Kerusso Daily Devotional

We “love” all sorts of things. We love a friend’s new hairdo. We love pistachio ice cream and travel to exotic places. Many times, the word itself loses all real meaning. It’s like homemade chicken soup without the chicken and without the soup. 1 John 3:16–18 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone ha...

Love is in the air, as they say, and that is our topic this week. Love can be a broad term, but we want to refine it for our time together—at the same time, we are preoccupied with cards, gifts, and candy hearts. 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily ange...

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 healing....

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, lov...

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 everything b...

David, the giant-slaying boy who would eventually become king of Israel, is mentioned over 1,000 times in the Bible. The youngest of eight children, David grew to become a powerful king, and some say he was also the original pop star, penning most of the 150 psalms included in the Bible. These songs were the hymnbook for Old Testament Jews, and continue to inspire well-known musical works today, i...

Since before the world was created, God has had a master plan to deliver people from evil. He cared for us so much that He was willing to endure pain to redeem us.  In Acts 14:20, we read about Jesus and the disciples preaching in a city called Derbe. It says that, “Jesus then was busy strengthening the souls of his disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many...

Who are you, exactly, that God should know your name, or care to know your story? Have you ever wondered about the answer to that big question? In the great scheme of things, we sometimes feel like ants in an anthill: nameless drones, fetching and carrying, an unremarkable face among the masses. We are so much more than that to the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says simply, “Pray continually.” Writte...

Have you ever known someone who inherited something of great value from an obscure relative? It happens. The will is read by an attorney, and all of a sudden, the beneficiary goes from struggling to pay the rent to needing a financial planner. It can be an exciting time, even disorienting. The only downside to receiving a large inheritance is the knowledge that someday it will run out, or you die...

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...

A common theme today is that people are just tired of chaos—both public and private. It’s exhausting sometimes dealing with bad relationships. Global problems are with us every day. And we wonder when it will end. There is good news for you, though. Literally, Good News. 1 John 5:4 says, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith....

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 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 the scene....

One of the things that marks a healthy society is the consistency between generations. In other words, adults who care about the future of their children will invest the time to make sure tomorrow is bright. God the Father is the ultimate parent, and we would do well to model His love for us. Luke 18:1 says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never g...

Today in America, two million men and women serve in our armed forces. More than 200,000 of them are deployed to various points around the world. Joshua 1:9 reminds us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” The Lord has told us directly not to be afraid. We aren’t even to be discouraged...

For most of us, being humble is easier in theory than it is in practice.  Reaching out in Christian Love and kindness often means being a peacekeeper and letting go of the need to be right or to win an argument. God wants us to walk with humility at work, on social media, and at home.  When we’re frustrated with someone across the table or online, considering the words and deeds of others through...

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 does...

I’m not sure where you’re at today. You might be angry at God. Something happened, maybe in your life, 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 mis...

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 needed…but 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...

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three young men from Judah who found themselves in a heated situation. They were brought into the court of King Nebuchadnezzar II, and ordered to bow before the king’s golden image. The alternative was a one-way ticket to the fiery furnace. The king’s command would have been easy for these guys to follow, but their own King of Kings had already commanded them t...

Are you the kind of person everyone looks at and assumes you are strong and you have it all together? You too, huh? Many of us look fine on the outside, but the human condition is often much different on the inside. Proverbs 31:25 says this of a godly woman: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” But the thing is, God did not make us to have a spirit of fear...

A positive in our culture today is that we can admit our shortcomings.  In the past, it was sort of taboo to tell the world you were not exactly all together. Back in the day, a “hot mess” usually referred to an overturned pot on the stove. But today, the phrase “hot mess” has a whole new meaning. Our lives are often just a mess. Thank goodness the outcome is not dependent on us. Ephesians 2:8 say...

By some estimates, the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace” is performed over 10 million times a year around the world. Imagine not being able to hear this sweet song! Losing the ability to hear, or being born deaf, is unimaginable for many of us who have never experienced hearing loss, but there are some surprising upsides to being differently-abled in this way. Deaf people develop keener senses of obser...

Have you ever been really angry at someone, and had a tough time letting it go? Maybe a work colleague let you down, or got you in trouble with the boss. Maybe family drama is dragging you down, and there are unresolved hurt feelings. Maybe your spouse betrayed you, and you aren’t sure how to move past it. Unforgiveness in our lives is painful, and as believers, it can affect our prayer life, and...

Do you ever worry you might not measure up? Sam was a fourth grader with a big problem: he left his homework at school, and he was so worried he’d be in trouble with the teacher, he could hardly stand to go to school the next day. In the car on the way to school, Sam’s mom explained the concept of grace, asking, “Sam, do you know about the idea of grace? Grace means even if we aren’t perfect, the...

“Mom — I broke something! I’m so sorry!” Benjamin had slipped on the wet bathroom floor and managed to take down the shower curtain and the curtain rod in one fell swoop. His mom’s concern wasn’t the state of the shower curtain, but whether the broken something was an arm or leg. Thankfully, her son wasn’t hurt, and fixing the curtain was a lot easier than mending a broken bone. A reassuring hug f...