Kerusso Daily Devotional

Have you ever hunted and hunted for something—maybe your car keys, and you finally find them? The old saying goes (and it’s very unhelpful!) that you find them in the last place you look.

There’s a lot of truth to that.

It also is very relevant to our walk with Jesus. Often, we work really hard to solve our own problems, then we give in and ask Jesus for help.

Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

As with every other promise in the Bible, the really cool thing about this is, it is true. The promises Jesus has made are literally true. So, for example, if you are looking for a solution to an impossible situation, ask Him. It works!

Let’s pray.

Lord, forgive us for not placing our trust in you all the time. You are our sustainer, and we need to remember that. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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The Bible tells us that King Solomon was a very wise man. He ruled over his kingdom from Jerusalem, and built the famous Temple there.

He was also very human.

This son of King David eventually let his wealth and power go to his head, and he began to follow other religions and almost seemed to enjoy sinning. 

And yet God loved him. 

In his later years, Solomon realized how wrong he had been to rely on his own strength. And so scholars believe that’s where the book of Proverbs was born. They come from a man weary of the cares of this life. A man ashamed of the mistakes he had made.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs is packed with amazing wisdom into right living, after perhaps one has been focused on other kinds of living.  

Solomon learned the hard lessons as he fought his way back to a forgiving God whose mercies are eternal. That is a good lesson for us.

Let’s pray.

Lord, your patience with us is humbling, and it is so appreciated. We thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Do you feel like you’re falling apart today? It’s okay to say yes.

Life is life, and we all have obstacles to overcome. Maybe your issue is ongoing, or maybe it’s a sudden thing. But please think of it this way: Jesus is alive and He knows who you are—and He cares about you and your problems.

Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Jesus is not caught off-guard by problems in your life and most importantly, He truly cares for you and is able to help. Remember what the Bible says: Jesus holds everything together! And that includes you.

If you’re really struggling, tell Jesus. Then drink from the living water He provides. He was here at the beginning, He is present now, and He will be standing at the end of your road to welcome you home one day. Count on it.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you’ve got all our stuff well in hand. God, help us remember that every day. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray, amen.

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Do you find it hard to trust some people? Do you find it hard to trust anyone? Our society is full to the brim of people who have been hurt, wounded, and devastated. It puts up a wall and we live behind it in silence and fear.

After the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the people of that captive country were free for the first time to tell their stories. One woman said that she had been driven nearly insane by the dictator’s torture chambers, but when he was gone, someone shared the love of Christ with her. And her mind and spirit were restored. 

She said that for the first time in her life, she could now trust. It opened her heart to beauty and friendship and love. And most of all, she now loves her Savior with her whole, healed heart.

Psalm 91:2 says, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 

Your situation might not be as extreme as our Iraqi sister, but if you have trust issues, take them to Jesus and tell Him with your whole hurting heart that you need Him. He will meet you where you are!

Let’s pray.

Lord, your love heals all kinds of pain. We thank you that your mercies endure forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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There is a common metaphor of life being like a road, and with good reason. We are in essence walking a path in life, from beginning to end. For each person, the journey is at different times joyous, grueling, and full of wonder.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

This week we’re talking about walking by faith, something us as humans find difficult to do—especially when times get tough. Yet that is exactly the moment God uses to ignite our faith, and show us things we couldn’t have seen before!

In the Bible, there are many stories of people on journeys. Abraham, Hannah, Moses, and many more. If you’ve read any of those stories, you’ve noticed that God is with them every step. And sometimes the journey takes a long time…years.

If you find yourself on a really hard road right now, remember that others have gone before you. They learned to trust God in tough times, and walk by faith.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you are so good to us! You walk with us, and you carry us when necessary. We are grateful. Thank you, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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Noah was far from perfect, but he was a humble man, and protective of his family. He stands out among fathers in the Bible as a man who remained loyal to God, in spite of the wickedness of the world around him.

Doesn’t that sound a lot like life today? Fathers who choose to follow a life of faith are surrounded by temptation and downright evil in this world, but God is pleased by our devotion, and He has a plan for each of us — even when circumstances are frustrating or difficult. 

Genesis 6:5–8 says, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So, the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.’ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

The Bible tells us Noah, father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, was a righteous man and walked faithfully with God. For this reason, God chose Noah to build an incredible ship—the ark—that would save not only mankind, but every variety of living creature on the earth—from peril.

Sometimes, fathers feel like their job is a thankless one. They tackle the honey-do list on weekends, help with dinner, keep the kids in line, and help to wrangle them at bedtime...and maybe they don’t hear ‘thank you,’ or ‘great job,’ often enough. But God knows everything you do for your family, from breadwinning to caretaking and everything in between, and He takes delight in your devotion to your family, and to Him.

Deuteronomy 30:2–3 says, “And when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.”

Modern-day fathers can learn valuable lessons from Noah:

God promises to bless and protect those who faithfully follow and obey him. 

A man who obeys the Lord will inspire faith in his children as well. 

Obedience is not a sprint but a marathon; It means a lifetime of faithful devotion, even (and especially!) when the going gets tough.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for calling out Noah’s faithful obedience to you so many years ago, and for providing for the safety and provision of his entire family when the world had gone astray. Bless every father who hears this message, Lord, that they might grow closer in their walk with you, and inspire their children to follow in their footsteps. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Moses was the father of two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and he also served as a father figure to the entire Hebrew people as they escaped from slavery in Egypt.

