Kerusso Daily Devotional

If you’ve ever been to a trade show, you know that products for the Christmas season are presented and pre-sold in July! Sort of like the Laurel & Hardy film in which they sold Christmas trees in summer!   Hopefully, we have better marketing than the comedy duo, but there is one superb gift we can make people aware of year-round.   Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, t...

Have you ever thought much about grace? We hear the word, but the concept itself might be a little elusive. That might be because it’s hard for humans to understand and embrace.   Grace means simply that someone gives you something with no strings attached. Just for your good.   Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gi...

Our world has rich diversity. In nature, we see almost countless stunning animal species. We linger on pictures of beautiful landscapes. Even different cultures give us amazing experiences.   There are also many different religions. Some of them offer a measure of peace. Some have reflections that can help us be better people. Today we’re talking about salvation, and that is one thing only Jesus o...

Have you heard the name Sydney Carton? This character in Charles Dickens’s acclaimed novel “A Tale of Two Cities” has everything to do with sacrificial grace.   Carton is a man during the French Revolution who has a chance to stand-in for a condemned man. In this way, the man will be free to go on and live his life. Carton takes the other man’s place, and is executed.   It was common for Charles D...

People are goal-oriented. Even if you think you’re not, you really are. Maybe you don’t have a burning ambition to work in finance on Wall St., or you aren’t going to be a pro athlete any time soon. But you do want to earn a living for your family. Hey, you even want to get your chores finished before your favorite show comes on TV.   Sometimes, this love of goals can trip us up when it comes to e...

Ah...wanderlust.   There is nothing quite like ambling along in your car, on a bicycle, or on foot along an unfamiliar country lane. No agenda, no rush to arrive anywhere on time, just letting your wheels spin and enjoying the scenery.   What are we really searching for, when we set off on a sunny day with no particular destination in mind? What are we hoping to find, when we leave behind maps and...

From the time he was a young shepherd in the wilderness, David had deep relationship with God. He escaped enough dangerous situations to know that God was always with Him and was his deliverer.   Psalm 91:1,2 says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”   This psal...

Trust issues. Lots and lots of people have trust issues. Someone has hurt you in the past. Maybe it’s been multiple times. This world can be a dangerous place.   But stop and think about how much your damaged trust affects your relationships now. Is there a way out of this long, dark tunnel?   John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father exc...

Humans tend to see the world from a me-me-me perspective: What can we get out of this situation? How can I benefit from this?   It’s the same with being thankful.   Not that we shouldn’t focus on all that God does for us. That’s important — even critical. But when you think about it, who should benefit most from our gratitude?   The answer is: others.   When we thank others and recognize the effor...

Most of us feel a deep respect in our hearts for those who have sacrificed so that we can remain free. Loving those who have paid the ultimate price is just something we do as people. We pause to remember each year. Isaiah 56:5 says, “To them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure foreve...

From the very beginning, women around the world have served their countries on the front lines of war. In America, we know that the Land of the Free has hundreds of thousands of women manning their stations at home while Daddy fights a long way from home. In fact, winning World War 2 would have been dicey had we not had millions of women manning factories and offices.   But many of us are unaware...

In May 1962, an intimidating figure delivered a final public speech at West Point Military Academy.   Douglas MacArthur, who led America to victory in the Pacific during World War 2, addressed cadets. He told them simple truths, ones that define honor and glory.   The hall was completely still as the old general spoke in hushed tones. Everyone heard him speak of the honorable soldier who must rely...

Most countries relish their histories…famous eras and the glory of battle and all that. Americans love this beautiful land, as well.   But the Bible tells us the true source of our blessings. It points us to the One who made all things possible.   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.”   We are incredibly blessed in...

One movie image is so powerful, if you’ve seen it you’ll never forget it. A pair of army boots leaves the ground as a helicopter takes the wearer airborne, away from the field of battle.   This is a scene from “We Were Soldiers,” a film about America’s first battle of the Vietnam War. This happened in 1965, and tells the story of Col. Hal Moore and his men.   Moore was the clear leader, and he had...

We owe them so much.   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 a great and strong country?   Primarily it’s bec...

An eagle screams near the summit at Masada, near the Dead Sea. Once Herod’s summer palace, it was later the scene of a terrible incident in which Jews chose suicide rather than enslavement to Rome. When Roman soldiers breached the defenses at the top, they were met by silence, the wind, and perhaps a lone eagle, watching.   We are talking this week about your place on the winds of history. Where d...

Are you a person that has walked away from your faith? Maybe you believed once, very much, but it faded over time. Maybe you accepted the promises of God for a little while, but then something else caught your eye.   That’s not uncommon. Starting out on fire for God and then becoming weary is something many of us have dealt with. To use a flying analogy for our talk today, sometimes your flight of...

There’s a reason the Bible uses so many metaphors. The wisdom God has for us lends itself well to short narratives, and we learn much from stories.   A famous passage from Isaiah we’ve been discussing this week uses a powerful mental image to convey deep truths from God.   Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run a...

If you’re like most people, the more chaotic life gets, the more you need a solution broken down in easy-to-understand concepts.   We’ve been discussing what happens when people move away from God, and the consequences that impact us.   Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and...

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...

One reason people use for rejecting the claims of Christ is that there somehow isn’t enough evidence to prove that the events in the New Testament actually happened. In other words, some say the Bible isn’t true.   We’re talking about the life of Jesus this week. So what is the true story?   Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”   There are more than 25,00...

Of the many gods throughout world history, almost none of them seem to care about individuals. They might alter the weather so that crops can’t grow. Or cause some global upheaval.   But only one claims to care about you.   Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”   Isn’t that amazing? The story is that Jesus left His place of royalty in heaven to come to Ear...

As we talk through the Good News of Jesus this week, we must always make it personal. In other words, deciding to believe in Christ is a very personal thing.   We all come from different backgrounds and belief systems. In the end, though, what will you do with the story of Jesus? Do you believe it is true?   Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”   Over and...

When we as Christians talk about the saving power of Jesus, what exactly do we mean?   In our discussion this week of this all-important topic, are we clear about who Jesus is?   Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”   The facts are that Adam and Eve broke their faith in God by disobeying Him. Some dispute that this even happened in history, or some are ju...

There is a move in our society for a return to simple living. We might not want to give up all of our technology—much of it is wonderful and helpful. But it is true we want to quiet our minds and find some peace. This week we are talking about the simplest, sweetest truth around: Jesus Saves.   With that knowledge in hand, we can all find peace that the Bible says is from another world.   Luke 19:...