Kerusso Daily Devotional

Have you ever pondered what it means to be ‘born again’ as a Christian believer?   When we give our hearts to the Lord, asking Him to forgive our sins and guide our lives, we are making God a promise: we no longer claim the right to follow our own paths, or to focus on our own agendas.   We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross on our behalf so that we can be forgiven and li...

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...

A political science major at a major university was having coffee with a campus pastor. The pastor knew that the student was wrestling with doubt about the existence of God and said to him, “John, you know all of us wonder at some point if it's all real, or not. For example, there are quite a few stories in the Bible that are just hard to believe — Jonah and the whale and all that.”    John s...

God does things on a big scale, but he’s also in the details. He knows our thoughts, hopes, dreams, and every detail of our lives.    John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   In Ecclesiastes, God spends considerable time speaking to our innermost needs. Through the stories of Paul and the...

The Bible is full of stories of God doing amazing things for those He calls. One of the most famous seems to be good to be true, but it is!   Daniel, God’s man in exile in Babylon, insisted on worshipping the Lord, and not a human king. This was against the law. When those who were jealous of him urged the king to punish Daniel, the prophet was thrown into a lion’s den overnight.   And that was th...

Someone has said that the entire Bible is really all about just one person.   Jesus.   We learn in the New Testament that He has eternal mercy and love for each of us. In the Old Testament, He is on every page. Remember the mysterious man seen in the fiery furnace with Daniel’s three friends?   Jesus is everywhere, all the time. He is with you on the mountain when you feel awesome. He is also ther...

Paul was a stubborn man. He was completely committed to his job. The very definition of a zealot. More than anything, he hated religious people. In fact, he worked every day to make their lives miserable.   You’re probably aware of who we are talking about. Yes, this is the famous Apostle Paul, whose pen dominates much of the New Testament. Paul, or Saul as he was known when he was persecuting Chr...

Rebecca knew just what Craig needed when he lost his job. She knew he felt ashamed that his job performance was a major contributing factor. In other words, he had flat-out failed. In front of people.   The hurried goodbyes and awkward pats on the back actually sort of made Craig feel worse. He threw the small box with his personal belongings in the backseat and drove as fast as he could away from...

Bullying is a thing today. A big thing. With social media making such a surge in our culture, it has mushroomed in ways no one could have foreseen. The Bible tells us that at some point, love among people can grow cold. It’s then that humans display some of their worst traits.   We can’t often fight bullies alone. And a bully can take many forms: a person, like a coworker. Maybe a job itself. A fi...

Do you ever feel like life is a 24/7 chore? That it’s just hard work and very little joy, to the point that you can’t go on?   Unfortunately, that’s a common theme for many — but as we explore our series this week, “Friend,” here’s a suggestion:   Seek out a person who knows you and loves you. Someone you’ve clicked with, and you have the memories to prove it. In other words, a true friend. Prover...

Do you especially need the gift of peace right now? Is your life so busy, you can’t find time to take a breath? There is Good News for you: Jesus already knows.   Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”   When Jesus ascended to heaven, he told the apostles, “My peace I leave with you.” Because He lives, we know for sure that this peace is available...

Does your life feel out of control? Are you experiencing that common feeling of weaving down a busy highway, about to crash?   It’s a metaphor for life that most internalize at some point. All of a sudden, what you were sure of isn’t there anymore. You might as well be behind the wheel of a fast car that’s heading into oncoming traffic.   1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God,...

Life can be overwhelming sometimes, right? A huge wave of despair can come out of nowhere and push us toward disaster.   Anita’s life was like that, growing up in Hong Kong where revolutionary movements brought violence and loss of hope. She couldn’t see how the pieces of her life could be put together. She would ask herself, “How do you make peace with a potential that is frustrated?   Philippian...

1 Peter 5:6–7 says, “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.”   These two short verses tell us several things: One - if we submit to God’s power by acknowledging we can’t solve our problems, He is strong enough to intervene and bring about the outcome we really want.   Second, He...

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 will talk about this human condition. Today, we are really no different from people in ancient times: We all need a relationship with ou...

The book of Revelation scares some of us, and it’s a source of confusion and debate for others.   But if we block out all the noise and read it for ourselves, we see it is nothing more or less than a beautiful description of our Jesus. It is an unveiling of the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. He created the world we live in, He knew us long before we were born, and He is preparing an indescribable wo...

It was March 30, 1981. In our nation’s capital, a new president smiled and waved. In the next instant, Secret Service agents are shoving him into a waiting car. Several shots have rung through the spring air. President Ronald Reagan had just stepped out from a hotel where he had spoken.   No one knew whether the President would live or die.   News anchors began the evening news with the uncertain...

Steve had everything to live for. His wife was the ultimate companion and mother. His kids brought him joy. A satisfying career added to the richness of his life.   Then a devastating diagnosis hit him like a baseball bat: cancer. The rarity of it added to the grim news. His doctor looked at him for a few seconds, then mentioned treatment options.   Steve didn’t hear him.   In our series this week...

No one can ever say that life in this world isn’t rich and varied.  We take the good with the bad because honestly, we have to. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. But through it all, we keep going because our King is up ahead encouraging us.   On a dark day long ago, Jesus didn’t look like a King. His life was ebbing away on the cross. His followers were distraught as they looked on. Their wh...

In the frigid Italian winter of 2017, the unthinkable happened for guests at a mountain hotel. An avalanche buried everyone under tons of snow, ice, and rock. The terror of those moments stretched into the hours following, when rescue efforts took on the ultimate sense of urgency.   Amazingly, working through the night, rescuers began to hear voices under the rubble. In one spot, six people were s...

We hope this week is a great one for you in your relationships. Like many people, you have a special someone in your life and you’ve gotten a gift from someone who loves you. At least a last-minute one!   But part of truly loving and being healthy emotionally is looking at what God intends for human love. That provides an opportunity for you to share the love of Christ in a very real way.   1 Cori...

In an age of technology booms and information-sharing, it’s amazing how lonely we have become. Everything and everyone is connected, but does all that online connection ever leave you feeling disconnected in real life? Do you feel alone?   If you do, you are listening at the right time this week as we are reminded that God’s timing is always perfect.   Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everythi...

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 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 ourselves tog...

Have you ever been hurt in a relationship? If you’ve been alive very long at all, the answer is an obvious “Yes!” Reality has shown us that love can be the most wonderful feeling ever…or it can be ugly and brutal. It can feel like your heart has been run over by a truck.   We’re talking about Loving Like Jesus, and as usual, His Word unlocks the secrets of our hearts, and shows us the way to heali...

When it comes to love, the secular world has plenty to say. Turn on the television, radio, or explore the internet, and you’ll find advice on every type of relationship, from friendships to getting along with your parents, and of course – advice on romantic relationships. People are clamoring to figure love out…but what does the Bible say about love?   1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient,...