Kerusso Daily Devotional

When Hurricane Katrina rolled through the spinning white satellite image on TV screens actually looked evil. For residents of New Orleans, waiting for that hurricane that's exactly what it felt like. Thousands of people were affected by the brutal storm that poured in from the Gulf. In many ways, the city still hasn't recovered. But in the chaos, God was there. For more than 20 years, wa...

Would it surprise you to know that God has always been interested in you? Did you know He knew you before you were born? He has a vested interest in how your life turns out. Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” He isn’t some remote deity. God doesn’t pay attention only most of the time. He doesn’t form His plans here and there. He is there for us all the time. The quest...

It’s interesting watching the outcomes of people who refuse to give in to fear. Many years ago, while America was going through a severe economic depression and a world war, President Roosevelt told Americans that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Those listening over the radio said later that they felt a great sense of relief just from his words! Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Yea, though I w...

Even during times of calm and security, the honest truth is, there are very few examples of really strong and steady leaders. It’s a given then that when times are scary, brave leaders that reassure us are really rare! The Bible speaks of one such person. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be...

The worst of times brings out the best in some people. As we think about sacrificing for others this week, we find some extraordinary stories. One such story from 70 years ago spotlights a very brave woman. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." During World War 2, Romanian Princess Catherine Caradja defied her government’s alliance wit...

What is your relationship with your father like? That’s a very personal question, right? And for some people, it may be a topic they don’t enjoy discussing. Sometimes people who don’t have a meaningful relationship with a father or father figure, struggle to grasp just how much God, our creator and provider, loves us. It can be challenging to develop a personal relationship with your heavenly fath...

Joseph was a hardworking tradesman who God hand-picked from all the men in the world to be the earthly father of His own Son, Jesus Christ. What an honor! And in some ways, what an incredibly challenging task. Joseph wasn’t a king, a politician, or a recognized leader of any kind when he was betrothed to a young woman named Mary. A simple carpenter, he was also a man of compassion. When he learned...

Moses was the father of two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and he also served as a father figure to the entire Hebrew people as they escaped from slavery in Egypt. He loved his people, and helped discipline and provide for them on their 40-year journey to the Promised Land. Imagine leading a frustrated, tired, hungry group of travelers through the desert — without air conditioning or handheld electron...

Noah was far from perfect, but he was a humble man, and protective of his family. He stands out among fathers in the Bible as a man who remained loyal to God, in spite of the wickedness of the world around him. Doesn’t that sound a lot like life today? Fathers who choose to follow a life of faith are surrounded by temptation and downright evil in this world, but God is pleased by our devotion, and...

Adam, a first time father, looked down at his newborn son with love. Adam and his wife had made mistakes in the past and suffered greatly for it, but this child, their firstborn, was a chance to start fresh. The new family didn’t have the support of friends or relatives, but they did their best, and figured it out as they went along. When the family was blessed with another son a few years later,...

California church goes to Supreme Court on in-person restrictions. Church must be ready to deal with post-COVID ‘apocalyptic’ scenarios. Morning Briefing: Is Going to Church Worth the Risk? Congregations of every stripe are in the news lately as communities adjust to a shared new normal in the midst of this pandemic. It’s tempting to think churches across the land are flouting CDC restrictions and...

Parenting requires a ninja-level set of skills in order to keep kids healthy, happy, and safe. The biblical fruits of the Spirit cover many of them: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Add to the list energy, creativity, and multitasking, and you’re ready to raise a kid. Parenting doesn’t come with an instruction manual, and the list of pr...

The Parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke Chapter 10, verses 25-37 exemplifies what it means to be the kind of neighbor Jesus wants us to be: ____________________________________________________________ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He...

Ask most adults about their favorite teacher, and they’ll tell you Mrs. Wilson in fourth grade helped them believe in themselves, or Mr. Lincoln in 10th grade history developed their skills as a writer, which led to a fulfilling career later in life. This year, teachers have had to think outside the classroom in ways they couldn’t have imagined when the school year began. The last few months of sc...

The men and women fighting for our nation on the frontlines of hospitals, clinics, and testing stations are worthy of our admiration. Doctors, nurses, CNAs, and medical technicians are showing up every day in the face of danger to wage battle against a common enemy — a virus smaller than the human eye can detect, that is disrupting lives and putting the most vulnerable members of our community at...

Have you ever been fooled by someone? Doesn’t feel good, does it? But the absolute worst is when we fool ourselves. We try to manage some problem on our own, or analyze why our boss is so mean. But the Bible has a better way of thinking about it. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” We have to do two things here: give total control to G...

Are you angry at God today? Has something happened that has damaged your faith? If we live in the world long enough, it can happen to any of us. How you respond is really important. If you’ve listened previously, you know we are talking about how to live by faith. Having perseverance when we’re miserable is really, really hard. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re the only one. 2 Corinthians...

When Richard Winters stood in the doorway of a huge glider in the pre-dawn over Normandy, France, he thought about a lot of things. The young Army captain was preparing for the invasion of Europe, to free the continent from the Nazis. He knew one thing first: he couldn’t survive on his own skill. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; i...

The Bible contains a huge amount of wisdom for us. It’s the Word of God, after all. Usually, that wisdom is most valuable to us when we are living through tragedy. Those days and nights can be among the hardest we’ll ever have, because the pain seems to be too strong. Have you ever felt like that? Our topic this week has to do with Walking By Faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we live by faith, n...

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 also can feel restrictive. That’s the moment you are walking 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 dir...

The Kingdom of God is simply the worldwide community of believers throughout history, looking forward to an eternity in which God will make everything new. Revelation 21:23 says, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” When we take part in fulfilling the Great Commission by sharing our faith, we help add to that gr...

On Today’s episode of the Kerusso Daily Devotional, we talk about the various stumbling blocks people have to accepting Jesus Christ. 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.” From various philosophies and theories, to internal struggles with sin, people stumble over obstacles that keep them...

On Today’s episode of the Kerusso Daily Devotional, we talk about what the faith is in the context of the Gospel. Luke 9:23—"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” In an increasingly post-Christian culture, many people simply do not understand what the Christian faith actually is. It is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus...

On Today’s episode of the Kerusso Daily Devotional, we talk about how common doubt is; most of us have these thoughts at some point. Mark 9:24 says, "Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" As with other issues, sometimes we feel like we’re the only one dealing with a particular thing. But, if we’re human, we’ve probably struggled...

On Today’s episode of the Kerusso Daily Devotional, we talk about how healthy it is to talk about doubts. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” It is vital that believers and unbelievers alike have a place that they can talk about their fears and concerns about spiritual life. Talking openly is the first step.