Kerusso Daily Devotional

It seems that a positive in our culture today is that we can admit our shortcomings.    In the past, it was sort of taboo to tell the world you were not exactly all put together. Back in the day, a hot mess usually referred to an overturned pot on the stove. But today we know the phrase ‘hot mess’ as a whole new meaning, and our lives are often exactly that.    Thank goodness that the outcome is n...

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 to...

A lot of us like action movies. And if they have a faith theme or element, even better. The iconic film “Raiders of the Lost Ark” comes to mind. In fact, the wild ride taken by Indiana Jones really typifies what we’re talking about this week: finding the grit to move beyond failure.   As he pursues the famous Ark of the Covenant, Jones chases and fights Nazis, and his own doubts. Along the way, hi...

Have you ever paused and thought about how rarely people see you for who you are? Have you ever done something that you feel is almost unforgivable? You need to know that is not the way God wants you to feel.    Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.”   Some of the most famous people in history were very unrighteous at times. King David, described...

We all screw up. We all fail in some way. We fall short of goals, or get embarrassed in some kind of career implosion or other event. It’s easy then to feel like we’ll never win again.   That is not how God sees you.   Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”   Hope and a future...

The most influential ruler of all time, the greatest king to ever walk the face of the earth, is also mankind’s greatest example of humility.   Jesus may have been born in a stable, but the Son of our Creator God was anything but ordinary. He lived a humble life, but performed miracles along the way, and showed us what it means to be a humble servant leader among men.   Jesus selflessly took human...

Picture what it would look like to lose everything in one fell swoop. Your house burns to the ground. The stock market plummets and all your money is gone. Worst of all, your children fall ill and die. Suddenly, you’ve lost not only your material possessions, but your family, too.   When people refer to someone as having “the patience of Job,” they say that for a reason.   Job was a man of immense...

In Luke Chapter 7 verses 1–10, Jesus heals the servant of a centurion soldier at Capernaum. These verses illustrate the faith this soldier has that Jesus can heal his favorite servant.   We also learn in these verses that the Jewish people of the city knew of this particular centurion, and put in a good word for him with Jesus, because he had built the Jewish temple in Capernaum on their behalf.  ...

Have you ever recorded minutes for a meeting? Whether you were taking notes at work or for a volunteer organization, such as the PTA at your child’s school, taking minutes and reporting on them at a follow-up meeting is an important responsibility.   What ideas were discussed?   How were those ideas followed up on?   Who, including yourself, agreed to complete certain tasks before the next meeting...

Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates is credited with saying, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”   This line of thinking, developed nearly 2500 years ago, applies to our lives as Christian believers today. Let’s examine the question: What does it mean to be a godly man?”   There are many characteristics that come to mind when thinking about godliness, and living the kind of life the Lord wan...

Citizens of the United States of America have always acknowledged God. Sometimes though, our devotion to faith comes and goes. Sometimes we get too comfortable, and forget who keeps us upright every day.   Psalm 115:1 tells us, “Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”   Whenever a person questions God’s goodness, or the path He has set for...

Have you ever thought about the fact that you have an obligation to defend our nation’s freedoms? You live in the Land of the Free, after all; your contributions are needed. We all have a role.   Joshua 1:9 commands 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.”   Sure, maybe you’re not a Na...

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....

From earliest times, God has 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 Amer...

Do you ever stop and think about the routine things you do every day? Buying detergent so that you can wash your family’s clothes. Fixing a couple of boards on your deck. We even grind through staff meetings at work. All 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 s...

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...

No one is truly alone. Some people have many relatives and friends, others just a few. Occasionally, someone will have no real friends or family, but all of us interact with humans, and that over time has proven to be dicey.    The health of our relationships is one of the biggest factors in how we function each day.    Turmoil and chaos at home or work, or both, puts us in emotional quicksand. On...

A really cool thing about God is that He has a solution for literally every situation, and that includes mental health.    We see this especially in the ministry of Jesus, who walked the land healing people of all sorts of terrible things. One day He encountered a man driven insane by demons.   Mark 5:15 says, “They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clot...

Usually, when we’re looking for some kind of emotional lifeline to get us through the day, we only want to know what God can do for us.   How do we get that peace of mind we desperately need?   One component is simple obedience. At first, this sounds like a test that’s too hard. We need relief right now!   Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the re...

No one is immune from burnout. It comes in our jobs, friendships, and even our church life. Sometimes even our hobbies become dry and tedious! But in Scripture, God gives us hope for the future.   John 7:38 — “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”   Jesus is telling us that in Him alone is true life. He is always pointing us to the futur...

Jesus has great compassion for everyone. Especially for those society considers unlovable or worth nothing.   One day he stopped by a well and had a conversation with a woman who had been married five times. When He spoke to her, He knew she was now living with another man. Yet Jesus spoke to her in a way that let her know He valued her as a person.   He told her that people could drink the water...

Have you ever gone fishing and felt a little awkward casting your line the first few times? It’s especially true when someone else is watching. It can be kind of an intimidating thing, and this in life is often how we lose our focus. We worry too much about what others think of us. In reality, we’re casting our line only for an audience of one.    John 7:38 says, “Whoever believes in me, as script...

Researchers have long known that even when exploring new worlds, water is the key to life. Without it, nothing can live.   Water is also an image used often in Scripture.   When Jesus emerged from the River Jordan having been baptized by His cousin John, He used the imagery of water to help people understand that by trusting in Him, they would live forever.   John 7:38 says, “Whoever believes in m...

It’s no accident that Jesus chose as some of His apostles a group of fishermen from Galilee. These were men who could understand Him when Jesus told them He would make them “fishers of men.” He meant, of course, that they would share the Good News about Him with everyone they came in contact with.   And that’s exactly what each of them did, for the rest of their lives!   John 7:38 says, “Whoever b...