Kerusso Daily Devotional

Our greatest example of kindness and compassion is our Heavenly Father.

God’s Word, the Bible, is filled with examples of His loving-kindness, His grace, His mercy, His faithfulness...the Lord’s love for us is infinite and eternal, and His example is what we should strive to embody as we interact and react to the people around us. 

Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Our almighty God, Creator of the Universe, is all-powerful, capable of mighty wrath, yet He deals with us with patience and compassion.

Psalm 86:15 says, “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Jesus Christ was the living embodiment of compassion during His ministry on earth.

Over and over, our Lord Jesus Christ had compassion for people, offering healing and comfort at every opportunity. He saw lost and hurting people as sheep without a shepherd, and He came to give them purpose and to be their ultimate shelter.

As God’s Son, Jesus possessed more power than we can ever imagine. Yet He chose to give up everything, selflessly sacrificing Himself for us so we can be forgiven our sins and have eternal life. In that sacrifice, we see the greatest example of kindness in the Bible — a level of compassion beyond anything the world has ever known.

Let’s pray.

Dear Jesus, your compassion never fails. We are so grateful for your love and for the gift of salvation you freely gave to us through your death on the cross. Inspire us to share the Good News about you with others, that we can be messengers of hope in your name. Amen.

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How many of us would feed a hungry stranger with the last crust of bread left in the house?

The prophet Elijah received a prophecy that the land would suffer a years-long drought, and this message from God had come to pass. The Lord sent him to a ravine east of the Jordan River, where He sent ravens with bread and meat in the morning and in the evening, and Elijah could drink from a brook, but eventually, the brook ran dry because there was no rain in the land.

The Lord commanded Elijah, “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”

When the prophet came upon the widow, she told him she had just enough flour and oil left for a last meal for herself and her son, and she expected they would die of starvation after this final meal.

Elijah instructed her not to be afraid and asked her to make a small loaf of bread for him, then to do the same for herself and her son.

1 Kings 17:15–16 says, “She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” 

Because of the kindness she paid to the Lord’s servant, the unnamed widow was blessed with enough to continue sharing with Elijah, and enough for her family to eat until the rains returned.

Let’s pray.

God, you are our steadfast provider. When we have an opportunity to give to those in need, remind us that you bless us with enough to share. Help us to give unselfishly from the abundance you provide for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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When God asks us to love our neighbor as ourselves, what exactly does He mean?

In Luke 10 verses 25–37, Jesus shares the Parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate what it means to love our neighbors the way Jesus loves us.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’”

The Lord asks us not to dole out kindness sparingly, but to generously pour love and compassion over the hurting people we meet...even complete strangers we encounter on the road of life.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hands to help the broken and bruised people in our midst every day. There are lost and wounded souls in every corner of this world, and we ask for the courage to reach out to them with love. 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 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. 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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Carissa was having one of those days. Instead of hitting the snooze button on her alarm clock, she had turned it off. Now the kids were late for school, she was late for work, and the tone for the day was one mad rush — emphasis on the mad. 

As the day wore on, she thought about her impatience and frustration with her children as everyone got dressed and grabbed a granola bar on the way out the door. It wasn’t their fault the family was running behind, and she regretted sending them to school with tension, instead of hugs and kisses.

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

Of all the lessons we teach our children, kindness stands out. We have an opportunity to show patience, humility, and God’s love to colleagues, classmates, neighbors, and friends — and the people in our lives learn more from watching how we behave, than they do from just being told what to do. 

We have a choice in how we treat others, and God asks us to approach the people around us with love. When Carissa arrived home from work, the first thing she did was apologize to the kids for the cranky way their day began, and let them know kindness matters morning, noon, and night — even when we’re running late.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for the wisdom the Bible teaches us about kindness. Help us to be patient when we’re short on time, and to be an example of your love in every situation — even when circumstances fall short of perfect. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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How many different colors can you name? 

There are seven colors in the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. As it turns out, the human eye is capable of discerning color to an incredible degree. According to laboratory tests, humans are capable of detecting a total of 10 million colors. That’s a pretty big box of crayons. 

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” 

Imagine the most colorful painting or photograph you’ve seen in an art gallery, or come across in your Facebook feed. Our Creator God has every color in the universe to work with, the knowledge of a master craftsman, and the most significant artistic talent in existence. And He calls us—you and me—His masterpiece.

