Kerusso Daily Devotional

Even though most U.S. homes have at least one copy of the Bible, if you know what's in it, there are all sorts of things. Wisdom for living, history, spiritual food. It's the Bible's practical value that hooks most people who read it. The Bible says a lot about money, how to raise kids, and even how to strengthen your marriage. It also tells us a lot about forgiveness.

Forgiveness is mentioned dozens of times in the Bible. The most famous example is the forgiveness Jesus chooses on the cross as His accusers and executioners mock Him. Think about how hard that was. It gives some perspective on our own situations in life.

When you think about it, the entire theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is one of forgiveness. Man chose to bring sin into the world and defy God's perfect plan. Yet God didn't leave us in that state. He made a way for our sins to be put away forever. Jesus Christ became the vessel through which forgiveness could be extended on an epic scale.

One of the most difficult passages in all the Bible is found in the New Testament. Matthew 5:43–45 says, “You have heard the law that says love your neighbor and you hate your enemy, but I say love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. In that way, you will be acting as true children of your father in heaven.”

Now, in the here and now, is there anything more difficult than forgiving a mocking enemy? There are people in the world who delight in making others miserable their whole lives, but Jesus is telling us that is possible. The key is when we take the long view. We must mentally and emotionally take ourselves out of the pain we are experiencing right now. Think of the future. Begin imagining the most wonderful healing that can take place between enemies and that's what God did for us. The Bible tells us He's holy and cannot look on sin. Yet in Genesis 3, God began the process of grace.

In the Gospels and in Paul's letters, we see him continuing to be patient with us. Then in Revelation, the long long view. God takes our acts of forgiveness and makes a powerful redemptive new world and we can look forward to that.

Let's pray. 

Father, thank you for having mercy on us in every way. Sometimes we need to forgive someone and sometimes the shoe's on the other foot. Help us to read your word and act on your commands to forgive, especially when it hurts. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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, including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

The 62nd Psalm was written by King David with a goal of reminding himself and others of the Lord's steadfast love. A man of immense power and influence, David wanted to encourage people to continue seeking the Lord, and to trust Him with all their endeavors. 

Psalm 62:5 says, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”

Some scholars see Psalm 62 as a warning: each of us possesses a certain amount of power over our own choices and circumstances, but we should not let our personal authority get in the way of our trust in God. 

King David had wise and experienced advisors at his side, and he commanded armies that did his bidding at home and abroad. Upon his orders, men could be rewarded or condemned. He certainly wielded a significant amount of power, yet he put his faith and his trust in God. 

Whether you sit at the helm of a large corporation, you lead a military regiment, or maybe you are the king or queen of your family’s castle, let power rest not upon your own shoulders but ultimately with the Lord. 

Let’s pray. 

Heavenly Father, like King David, we are mere mortals blessed with opportunities, gifted in unique ways, and called to follow you. Let us turn to you with full trust in your plan, and remember the source of all power is you, and not ourselves.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

Who is the most loyal person you’ve ever known? A parent? Spouse? Friend?

Truthfully, we all crave loyalty. It gives us a sense of safety. We feel that if there is some loyalty in our world, it’s like a warm blanket on a cold night. Life seems less scary.

As we discuss the role of Jesus in our personal stories, it is good to remind ourselves often of ultimate loyalty. In turn, it encourages us to be loyal to that One person we can always count on.

John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Jesus gives us loyalty that cannot be broken. Are we willing to stay true to Him, as well? In other words, if life’s road gets rough, do we stay on the path He has set for us? Like Peter, we tend to think nothing could pry us from Jesus, but our choices can do that. Then we regret being disloyal to Christ.

Resolve to never let that happen to you. Keep His sacrifice for you in your mind and heart. That will help you stay true to Him when life isn’t so great.

He promised to never leave you. Tell Jesus that you love Him for that, and keep your eyes looking ahead to the eternity He has made for you.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, make us strong in our loyalty to our Savior. Then let that light shine for those who see us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

What would you think is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for us as we try to live our lives with integrity?

If you said “pride,” you win! The Bible tells us that the sin of pride can lead to a whole range of bad outcomes.

Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Walk humbly? Wow, that can be the most difficult part of living out this verse. We must constantly check our spirits to make sure our motives are pure and centered on God’s plan for us and those we encounter.

Micah is communicating to us that God actually requires certain things of us. Justice and love are critical, to be sure, but staying humble is no less important. It puts legs to the journey God has mapped out for you.

