Kerusso Daily Devotional

Are you comfortable in your life? This is a little different than asking if you’re always happy, or living in some sort of paradise. Comfortable just means you are relatively peaceful and content with your situation. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it can be dangerous in a spiritual sense.

Jesus calls us to something more.

Mark 16:15 says, “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”

Of the 200 or so nations in the world today, a good portion of them have citizens who have never heard the Gospel. They’ve never had someone explain to them who Jesus was, is, and will be. Millions have not heard of the eternal sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, to pay for the penalty for our sins.

Do we even have the right to stay in our comfortable place?

Are you called to more?

Can you justify not sharing the Good News about Jesus?

Your situation is unique, and Jesus knows all of it. If He isn’t calling you to a remote place on the globe, maybe it’s working with kids in your own church. Whatever opportunity God is giving you to change the world…take it! 

Let’s pray.

Lord, we ask you to put more people in our path. Give us more chances to change our world for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Today, we’re continuing our series on sharing the gospel, and what we’re covering today is about the Great Commission. Have you heard that term before? Christianity’s great at using terms the general public isn’t familiar with, and sometimes we use terms even we aren’t familiar with as believers. 

A recent study shows that more than 50% of U.S. churchgoers don’t know what that term Great Commission means. And when asked if they had heard of the Great Commission, half of U.S. churchgoers say they don’t know that term. Maybe our priorities need tweaking.

Matthew 28:19 says, “Go and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” 

And though the Great Commission is not a term used in the Bible, it does describe the command Jesus gave us to share the Good News of His sacrifice for our sins. In this way, He provides a way for people to be reconciled to God, and this is the greatest news anyone will ever hear. Christians should be excited about this action plan.

Matthew chapter seven indicates that the path leading to God is narrow, and that many are on the broad path that leads away from God. This truth should motivate us as Christians to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission. And the Bible tells us that this activity will have an endpoint. We should have a sense of urgency about that. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was literally born in the Middle East. Jesus’ disciples took His words to heart and began preaching and teaching about Him in Israel, then to all the regions around the Mediterranean basin. From there, the Gospel spread quickly into Europe, and beyond.

Today, even with all our technology and hundreds of years of sending missionaries to remote parts of the world, not everyone has heard the Good News about Jesus. We have our marching orders. It’s time to move. 

Let’s pray.

Father, we know that no matter what time is passing. We want all people to come to a saving faith in Your Son Jesus. Remind us daily that we should have a sense of urgency about sharing your good gift with everyone we come into contact with. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever known someone who inherited something of great value from an obscure relative? It happens…maybe in a movie or something.

The will is read by an attorney and all of a sudden, the beneficiary goes from struggling to pay the rent to needing a financial planner. It can be an exciting time, even disorienting.

The only downside to receiving a large inheritance is the knowledge that someday it will run out, or you die and can’t take it with you. That’s why the Bible’s revelations about eternal riches are so much more important.

Genesis 31:14 says, “Rachel and Leah said to him, ‘Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house?’”

Let’s think of this as a parable: A man took the place of another and was executed. He was no ordinary man, though. Only a few days after His death, the will was read. And he left it all to you!

Jesus Christ died for our sins and took the penalty for them so that we don’t have to. That is what the Gospel is, the Good News that we have riches in Christ, and they last forever.

Let’s pray.

Lord, your precious gift for each of us is something we did nothing to earn. You decided to put us in your will. We thank you forever for your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Table salt today is so common, it becomes another thing we take for granted. You go to the store, pick a cylinder or jar of salt off the shelf, and then go home. You don’t even think about it.

Now, consider that 1,000 and more years ago, if a person wanted to use salt on his dinner, this required some prior work. A lot of work! The Romans boiled seawater in huge, lead-lined pans. So valuable was salt in the Roman Empire, it was used as currency! Mainly, it was used as a critical food preservative.

Matthew 5 verses 13–16 says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.                         
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

See there—God is telling us that we are to be the instrument that preserves and makes known the Gospel, and salt is one of the analogies.

Let us say to our friends, loved ones, and even strangers: Taste, and see that the Lord’s promises are good!

Let’s pray.

Lord, help us to be salt and light for Your Word in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Kerusso exists to tell people about the Good News of Jesus Christ, but somehow in our information-jacked world, culture has moved further away from understanding who the most famous person in history really is. 

Millions of books and articles have been written about a carpenter who lived in the Middle East 2000 years ago, and Jesus has been identified as anything from a desert mystic to God Himself.

Historically, He was born into a Jewish family in Judea at the time the Roman Empire controlled the area. Born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, Jesus was 30 before He gained a reputation as a great teacher. But He was much more than that. The Bible tells us that He was sent into the world by God the Father, to stand in our place and take the penalty for our sin.

According to Genesis, man defied God’s template for living and because He is holy, God requires that someone is accountable for sin. Had Jesus not entered the world, we’d be left without a way to reconcile with God. Long story short, Jesus Christ is much more than just a wise teacher. He’s also the Son of God.

The Bible also tells us Jesus is one with the Father. Remember, when Moses encountered God in the burning bush, he asked God how to identify Him to the people. And God replied, “I am who I am.”