He loved his people, and helped discipline and provide for them on their 40-year journey to the Promised Land. Imagine leading a frustrated, tired, hungry group of travelers through the desert—without air conditioning or handheld electronics—for four decades!

So many aspects of Moses’ life story seem larger-than-life, and he was indeed a hero of his time—but he was also merely a man. Moses’ perseverance in the face of incredible challenges over the course of his life shows today’s fathers that overwhelming tasks can be achieved when we stay close to God.

Exodus 16:11–12 says, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”

The Israelites were afraid they would starve in the barren desert after fleeing Egypt, and complained to Moses that it would have been better if they had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt, where they had enough to eat— rather than to wander the desert without provisions. 

Imagine how frustrated Moses must have been! The Lord had miraculously saved the Israelites from slavery, and now they worried God wouldn’t provide what they needed to survive.

Through God’s faithful guidance, Moses was able to shepherd the Israelites through 40 years of wilderness living. They quarreled with Moses. They accused him of leading them to disaster and ruin. They complained frequently—even after they had seen God’s promises fulfilled. Yet still, Moses carried on. He brought every concern to the Lord, and with God’s blessing and guidance, he was able to keep going.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Moses teaches fathers that with God, all things are possible. God answers prayer and desires intimate fellowship with every believer. No one can follow God’s laws perfectly. We all need a Savior.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, sometimes parenting is exhausting! Thank you for the blessing of children, and we ask you to bless dads with patience to spare, and to make your presence known to tired dads in the trenches who need your wisdom, and your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Picture what it would be like to lose everything in one fell swoop. Your house burns to the ground. The stock market plummets, and all your money is gone. Worst of all, your children fall ill and die. Suddenly, you’ve lost not only your material possessions but your family, too.

When people refer to someone as having “the patience of Job,” they say that for a reason.

Job was a man of immense wealth, the richest man in the region, and was the father of seven sons and three daughters he loved dearly. He was also a faithful servant of the Lord, and grateful for every blessing.

In a terrible turn of events, Job lost his fortune in a single day. His crops, property, livestock, and servants were gone. Most devastating of all, Job lost his children. But Job didn’t blame God. He accepted that God had a plan for him, and was patient as he waited for the Lord to reveal that plan. He knew that sometimes bad things happen to good people, and he continued to praise the Lord in the midst of trial.

Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Job lost everything, but he didn’t take matters into his own hands to seek justice for what he had lost. He fell to his knees and worshipped the Lord, and then he was still. In the quiet of his soul, Job knew God had a plan, and in the end, God restored to Job twice as much as he had in the beginning.

A godly man is patient.

Let’s pray.

Lord, waiting is hard to do. Waiting for an answer. Waiting for resolution. Waiting for things to get better. Restore peace and patience as we grow in faith and learn to wait on you. We trust you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Adam, a first-time father, looked down at his newborn son with love. Adam and his wife had made mistakes in the past and suffered greatly for it, but this child, their firstborn, was a chance to start fresh. The new family didn’t have the support of friends or relatives, but they did their best, and figured it out as they went along.

When the family was blessed with another son a few years later, they were so grateful to the Lord, and excited to watch their boys grow and play together. The family of four worked hard, loved God, and they were in it together. 

Sometimes, though, the sins of our past have a way of catching up with us.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were banished from the Garden of Eden, they plunged the world into sin. They couldn’t have known at the time just how far-reaching the consequences of this event would be for their family—that their son Cain would one day grow jealous of his brother Abel’s favor in the eyes of the Lord, and commit the very first murder.

Adam, the first man and very first human father, has much to teach today’s fathers about the consequences of our actions and the absolute necessity of obeying God. 

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.”

Lessons we can learn from Adam include:

Obedience:

God wants us to freely obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to His love. A man who follows and obeys the Lord can be a child’s first example of obedience.

Integrity:

Fathers with integrity know that nothing is hidden from God’s sight. Even when no one is around, God sees our actions; men with integrity act accordingly. 

Responsibility:

Godly fathers take responsibility for their own failures and shortcomings, rather than blaming others for their mistakes. The ability to accept responsibility is not a show of weakness, but a sign of strength.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, Adam, the first human father, had no blueprint for fatherhood. Thank you for the wisdom and knowledge we can glean from fathers before us in your Holy Word, the Bible. Uphold fathers, Lord, and open their eyes to your love, and your good plan for their family. Give them the support they need to follow you, and to humbly obey your commands. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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The story of the Prodigal Son is one we can all relate to. The Bible tells the story of a brash young man who leaves his home after asking for his inheritance. His loving father complies, and let’s just say the son learns some valuable lessons on his travels.

Eventually, he humbles himself and comes home; he needs his father and his family.

It is really a story of Jesus and us.

Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

We screw up sometimes. Maybe it’s so bad we can’t see a way back.

That’s when Jesus stretches out His arms and welcomes us home. He isn’t as concerned with where we’ve been as He is with where we end up. His perfect love and forgiveness are the only real ointment for our self-inflicted wounds. If you think you’ve screwed up too much, or fallen too far, put that out of your mind and simply tell Jesus you need Him.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your willingness to welcome us back to fellowship is something to behold. We are grateful for your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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