Lay down your pride and see what God will do!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, we war with our own flesh at times, our desires to be the object of attention. Help us lay this aside and live only for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 gives to those that love Him.

The book of Luke tells the story. Jesus looked at His followers and said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.”

Almost a thousand years before, David wrote a similar thing.

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.”

When you make a choice to believe God, He gives you so much in return — it just pours out! Now this is not a message about the prosperity gospel…hear it clearly: the blessings that we find in Christ when we place our identity in Him are so abundant, it’s almost too much to take in.

This is the God we serve. The One waiting for each of us who is hungry and thirsty.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for the abundance you give us in every way. We remember it and are grateful, always. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 question is, where are we? 

Before you were born, it was God’s will that you would have a relationship with Him. He has always wanted your life to be successful. He wanted you to have joy hundreds of years before your parents were even born!

So God’s will for your life isn’t confined to now, or even now, and going forward. He has always been with you, guiding you through your life. As you look back now, you can see that this is true.

Being in God’s will is all-encompassing. It is the beginning, middle, and end of our stories.

If you weren’t exactly in God’s will in the past, learn from that and move forward with Him all the time.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you hold us in your protection for the entirety of our lives. We thank you that you never get tired of that. In Jesus' name. Amen.

One of the things that set God apart from all others is His ability to tell us what is going to happen. We read about this in Isaiah 46, where He says only He knows the end from the beginning.

An amazing example of this is found in Psalm 22, and it’s almost surprising how many people are not aware of it.

Psalm 22:11 says, “Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.”

If you read the entire chapter carefully, you begin to realize that this is a conversation that Jesus has on the cross.

This psalm was written a thousand years before that world-changing event!

It describes a man being mocked on the cross. A man who is so thirsty his mouth feels like a piece of dry pottery. He even mentions that his tormentors are casting lots for his clothes. All these things are described in the New Testament, and even some of the language Jesus used on the cross is seen here for the first time.

God is in charge of all things, all the time. Including your situation. He raised Jesus from the dead, and He will provide life eternal for you if you call on Him.

He knows the end from the beginning.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you know all things. No one else does. That alone should give us confidence that you will be with us always. In Jesus' name. Amen.

In a world full of manmade gods and goddesses, the Creator God stands alone. He is a King of the first order, and everything was made by Him. His majesty and power are awesome.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Usually, when people are in the presence of royalty, they get nervous. Kings and queens make us uneasy, and we obsess about how we approach them.

Not so with our great God. Yes, He is all-powerful, and the Bible does describe Him sometimes as fiery, but He also loves us with true love and compassion. It is a privilege to worship Him, and acknowledge Him for who He truly is.

Not all people and nations recognize God, of course. But the day is coming when they will. On that day, He will remember His people.

All hail our King!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you alone are worthy of praise, and we do praise your Holy Name. Amen.

Are you like a lot of people when it comes to the instruction booklet with a new item? We stare at it and eventually toss it, guessing we can just figure it out.

Yeah…that usually ends like dropping a carton of eggs.

The Bible is there for a reason. God’s Word is healing and light and a guide for each of us. That’s why it’s important to read it, and meditate on the words.

To the church at Philippi, Paul gave instruction from God, such as putting others before ourselves. Then the payoff:

Philippians 2:15 says, “Shine...like the stars in the sky.”

God’s way is infinitely better. If we focus on the right things, our own needs are then met in ways too spectacular for us to imagine. Focus on others and sharing the Good News, and we stand out like stars in the night sky!

Do life the right way: Read the instructions.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you’ve shown us how to succeed in life and in the life to come. Help us share that with others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

We're all a little bit nicer at Christmas time, aren't we? Admit it. Starting around December 1st, our steps are a bit lighter and we even greet people with a smile. But as night falls on Christmas night, for some weird reason, some of us begin to turn back into a grumpy neighbor. In this, we're missing a great opportunity.

Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” 

God makes it clear He didn't send Jesus so we would experience joy four or five days out of the year. This is then our job. Carry Christmas forward into next year. Help people know Him. Share the love of Jesus with as many people as you possibly can. That is true Christmas.

If you've checked off your list for gift giving, get out another sheet of paper and resolve to be the face of Jesus to those you come in contact with. Christmas, the true meaning of it, lives in us if we are children of the King of Kings.

Let's pray. 

Lord, your love for us is eternal and continual. We worship you and we praise you for your mercies. In Jesus' name. Amen.