Kerusso Daily Devotional

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’s really a story of Jesus and us.

Matthew 7:7 says, “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. And maybe it’s so bad that we can’t possibly 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 where we end up. His perfect love and forgiveness are the only real healing 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 is something to behold. We are so grateful for your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Who likes to wait for what we need or want? Basically, nobody.

Of those nine elements that make up the Fruit of the Spirit, patience may be the hardest.

Romans 8:25 says, “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

And patience is learned, which makes it one of the sweetest fruits the Spirit gives us. Waiting for a “payoff” of some kind makes the end result that much more rewarding. Life teaches us that.

A childless Hannah endured mocking and ridicule, but the Bible tells us in First Samuel that she prayed, and she waited. Imagine how she felt when the date of her delivery drew near! She eventually had several children, but it was her patience in waiting on Samuel that made all the difference.

If you’re waiting for something very important, read and meditate on the Fruits of the Spirit, especially patience.

Let’s pray.

Lord, give us the patience of Hannah when we’re frustrated by waiting. Teach us humility in the process. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Usually, when we’re looking for some kind of emotional lifeline to get us through the day, we only want to know what God can do for us.

How do we get that peace of mind we desperately need?

One component is obedience. At first, this sounds like a test that’s too hard. We need relief right now!

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Wow, that sounds like real peace of mind. It requires that we concentrate on ejecting all the junk in our heads and replacing it with God’s Word. Learning obedience is key, because it reveals the Father’s perfect will for our lives.

In this way, we almost back-into the peace we were already looking for. This brings us into harmony with our Creator.

A renewed, fresh, and clean mind is also a mind that is at rest.

Let’s pray.

Lord, teach us your ways. Help us uncover the peace of mind that those without God don’t have. Then help us show them the way. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever been downright stuck in a difficult situation? Maybe you’ve held a job with a colleague or supervisor you didn’t see eye to eye with, and other career opportunities were scarce. Maybe you’ve been halfway through the semester and realized you’re headed for a poor grade, but it’s too late to drop the class. Maybe you’ve struggled in a relationship with a spouse or close family member, and you are wading through heartbreak with every interaction. 

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the people at Philippi, he was in a tough spot. He wrote this letter from prison in Rome—an uncomfortable place to be sure. He was in prison not for what we would consider a crime, but for his faith in Jesus Christ. But Paul had a secret.  

Philippians 4:11 says, “I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be content.”

From the moment Paul received the Lord as his Savior, he began to love and experience Christ in a meaningful way. Chapter after chapter, the book of Philippians reveals that experiencing Christ was Paul’s secret to contentment. 

Paul preached contentment through faith in Jesus from behind bars and reached out to his brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage them to choose contentment in the Lord. Paul’s example inspired his friends at Philippi and continues to inspire believers today. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord Jesus, we won’t achieve perfection this side of heaven, but we know your plan for us is for peace in our hearts, and contentment in our lives. Let us live by the Apostle Paul’s example, choosing contentment in all circumstances in your name.  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. He has 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. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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As a believer, have you noticed that it’s often easier to stay in God’s will when you’re at home? At work, it gets a little dicey.

It’s at work that people see us, and our decisions can have such impact. Not being in God’s will in that setting can be catastrophic.

Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Terry Looper is the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company. Once, he was negotiating a sale and was at the finish line when he realized he hadn’t sought God’s will in the matter. He stopped, prayed, and read the Word for discernment.

He was shocked to find that he wasn’t supposed to sell at all!

Looper learned his lesson. Being in God’s will in every area of our lives is the key. It’s great to be godly and led by the Spirit sitting in your den with a Bible open. But it’s not less important to be led by the Spirit in the boardroom, or on the floor of the plant where you work.

People see you. They see what we do. If we want to be sure success finds us, we’d better make sure we’re looking in the right place.

There are no shortcuts to fully being in God’s will.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you bless us in every area of our lives. Thank you for being on our side, all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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In every generation, it falls to believers to spend some time in defending our worldview as Christians. Honestly, it’s not the nicest part of the gig, but it’s necessary.

Usually, it involves simply explaining what your faith is all about. Followers of other religions do the same thing, but for us, we are sharing the person of Christ with those who don’t know Him. That makes it a big deal.

Jude 1:3 says, “Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.”

It’s exciting that God has entrusted this to us. It’s a privilege. Even if you find yourself in an adversarial conversation, remember the main thing: you get to share your faith, and see someone else find freedom in Christ!

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for allowing us to tell others about you. Help us always be ready to give an answer when asked about our faith. 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 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, oh 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. And 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. And 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. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever wondered what your place in this world is?

Of course, you have. That’s the human experience. Alone with our thoughts, we wonder who we even are, and what we are meant to do. It’s a mysterious journey, but the fog lifts and the way becomes clear when we get to know King Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

You were made for something! You were made to do things for your Lord. The truly beautiful thing is, God created a custom plan just for you. If you aren’t a famous athlete like Tim Tebow, you can still share your faith in wonderful ways. Ways that are life-changing for those you encounter.

Think of that verse again. God made you for a purpose! Created to have the mind of Christ in making this world a better place and making disciples for Him. And God prepared it all long, long ago. You are His child.

That’s who you are.

Let’s pray.

Lord, when we begin to understand even a little bit of your love for us, it transforms us and renews our minds and hearts. Thank you so much for that! In Jesus’ name, amen.

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