Kerusso Daily Devotional

Some of the greatest stories of believers down through time have involved those who really studied God’s Word. These people have gone before us to show us the way. From Charles Spurgeon to a missionary mother in China, daily study of the Word, and prayer, prepared them to mentor entire generations. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” We also read in Romans 10 t...

Have you had an experience in your life that has prepared you for helping others? Has life dealt you circumstances that speak to a situation in a younger person’s life? If so, you might be ready to help in such a way that will bring honor and glory to God. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” The apostle Paul suffered much for his faith in Christ. Beyond a drama...

Do you struggle with being humble, and yielding to God’s will? Most of us do. This extends to accepting an iron-sharpening-iron relationship He has set in our path. Yet the benefits are so good for us. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Make no mistake, God sets people in our path for a reason. That Bible teacher in your church might have words of wisdom for y...

The Bible is full of wonderful analogies. One of the best is found in Proverbs, which paints a picture of godly mentoring and accountability. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” The idea is that as pieces of iron are drawn against the other, each piece becomes sharper. A further application is made in Hebrews 4:12, which talks about Scripture as being a double-...

Keeping things simple is usually the best path forward. For Christians, that means following Christ’s lead in everything. This includes sharing and standing for our faith. The Bible is full of examples of how Jesus did this. Occasionally he got mad, as when he threw out the moneychangers. Other times he just quietly sat and taught what His Father had shown Him. This is our model. When you share Ch...

We think of a “defender” as a muscular guy wearing a suit of armor. He raises his sword and takes swings at the enemy. A defender can be that guy. No question. But a defender of the faith is simply a person who loves Christ enough to share Him with others, and answer questions along the way. The truth is, a defender of the faith can be a serene grandmother, or a mild-mannered accountant. It could...

We think of a “defender” as a muscular guy wearing a suit of armor. He raises his sword and takes swings at the enemy. A defender can be that guy. No question. But a defender of the faith is simply a person who loves Christ enough to share Him with others, and answer questions along the way. The truth is, a defender of the faith can be a serene grandmother, or a mild-mannered accountant. It could...

Defending the faith can sometimes be a subjective thing. As examples of extremes, we have seen the Crusades, and the other end of the spectrum is perhaps an aggressive “pitch” to someone who isn’t a believer. The thing is, it’s great to be zealous for our faith, but let’s also be disciplined. We don’t want to alienate a person who might otherwise listen. To put it simply: an angry Christian is usu...

In every generation, it falls to believers to spend time in defending our worldview as Christians. Honestly, it’s not the nicest part of the gig, but it’s necessary. Usually, it involves simply explaining what your faith is all about. Followers of other religions do the same thing, but for us, we are sharing the person of Christ with those who don’t know Him. That makes it a big deal. Jude 1:3 say...

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 Chris...

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 t...

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 co-worker. Maybe a job itself. A fin...

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. Proverbs 1...

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 deta...

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, “He...

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 shi...

Many modern phrases have their origins in the Bible. A couple that come to mind are, “She’s worth her salt,” or, “He is the salt of the earth.” They remind us of what Scripture says when using salt as an analogy. Matthew 5:13 says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and tram...

If a product or idea is worth promoting, it must be seen by the “end-user,” to borrow a marketing term. There is so much competition in business today…it is pointless to have a store unless people know you’re open for business. Thousands of businesses open and close every year. It’s a shame, but too often practical planning isn’t a big enough part of the picture. The Lord understands the importanc...

During the Civil War, Southern states relied on salt perhaps even more than their Northern counterparts. The commodity preserved various foods—such as fish—and allowed more people to eat and even keep food supplied for a rainy day. As the Union troops began capturing Confederate saltworks, the food supplies there literally began drying up. It was one of the things that led to the end of the war, a...

The Dead Sea, bordering the countries of Israel and Jordan, is also located at the lowest point on Earth. The landscape is so barren, it looks like a moonscape. Not exactly a place for a vacation or rest stop. And yet…did you know that one of the valuable things from that area is the vast amount of salt that rings this body of water? Besides the salt content, the minerals in the Dead Sea are valua...

Table salt today is so common, it becomes another thing we take for granted. You go to the store, pick a cylinder or jar of salt off the shelf, then go home. You don’t even think about it. Now, consider that 1,000 and more years ago, if a person wanted to use salt on his dinner, this required some prior work. A lot of work! The Romans boiled seawater in huge, lead-lined pans. So valuable was salt...

As we wrap up our series on precious jewels, it is kind of fun to spotlight one last gemstone. One that isn’t immediately beautiful or desired. But it is the rarest! Discovered in east Asia by British mineralogist Arthur Pain, the so-called “Painite” gemstone can be found several colors, and the various hues seen as light hits them give an uncommon view. Incredibly, only 25 such stones exist today...