Kerusso Daily Devotional

Hers is the greatest motherhood story of all time. You know who she is: Mary! 

Her story has been told many times, but how grateful we are that it’s recorded in Scripture. Whatever God’s reasons for choosing this particular woman to give birth to Jesus, we know that she must have loved the Lord with all her heart.

And just think how her head and heart must have been spinning when the angel visited her and told her the special job God was going to give her!

Luke 1:46–48 says, “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.’” 

We know little about her beyond that, although we are given some fascinating details: she socialized with her Son, as we see at the wedding in Cana. And of course, she was with Him at His death. No mother should have to endure that, but Mary was very strong. Her toughness and love ring like a bell through time. We remember her way of finding patience and faith.

Maybe the most amazing thing about her is that God trusted Mary with an initial secret that would have floored most people! She handled it, though. The mother of Jesus was ready when her time came.

Let’s pray.

Lord, Mary, the mother of Jesus, shows us a great example of love. It is also a mystery of sorts for us, but we know that this amazing mother is experiencing supernatural joy, forever, in Heaven! In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Discovered in East Asia by British mineralogist Arthur Pain, the so-called “Painite” gemstone can be found in several colors, and the various hues seen as light hits them give an uncommon view.

Incredibly, only 25 such stones exist today, and the value per gram works out to $9,000! Despite the fact that many people have never heard of it, Painite is the rarest of rare jewels. And for the longest time, only two had been found in the entire world. 

That kind of rarity stands out in a crowd. 

Proverbs 31:10 says, “She is far more precious than jewels.”

Think of how rare and precious a true Proverbs 31 woman is. She is a woman remembered vividly, even with emotion, long after she goes to be with the Lord.

Are you a mother beloved by your children? Do they think of you fondly? Does your husband honor you for your uncommon strength and love? Will friends seek you out when they can’t turn to anyone else? If so, you are that rare gem. And you are loved indeed.

Let’s pray.

Lord, help us be that rarest of jewels, one that points others to the light and majesty of Christ, forevermore. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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She’s not very well known, even though she’s in the Bible. But Jochebed…who’s heard of her? Go ahead, raise your hands.

This great woman deserves a bigger story in our culture, because she modeled what it means to act with bravery, and to value all life.

Exodus 2:3 says, “But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.”

Jochebed, you see, was the mother of Moses. Knowing that Pharaoh had ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be killed, she hid her infant son in a basket among the reeds of the Nile. When Pharaoh’s daughter found the boy, she felt sorry for him and took him in; and the rest, as they say, is history!

It’s been said that the love a mother has for her children is the strongest human bond. Long ago, a slave defied the empire and saved her son. He went on to change history. 

Sometimes we just have to step out in faith and be intentional about courage.

Let’s pray.

Lord, this woman inspires us today. Thank you that the story of this sweet mother, Jochebed, was recorded for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be close to Jesus when He was on the earth? It would have been amazing to be in His inner circle.

We know of a remarkable woman, a family member, who would have been able to be around to watch that most amazing life unfold. Her name was Elizabeth. She was the aunt of Jesus, and she was also a mother, and this week we’re talking about extraordinary mothers.

We read in Luke that everyone thought that the time for Elizabeth to become a mother was past. In those days, people thought sin prevented pregnancy, so this godly woman went through great sorrow.

But Gabriel, an angel, told her priest husband that she would conceive. She did, and later, when visiting her cousin Mary, felt her own son jump in her womb. Even he knew the significance of such a woman!

Luke 1:13 says, “But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.’”

Elizabeth’s son would be named John, and he would be given the privilege of introducing the world to the Man, Jesus. Both mothers would endure great tragedy in their lives, but would enjoy fellowship forever with them in glory.

Elizabeth knew how to be steady during momentous times. A great lesson for all of us.

Let’s pray.

Lord, sometimes you surprise us with great tasks. Help us to always be ready to stand when you call on us to do something great. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to hold a newborn, you know what it’s like to be thunderstruck by the delicate features. Everything is miniature. And then the eyes open…you’re in love.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”

A baby is a blessing and a gift from the Lord. All life is precious; it doesn’t matter if the parents are famous or completely unknown and obscure. In that warm bundle is a whole lifetime waiting to unfold. Will he be adventurous? Will she run the country someday?

Man is capable of much, but creating life as God creates will always remain outside the borders. Only a great and all-powerful God could give us such a beautiful life, and He makes each one of us truly unique.

It is an inescapable fact that a human being, separate from everyone else in terms of physicality and emotions, becomes fully formed in its mother’s womb. This is perhaps the greatest miracle in all the universe, and one deserving of our awe and respect.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you form us in the womb, and you walk with us each step of the way through life. Thank you for your mercies and the grace that you freely give each of us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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When Isaiah the prophet wrote, the birth of Jesus was still almost 800 years away. Yet there is good reason to believe key parts of the book of Isaiah are pointing to the coming Savior.

Near the end of the book, we see this clearly.

Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”

It’s reasonable to believe that this has dual meanings. One, the prophecy speaks of the wise men from the East seeing the star in the sky. And then, traveled to see the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

A second, longer view looks ahead far into the future, when Jesus will return to Earth and set up His Kingdom of righteousness.

As believers, we know what it feels like when the spirit of God dwells in us. It’s that glow God intends for us to share with others.

Jesus has come! Your challenge is to share that Good News with all those you meet.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your Gospel is our mission. God, give us endurance for our race! In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Are you like a lot of people when it comes to the instruction booklet with a new item? We stare at it and eventually just 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.

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As followers of Jesus, we are meant to be witnesses. And Christ’s majesty and power are meant to blanket our world. He is intimately aware of you, and where you are in life.

Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”

When we trust Christ—when we believe the Gospel—we’re called to get in the game. If you’ve been changed, and if you believe that, sitting on such Good News doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, does it? Are you guilty of failing to shine a light in a dark world?

If you’re a friend of God, just as the Bible says Abraham was long ago, you are to invite others to live in his healing light. 

The glory of the Lord rises on you each morning. Put your feet on the floor and share His glory with the people that you encounter.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, there are so many opportunities to share your love and your light with the world. God, give us the opportunities to do that, and give us the energy to seize them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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One of the best benefits about flying at night is to look out the window and see all those lights against the black backdrop. The lights signal that a city or town is down there—a place where families live.    

Our spiritual lives are the same way. This world has its share of darkness, but God looks down and sees His lights. He sees the good that says, “Love lives here.”   

Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” 

We are told in Scripture that as believers, we have indescribable joy. Jesus Christ lives within us, lighting us from the inside out. 

With that gift comes responsibility: We don’t have the option of staying hidden. When Jesus told His followers they were “the light of the world,” they understood what He meant, sitting there on the mountainside above the Sea of Galilee.   

Many of them took this to heart, shining a light in the spiritual darkness and sharing the Good News every chance they got. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, help us to continually shine the light of your love and your Gospel in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Don’t you love the nuances and uniqueness God put into this world? He created harmony and balance everywhere, including our individual “best time of the day” to be creative and productive.

Some of us are up with the chickens, as they used to say. Others burn a candle late into the night. Whatever time is your time to connect in positive ways, God made you for His purpose. 

Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”

Embrace your uniqueness! Just because your eyes don’t focus until later in the morning—after cups, plural, of coffee—doesn’t mean you won’t hit the mark today.

You were built for this, to be a light to others and to share the Good News of Jesus. So, rise up, whenever that is for you, and make a promise to God that you will get everything out of today that you are supposed to. 

Let’s pray.

Lord, you made us to be a light in a world that is all too often dark. Thank you for the opportunities to make a difference for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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