Kerusso Daily Devotional

In its natural state, the jaw-dropping gem known as emerald often resembles an ancient barrel-shaped decree from a king. It tells us things nothing else can. Today, the glittering green stone stops an onlooker. It takes our breath away. When set against a backdrop of shimmering gold, it is something that transfixes us. The calming color of an emerald actually give the eyes a rest after working for...

We don’t have direct evidence, of course. The Bible doesn’t tell us this exactly… But tradition says that the Ten Commandments were carved from a solid slab of sapphire. It’s a beautiful thought, isn’t it? The rich blue of the sapphire gemstone reminds us of royalty, and the regal King Jesus. It fits! Proverbs 31:10 says, “She is far more precious than jewels.” When a woman admires a sapphire neck...

Diamonds. The very word calls to mind something so beautiful and rare, people everywhere immediately form a sharp mental image. Who hasn’t dreamed of handfuls of these sparkling, valuable gemstones running through their hands? Nothings speaks of high value more than a diamond solitaire. Such a piece of jewelry signals to the world that a couple considers their relationship to be both priceless and...

Everyone loves the beauty of nature’s gems. The greens, blues, and reds of natural gemstones have set apart jewelry since the beginning of time. These precious jewels are relatively rare, and desired by people from all walks of life. None more than the ruby. The second-hardest gemstone, rubies have always been striking for their deep reds that flash in the light. They have been used in the crowns...

Have you ever noticed how good chicken soup tastes when you’re sick? Usually we don’t want much to eat, but the hot broth soothes us inside and out. The natural elements do in fact help heal our bodies, and we can lie down to rest feeling nourished and content. Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” God knows w...

Jesus is always our standard. Moments after He picked the 12 disciples, Jesus was standing at the base of a mountain, teaching the people. He told them many things, but one thing really stands out: He told them how to treat each other. Jesus had a way with stories. Narrative was the way He told people what He wanted them to remember. And it was then that Jesus used an image of the good gifts God g...

It’s harder to visualize during the hot summer months, but during Christmas of 1944, American soldiers were dug in against the Germans. The dark, frozen Belgian forest added to the bleak atmosphere. Morale was low, ammo was low, and food supplies were low. But just when things looked the worst, General Patton’s Third Army showed up almost out of nowhere. The men who fought in the Battle of the Bul...

Do you ever just feel really low? Like…God has abandoned me, my friends don’t love me anymore. That kind of feeling? We all do at some point. But not only has God not abandoned you, He has great things in store for you. Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In ancient Israel, when God selected a new king for H...

The area surrounding Ein Gedi, near the Dead Sea, is bleak. Desert scenes and HOT temps! It isn’t a place you’d go just for fun. It really wasn’t fun when David was hiding from King Saul. The guy who whipped a rock at Goliath’s head was already a legend among the people. Saul couldn’t stand that, and so he did what power-hungry leaders do: he decided to eliminate the competition. David hid from th...

Think of what Jesus was asking of His followers. He had just risen from the dead. That doesn’t happen every day. His ministry had been destroyed, so they thought. He wasn’t coming back. But then He did. Only days after being killed on a brutal Roman cross, Jesus was standing in front of his friends, looking very much alive. And He was telling them their futures were dicey. Mark 16:15 says, “He sai...

Are you comfortable in your life? This is a little different than asking if you are always happy, or living in some sort of paradise. Comfortable just means you are relatively peaceful and content with your situation. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it can be dangerous in a spiritual sense. Jesus calls us to something more. Mark 16:15 says, “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach...

In the dark days of mid-20th century Europe, a lone German decided to make political waves. His choices put his own life in grave danger. Oskar Schindler was a businessman with factories in countries occupied by the Nazis. Jews everywhere were being shipped like cattle to extermination camps. Some of Schindler’s employees were in danger. What did he do? He saved over a thousand of them by keeping...

In the Tom Hanks film “Castaway,” the main character, “Chuck,” finds himself in the ultimate terrifying situation. Chuck’s plane goes down in the ocean, and he finds himself stranded on a very deserted island. Years pass. Chuck’s family and friends long ago gave up on him, and why not? No one could have known he was sitting on a remote pile of sand in the Pacific Ocean. He learns to survive, but t...

Our nation’s leaders have always acknowledged God, even if some of them haven’t always been model Christians. For one thing, no one can occupy the Oval Office and not lay aside some pride. And if our nation’s spiritual health has sometimes been less-than-desired, there is a unity that we all enjoy. This community spirit has made America a very interesting experiment. Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God...

Games and sports aren’t real life, but they often give a pretty accurate picture of how we can choose to face life. Some people love Tom Brady, some don’t. What we have to admit though is that the guy is at his best when the pressure is the most intense. Imagine that your profession is on a national stage. You have the ball with less than two minutes to go, and your team is behind. Standing behind...

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...

Sandra was a single mom with little family support. Her ex was not exactly helping repair a tough situation. Her days slowed down only late at night when everyone else was asleep. That’s when fear got into bed with her and wouldn’t budge. Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfo...

Do you like scary movies? Is an evening spent looking through your fingers appealing to you? It is to a lot of people. Some of us really like to be scared! But hopefully that doesn’t translate to real life. Screaming in a dark theatre can actually be fun, but you don’t want to live a life of fear. Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no ev...

Our nation’s leaders have always acknowledged God, even if some of them haven’t always been model Christians. For one thing, no one can occupy the Oval Office and not lay aside some pride. And if our nation’s spiritual health has sometimes been less-than-desired, there is a unity that we all enjoy. This community spirit has made America a very interesting experiment. Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God...

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...

As a believer, have you noticed that it’s often easier to stay in God’s will when you’re at home? At work, it gets a little dicey. It’s at work that people see us, and our decisions can have such impact. Not being in God’s will in that setting can be catastrophic. Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Terry Looper is the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company. Once, he wa...

Billy Graham had many admirable qualities. He deserved the accolades he got in life. He also once said that one day people would hear that he had died, but in fact that was wrong; he was going to see Jesus, and so would more alive than he’d ever been. What explains that kind of conviction? Could it be that the so-called secret to his success was that Billy Graham sought to be in God’s will every d...

Do you struggle to wonder what God’s will is for your life? Many of us do. Although it isn’t a quick answer, the best way to find God’s will for your life is to read His Word. The Bible will tell you the answer to that question. Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Actually, finding God’s will isn’t the hardest part. Deciding to follow His will is where we get tripped u...

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. The...