Kerusso Daily Devotional

In Christ, we experience peace that is so remarkable, it isn’t naturally part of this world. As we think about the power forgiveness has for us and others, let’s think about how forgiving someone lifts a huge burden off our minds. 

Matthew 5:23–24 says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.”

Notice that God is aware how we think. This passage from Matthew describes a very interesting trait that is often overlooked. The person who has come to worship God cannot properly do that, because he remembers there’s trouble in his relationship with his friend. We just can’t let it go. God is telling us here to take care of this spirit of unforgiveness first, then come back for worship. Refusing to do things in this order only diminishes our time with God. 

Jonathan Draper has written about this problem of holding onto grudges, and he specifically says that having a forgiving spirit allows us to grow closer to God. This is the number one benefit of forgiveness.

Tony Roberts is an Indiana pastor and relationship expert. In a conversation he had with a young woman impacted by a negative relationship, he asked for her top emotional health benefits that come from forgiving. She said, “It impacts emotional health, in that if you don’t take care of you, nobody will.”

Taking care of you is forgiving and forgetting that person for trespassing against you. Forgetting isn’t the most important part, but it’s definitely one of the most challenging. And if they don’t happen, you will lose yourself. Now, think about that. God has promised to walk with us through our trials, and those include cycles of unforgiveness. It’s critical to our emotional well-being that we forgive, so that we begin the process of looking after our own emotional health. Letting go of bitterness is an important first step.

Let’s pray. 

Father God, you intended for us to live in harmony, so that our physical bodies and our emotional selves would be in sync. And when that doesn’t happen, we need your help to strike the right balance. Please walk with us in divine health. Let us come to a place where we embrace forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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How much can one person take, and still choose to offer kindness?

In Genesis Chapter 37, verses 12–36, 17-year-old Joseph is sent by his father to visit his brothers, who were tending the family’s flock of sheep in the countryside.

Rather than the friendly check-in he expected, Joseph’s brothers initially plotted to kill him out of jealousy, but instead sold him into slavery to a group of Ishmaelites heading for Egypt. Among the brothers, only Reuben wished to leave Joseph unharmed, attempting (but failing) to set up a situation where he could rescue his brother and return him to their father.

In Egypt, Joseph was falsely accused of a crime, thrown into prison, became an interpreter of dreams for Pharaoh, and eventually attained a seat of power over Egypt.

When famine hit the land where his brothers lived, they came to Egypt to buy grain. They didn’t know Joseph was not only alive, but was now the governor of Egypt. To their surprise, Joseph wasn’t angry at his brothers, but showed them compassion when he saw them again. Instead of taking revenge, he took them in and cared for them. Joseph knew everything that had happened was part of God’s plan, and what his brothers intended for harm, God intended for good.

Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

The story of Joseph teaches us that humility, patience, gentleness, and love are not just qualities to be saved up for those who we think deserve it; God asks us to approach others with love, even if they have offended or caused us harm.

Let’s pray.

Lord, sometimes the people in our lives are disappointing, frustrating, or downright hurtful. God, help us to love those who fall short and need our forgiveness the most, and to bear with each other with patience and with grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Is there someone in your life whose forgiveness you need? 

Legendary cowboy actor Roy Rogers said something profound. He said that sometimes it hurts to do the right thing, but afterwards, you’ll feel better. 

When it comes to forgiveness, this certainly applies to choosing to forgive someone who has wronged you. But have you considered that it can be even tougher to ask for someone’s forgiveness? Humans hate to fail, and most of us hate looking foolish. It hurts. Maybe you’ve hurt someone recently, or maybe the hurt happened a long time ago, and it just festers.

Luke 6:37 says, “Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” 

Brenda Blakely knows all about this. The daughter of an alcoholic father, she resented both her parents for years. One day though, she realized that she had internalized her anger so much that it in turn targeted her mother. Brenda called her one day and began pouring out her heart, acknowledging that her bitterness had caused her to be difficult growing up. It was a painful revelation. Yet at the end of the call, her mother’s heart was moved. She said to Brenda, “I forgive you, and please forgive me.”

Choosing to ask for forgiveness might literally be the hardest thing you ever have to do. Maybe you’re not there yet, but keep your mind and your heart open. The end result will be well worth the wait, and think of the person whose forgiveness you’re asking. Remember the words of Corrie Ten Boom, who nearly died in a Nazi extermination camp. She said this, “To forgive is to set the prisoner free and to realize that the prisoner was me.” 

Let’s pray. 

Father, our sinful human nature rebels against humbling ourselves and asking for forgiveness, but give us this practical thing, Father, to be objective and really examine ourselves to see if we’ve hurt someone and never made amends. Help us move towards reconciliation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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One of the most corrosive elements in the human character is unforgiveness. Bitterness and fighting in relationships is really a drain. Physically and emotionally, we’re simply not wired to survive long-term problems in this area. 

According to Dr. Michael Berry, 61% of cancer patients have forgiveness issues. And Dr. Karen Schwartz of the Johns Hopkins Hospital confirms that the hurt and disappointment associated with forgiveness issues can spike incidents of heart disease, depression, and diabetes. On the other hand, forgiveness calms stress levels, leading to improved health. 

The Bible tells us that we can make the decision to forgive when someone wrongs us. 

