. Turning away from faith in God and under the control of corrupt kings, the nation entered a period of darkness. They needed hope more than anything.   In our discussion this week, we’re talking about this human condition. Today, we are really no different from people in ancient times: We all need a relationship with our...

Early in the 2008 college football season, Florida was stunned at home by Ole Miss, losing 31 to 30. Tim Tebow, the Florida quarterback who had already had great success, was now faced with rising from the ashes. In a moment of weakness and humiliation, he told the world that his team would not lose again in that situation.    People sat up and took notice, mostly because Tim Tebow was an outspoke...

Kelly had felt alone for years. Since childhood, in fact. At 26, she didn’t like it anymore and she decided to do something about it. Not a naturally outgoing person, Kelly began volunteering in a local women’s shelter. She learned quickly to listen to other people’s problems she had herself never experienced, and she found that helping someone else made her feel better—physically and emotionally....

Of all the human emotions, fear is perhaps the most paralyzing. And there are what we call internal and external fears. While many people stress about relationships, depression, and self-doubt, there are also big issues affecting the world: natural disasters, political upheaval, wars, are just a few of the things that create fear.    Sometimes it can feel like everything is unraveling, but our fie...

Have you ever talked to someone who doubted the existence of God? Someone who says God couldn’t have created everything in our world?    Watch that same someone stare in wonder at a mountain range like the Rockies, the delicate bloom of a flower, or a sunset on a beach in Greece. It’s pretty hard to deny God in such a moment. In fact, all throughout scripture, we’re told that God’s majesty is seen...

In the Bible we read of family records that were the original genealogy sources. People knew where they came from, they knew their kin. The 12 tribes of Israel were first outlined in Genesis, and from these 12 came an entire nation.   Even Jesus came from somewhere!   One of the Bible’s patriarchs, Jacob, had a son named Judah. The father calls the son a lion’s cub, and blesses him. Judah is told...

When Isaiah the prophet wrote, the birth of Jesus was still almost 800 years away. Yet there is good reason to believe key parts of the book of Isaiah are pointing to the coming Savior.   Near the end of the book, we see this clearly.   Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”   It’s reasonable to believe that this has dual meanings. One,...

Diamonds.   The very word calls to mind something so beautiful and rare, people everywhere immediately form a sharp mental image. Many people dream of handfuls of these sparkling, valuable gemstones running through their hands.   Nothing speaks of high value more than a diamond solitaire. Such a piece of jewelry signals to the world that a couple considers their relationship to be both priceless a...

As followers of Jesus, we are meant to be witnesses. And Christ’s majesty and power are meant to blanket our world. He is intimately aware of you and where you are in life.   Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”   When we trust Christ—when we believe the Gospel—we’re called to get in the game. If you’ve been changed, and if you believ...

Don’t you love the nuances and uniqueness God put into the world? He created harmony and balance everywhere, including our individual best time of the day to be creative and productive.   Some of us are ‘up with the chickens,’ as they used to say. Others burn a candle late into the night. Whatever time is your time to connect in positive ways, God made you to shine for His purposes.   Isaiah 60:1...

One of the best benefits about flying at night is to look out the window and see all those lights against the black backdrop. The lights signal that a city or town is down there—a place where families live.      Our spiritual lives are the same way. This world has its share of darkness, but God looks down and sees His lights. He sees the good that says, “Love lives here.”      Matthew 5:14 says, “...