When you look in the mirror and wish you were taller, better looking, or somehow measured up to your ideal, remember—we are created in God’s image. When you envy someone else’s position or title at work or wish you were better at math, cooking, or public speaking, remember—we are God’s masterpiece. And He has a good plan for each of our lives. 

God had 10 million colors and countless personality traits and unique skills with which to create each of us, and the palette of colors and mix of materials He used to make you, is one of a kind. 

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, thank you for making us who you did. We’re your children and one-of-a-kind creations. You’re so good, and we have so many things to be thankful for. Help us to use our unique skill sets and talents you’ve blessed us with, to do your work. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Identifying where our problems originate is one thing, but locating the Divine Healer is key in getting clear of obstacles in our lives. 

At each mile marker in our life journeys, God is standing alongside the road, smiling at us, and holding out His strong hand to guide us. And from the indispensable wisdom of scripture to stories of human triumphs over tragedies, He is always there reminding us we’re never truly alone. 

His grace and mercies begin to overshadow and overwhelm those forces that want to harm us, and it’s then that we see God for who He truly is. 

1 Peter 5:10 says, “And after you’ve suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 

And that is Good News! 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, it’s important to see who our enemy is, but it’s more important to look past that and concentrate our focus on you who brings us that peace that passes all understanding, the kind that gets down deep in us and calms us from the inside out. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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We know that a consistent heart of gratitude keeps us in harmony in our relationship with God, but in a practical sense, how do we maintain it, and how can we be intentional? 

A first clue is the example of Paul. Philippians 4:12–13 says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I’ve learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” 

Notice that the famous preacher trained his mind and heart to be always grateful. This meant a conscious, daily, hourly focus on the good things God has brought him. And sometimes we’re down to basics on this: life, food to eat, clothes to wear, shelter. That’s all many people have, and it’s easy—living in the U.S. especially, to forget that our basic needs are met. But choosing gratitude is key. The actor Will Arnett does this. He says, “I’m happy because I’m grateful, and I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.” 

Another way to maintain a grateful heart is being very mindful every day of what God has gifted us with. Music icon Willie Nelson understands the value of such an attitude. He says, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” Take stock every day, and actually list the things you’re grateful for. Soon enough, it’ll be part of your daily routine. 

A third way to maintain a grateful heart is to choose to focus on the positive. There’s enough junk in the world. What you choose to focus on will in large part define you. It’s sort of like a natural law. If you do an act of kindness for someone, or sit for 20 minutes watching a gorgeous sunset, instead of scrolling through the news on your phone, you’ll find that joy and a grateful heart become your reality. God loves you. Start your journey toward gratitude with that.  

Let’s pray. 

Father God, no one can stop us from thanking you for your love and grace. That’s our first step toward having a grateful heart. From breathing clean air to enjoying a holiday with family and friends. We commit ourselves to a life of gratitude. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Sudden or even long-term setbacks in our lives can disorient us, impairing our decision-making. Circumstances beyond our control leave us where we can’t focus, and we can’t see what’s behind our difficulties. It’s then that we can’t make good decisions. 

If we don’t know if our problems are caused by emotional, mental, or physical challenges, we can’t see our way out of the forest. Identifying the source helps us settle into God’s perfect peace, and He’s given us the ability to make good choices when dealing with issues beyond our control. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. But with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  

You hear that—God will provide, and you can endure. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, in our imperfect state, our bodies sometimes fail us. We don’t know if up is down or which direction to go. In those moments, bring to our minds the knowledge that we can seek your good solutions, whether it be medical, or psychological. It’s then we can find ourselves set on the right path to health and wholeness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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It’s been said that in the Fruit of the Spirit list, all of them collectively, practically define the nature of Christ. Even David the Shepherd knew his Messiah was coming. Remember what he said about following his loving God? He said, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life!”

We instinctively know what goodness is. It’s a kind touch, a gentle word, a gift that was unexpected.

Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

And in life, we understand the distinction between good and evil. These two—always warring with each other. The key thing to remember in this conflict is that God is good, and infinitely stronger than evil. That’s important to remember as we see injustice.

What did Micah tell us? That goodness is wrapped up in the choices we make: oppose injustice, love what is kind, and be humble. The truth is, all of us have been given so much good by our good God that it should be second nature to model that for those we meet in our journey.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for your sweet goodness. Sustain us with that goodness for the journey. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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