In Colossians 3:13, we read, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you so you must forgive others.” Did you notice that? We should basically cut each other some slack. 

We all fail, but making a choice to let it go, especially with an individual, will benefit everyone. Your own stress will melt away. It's like a gift you can give yourself. 

In a Focus on the Family article by Rose Sweet, we find this key piece of wisdom that can unlock our inability to forgive: “Forgiveness is returning to God the right to take care of justice. By refusing to transfer the right to exact punishment or revenge, we are telling God we don’t trust him to take care of those matters.” 

So, you see, it’s not really so much about the person who wronged you, it’s more about your refusal to let God handle it. By doing that, by letting God handle it, taking that critical step, we can step into the freedom that God had waiting for us the whole time. Your physical health will improve, but that pales in comparison to the improvement in your spiritual health. 

Let’s pray. 

God, an unforgiving spirit is so hard to carry. Help us see daily that we can choose to forgive just like you chose to forgive us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Even though most U.S. homes have at least one copy of the Bible, few 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. 

In Genesis 33, Esau forgives his brother Jacob’s treachery in stealing his birthright. And 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.”

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 forgiveness is possible. The key is when we take the long view. We must mentally and emotionally take ourselves out of the pain we’re experiencing right now. Think of the future. Begin imagining the most wonderful healing that can take place between enemies.

That’s what God did for us. The Bible tells us He is holy and cannot look on sin. Yet in Genesis Chapter 3, God began the process of grace. In the Gospels and in Paul’s letters, we see Him continuing to be patient with us. And then in Revelation, the 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 is 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.

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One of the things that mark a healthy society is the consistency between generations. In other words, adults who care about the future for 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 give up.”

Passing the torch, or training up the next generation, involves taking the time to do it properly. If you love your kids, you’ll make time for them. You won’t take the easy way out and settle for schools or the culture at large to raise them.

Teach them—yourself—that we all experience tough times in this life, but sticking to God’s plan for their lives is the key to winning. Living the abundant life Jesus taught about, and sharing His Good News is the ultimate win. But we don’t get there by quitting when the going gets tough.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you never leave us, and you never abandon the human community to evil. You are a great God, and we thank you for your commitment to us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever watched a war movie and realized that the actors didn’t know how the conflict would turn out? World War 2 movies are like that. When they filmed “Casablanca,” Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman weren’t sure whether the Germans would win or lose.

Life can be like that.

Matthew 28:20 says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In your own life, you might be facing some really serious stuff. And it’s not unusual to be staring at several problems at once. 

That’s when God’s Word is so valuable to us. Jesus has promised us that He will stick right with us all the way through. Human friends often go a long way with us—but only Jesus is sure to never, ever leave us.

That’s the best way to beat the uncertainties of life. Tell Jesus you can’t make it without Him.

It’s then that the future no longer scares us at all.

Let’s pray.

Lord, we don’t know a fraction of what you do, including what our future looks like. We do know that we can trust you, and we thank you for that. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Living life as though your cup is brimming over isn’t a matter of circumstance. It’s a matter of choice. 

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 promises bountiful blessings when we follow Him, but what about when times are tough? Nowhere does the Bible suggest we should wallow in misery when things don’t go our way. Instead, we should slow down enough to count and savor every blessing, even when goodness is harder to find.

Kristi Nelson, executive director of gratefulness.org, says this about gratitude, “I think gratefulness is about understanding that in each and every moment that we notice we are alive, we are succeeding in creating a life that hovers vividly at the brim. Because, in the end, it is all about the glass, not what is in it.” 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, thank you for the blessings that you pour out on us. Not because we’ve earned your favor, but because you love us sacrificially. Give us an attitude of gratitude beyond our circumstances. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Today, we’re talking about grit and determination, which go a long way in helping find success in life. And they’re contagious.

Winston Churchill was almost 70 when his country needed him most, when he stared down Hitler’s war machine. The British Prime Minister’s signature line was, “We shall fight on the beaches,” but the essence of his message came with these words, “We shall go on to the end.” 

Luke 18:1 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” And it is a partnership because God keeps His word. Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

There’s a great practical application in scripture. These old words that are always new were not meant to be just some nice thing to say. God does what He says he will do. 

If you feel like you have no way out of your troubles today, tell God that. Remember the scriptural promises and remind yourself that countless people have done the same and come out okay on the other side. Don’t give up, and see what the Lord will do.

 Let’s pray. 

Lord, we give you our fear and our uncertainty. We can’t cope with the situation we’re in alone, but we trust you to give us strength not to quit. We believe for the victory over these circumstances, and God, we find rest in your mercies. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Games and sports aren’t real life, but they often give a pretty accurate picture of how we can choose to face life.

 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 center and looking out at the defense, how many of us could even think? Then, imagine throwing the ball with any kind of accuracy, knowing you have to win the game.

Most of us would be scared to death!

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 comfort me.”

When we believe in something greater than ourselves—whether a close-knit team or better yet, the God of the universe—fear tends to leave. Just leave. Get away from me!

 If you are feeling terrible pressure right now and don’t know what to do, stop what you’re doing and get by yourself. Pray to the Lord that He will help you and show you the way.

That’s the true path to victory, and the best way to assure the win.

 Let’s pray.

Lord, we can’t do it by ourselves. We need your Spirit in us and your strength every second of every day. Thank you for never leaving us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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