Kerusso Daily Devotional

Clive Staples Lewis was successful. A British writer and theologian, his work has become very famous. When Lewis wrote his classic Surprised by Joy, he was emphasizing the fact that true joy comes from a place we cannot create, but only claim and receive.   His story really brings a point to our weeklong series about asking the Lord for help when we are at the end of our rope.   John 16:24 says, “...

We look for things and stuff to make us happy, don’t we? Especially in America, where we are blessed with abundance, people from all walks of life look for more and more.   That can bring us to an empty place. Spiritually and emotionally, we look in the wrong places.   But as we’ve discussed this week, that spark of joy we look for can be found only in Jesus. Everything else is, yes, clutter.   Jo...

Solomon was one of the most amazing men in all of history. The King of Israel, the son of the famous David, was so rich he got bored. In fact, some believe he was the wealthiest man of all time. In terms of money, he was the Jeff Bezos of his time.   But the Bible tells us his story, and doesn’t spare any truth in doing it. Solomon accomplished great things, but at great spiritual cost.   After aw...

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...

Isn’t it funny how we come to certain conclusions in life fairly late? In other words, sometimes the obvious things aren’t obvious until we’ve stumbled around on our own, trying to find a solution.   Take the simple act of asking for help. It isn’t uncommon for a person to be reluctant to ask for help. Then he finds he wasted a lot of time!   That’s what we’re talking about this week.   John 16:24...

Have you ever seen the film, “Saving Private Ryan?” If not, it’s about a group of American soldiers sent into enemy territory during World War 2 to find one lost soldier. The order comes from top leadership.   This small group has single focus the whole mission. Eventually—at great cost—they locate him and return him to his loved ones. Much of it is difficult to watch, as we see the incredible sac...

Of all the themes of the Bible, God's grace through His Son, Jesus Christ, is the greatest example. It's the most critical element in a person's life, and the choice to receive it is ours.    The Bible tells us that before the world was created, God already had a plan to redeem mankind from sin. And because He knows all, He already knew what would take place in the Garden of Eden. A...

Corrie ten Boom made a decision at the height of World War II. She would hide Jews from the Nazis in her Dutch home, and she was found out. Surviving the war, she told people for the rest of her life about God's grace. Though her sister, Betsy, died at the notorious camp called Ravensbrück, Corrie survived.   One night two years after the war, she found out just how meaningful grace really is...

Theresa Rosenthal had a rough start in life. She watched her father abuse her mother, and then when she was six, a family friend sexually abused her. Like so many that suffered at the hands of a predator, Theresa pushed the pain down into a secret place, and for decades, she battled with depression and substance abuse. Finally, one day she was sitting in front of her house and just blurted out to...

It's been said that grace is simply favor from God, and we didn't do anything to earn it. Often, grace comes when we need it the most.    The word grace is used about 170 times in the Bible. Most of those occur in the New Testament as the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ unfolds. His sacrifice for all of us, dying on the cross for our sins, was the backdrop for a lot of other moments in...

Few of us enjoy chaos. It's just too…chaotic, right? The human mind needs order and peace, yet we live in this messy world. Stuff is flying by all the time and we duck. Our relationships are a mess and we have to schedule that root canal while simultaneously making dinner and cleaning the house.   Is there a way out?    Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the...

Have you ever tried to follow God in a half-hearted way? You know what that means. You like the idea of God, but His perfect will for our lives can also feel very…restrictive.   That’s the moment we walk along the highway of life completely alone.   Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall di...

Do you remember the last time you laughed? Do you remember the last time you laughed from sheer joy?   Many of us don’t. The weight of life presses down on us…it weakens us.   Proverbs 31:25 says this of a godly woman: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”   Did you know that God means for you to be strong? He wants you to have dignity. You are a child of t...

Colossians is a very informative book. Originally, it was a letter written by Paul and Timothy to believers in a small city. Chapter One tells us that Jesus made everything we see (and plenty we don’t see!). The universe was brought into being by Him.   That’s kind of a comforting thought! This great source of Love also made it all and He sustains it all.   Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all...

Are you struggling right now? Are you listening to this while gripping the steering wheel, wondering how you’re going to go on? You have so many burdens!   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;...

Since before the world was created, God has had a master plan to deliver people from evil. He cared for us so much that he was willing to endure pain to redeem us. In Acts 14:20, we read about Jesus and the disciples preaching in a city called Derbe. It says that Jesus then was busy, strengthening the souls of his disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many t...

Many times over the centuries, earnest Christians have run out into the world to aggressively and passionately share Jesus, and the world doesn't always want to hear it.    John 15:19 says, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own and as it is you don't belong to the world. But I have chosen you out of the world, and that is why the world hates you.” And this is a hard...

Charles Templeton was surging ahead in ministry. Converted at 21, by 1946, the Canadian evangelist founded Youth For Christ. Billy Graham was hired as the organization's first full-time evangelist, and he and Templeton toured Europe together.   A decade later, after a turn at Princeton Theological Seminary and after wrestling with doubt, Templeton began to identify as agnostic, and his world...

There are different schools of thought about just how Christians should share their worldview in a world often at odds with God's best.   Some feel it's best to jump into the deep end of the pool and look just like the world. Others view it very much the other way. Second Corinthians 6:17 says, “‘Come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord.” Whole denominations have used this vers...

Sweat was pouring off Peter as he moved to protect Jesus. As Roman soldiers held the one who had been labeled a heretic, Peter drew a sword and cut off a soldier's ear. And he was stunned when Jesus told him to put the sword away. You see, Jesus knew infinitely more than Peter or anyone else, He knew the end from the beginning, and He knew He had an agenda to see through to the end, and Peter...

America has 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 us, it’s good to go to the Bible....

Have you ever had a power outage and pulled out your favorite flashlight, only to discover the batteries are dead? Bummer, am I right?   How about light bulbs? For some reason, they all seem to go at the same time, leaving you in the shadows and looking for that flashlight—you know, the one with the dead batteries!   Light bulbs burn out, tires go flat, umbrellas turn inside out on a windy day, an...

Ever have the pleasure of waking up in a cozy cabin…after you’ve let the fire go out from the night before? If you don’t get out of bed and put more wood in, the squirrels or raccoons aren’t going to do it for you!   Much more serious is the tendency to get lazy about the fire inside us to share the love of Christ. After so many years of being a Christian—especially living in a free country—sharin...

Emma used her hand to brush her husband’s white hair from his forehead…Edgar was near death.   Their marriage had been happy, and now she was saying goodbye. The nursing staff talked about the love between the two. Only three days after Edgar went into eternity, Emma joined him.   The Bible often uses marriage as a backdrop for what God has done for us. We know that in earthly marriages, it’s impo...

Joshua was called by God to lead the 12 tribes of Israel after the death of Moses. Those were pretty big shoes to fill, and the Lord chose Joshua because he was faithful.   Joshua knew when he called on God in times of trouble, He would answer.   In one powerful example, Joshua asked God to cause the moon and the sun to stand still so that he and his army could continue fighting a difficult battle...