And that was in the Old Testament. In John 8:58, in the New Testament, Jesus tells the people, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus Christ is a divine being. 

John 1:29 says, “The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’” This description of Him is not embraced by most people around the world. The Bible tells us that man’s heart is wicked. It isn’t like billions are rushing to churches so that they can have their sins forgiven. The human mind and heart don’t want to focus on the messier side of the gospel. We’re imperfect. We sin. And our sin is an offense to God. Who wants to hear that? We don’t want to be told that we’re not good. We want to be told we’re good, and worthy of God’s love.

And the Good News, the gospel in the person of Jesus Christ, is that we have the pathway to be like Him. Romans Chapter Eight tells us that it is God’s desire that we become like Jesus, and that’s a goal worth reaching for. 

Let’s pray.

Father, thank You for providing us with Your word, that tells us exactly who Jesus is and what His life means to us. You could have abandoned us to sin, but You didn’t. The praise and the glory belong to You alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday—it’s an attitude we can choose to fill our hearts with every day.

The Bible shares many examples of gratitude in the midst of challenging circumstances.

Imagine Mary, a young Galilean girl, given the news that she was to be the mother of the Messiah. She didn’t panic or protest. Instead, she embraced the news and nurtured the One who would bring healing to the whole world.

The story in Luke 17 tells us that of the 10 lepers who were healed, only one returned to thank Jesus.

Luke 17:15–16 says, “One of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned with a loud voice glorifying God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.”

Whether He was blessing food given to thousands by a miracle, or giving thanks at the Last Supper, Jesus modeled an attitude of gratitude for us; knowing His death was imminent, Jesus still thanked His Heavenly Father.

What can you find in your own life to be thankful for this week?

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank You for the marvelous gifts You give us on a daily basis. Help us to always be mindful of this. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

New York Times writer Arthur Brooks once cooked a Thanksgiving dinner for his in-laws in Spain. Over dinner, a couple of questions were asked. The first, “What does this beast eat to be so filled with bread?,” and then, “Should you celebrate this holiday even if you don't feel grateful?”

The first question is just funny. The second should give us all pause. Being grateful is a state of mind. It’s intentional. Too many times, we get caught up in what we don’t have, and let’s be honest, as Americans, we have a lot. 

In Psalm 97:12, we read, “Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks to his holy name.”

Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at the University of California Davis says, “There's a magnetic appeal to gratitude,” and that it speaks to a need that’s deeply entrenched.

In the Bible, there are powerful examples of people who were grateful for everything God had given them.

In First Samuel, we read about Hannah, who was childless until her sustained prayer moved God’s heart. When she gave birth to Samuel, she was so grateful that she took him to the temple and dedicated his life to service to the Lord. 

In the gospels of Matthew and Luke, a Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant who was deathly ill. Though Jesus offered to go to his house, the centurion was so appreciative, his faith compelled him to say that he knew Jesus could heal the servant without traveling to the home, and Jesus rewarded this gratitude by healing the servant in just that way.

Gratitude multiplies itself. Once you become intentional about practicing gratitude, you practice it more and more, and in turn, your faith grows so much that others notice, and in becoming this kind of example, you’ll never have to ask if you should be grateful, even if you don’t feel like it. You’ll feel like it all the time. 

Let’s pray.

Father, we want to practice daily gratitude for all you’ve graciously given us. Praising you with our prayers, and being intentional with our gratitude honors you and settles our hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist working for education and women. In 2005, while riding on a bus, she was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban, and the attack was revenge for her activism. Incredibly, Malala recovered from her gruesome injury and today considers herself an ambassador of gratefulness. 

Here’s a quote: “I can speak. I can see you, I can see everyone, and today I can speak and I’m getting better day by day, it’s just because of the prayers of the people and because of these prayers, God has given me this new life, and this is a second life. This is a new life, and I want to serve the people.” 

Nick Vujicic is another person who has decided that his physical circumstances will not keep him from a life of joy. Born without limbs, yes—without arms or legs, Nick leads a full life, including marriage and children. A motivational speaker known worldwide, Nick always has a smile on his face—and he says this about gratitude, “If you keep concentrating on the things you wish you had over the things you have, you sort of forget the things that you have, so be grateful for what it is that you already have.” 

Nick also tells audiences to be thankful for three things most important in their lives. This calls to mind Hebrews 12:28, which says, “Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe.” 

For believers, this is a beautiful reminder that we are part of a family of believers that will live with God forever. This is the greatest gift we’ve been given, and it should motivate us not only to be grateful for ourselves, but to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. By purposing to be a grateful person day in and day out, you will shine a light on the love of Christ for those that you come in contact with. And that is an ambassadorship with eternal implications. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, we want to be Your ambassadors here on earth. Many are looking for life changed by the power of Your Gospel. Help us to make this a priority. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

You’ve heard that every good thing comes from God, right? It’s true. He is our example, both of how to live and how to react to others. This week we’re talking about practicing gratitude, and as usual, God shows us the way.

Psalm 107:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Often we can become disappointed if we don’t get everything we think we should have. But that’s a dead end when it comes to true happiness and peace. And those are things we all really, deep down, crave.

The ultimate gratitude comes from the Lord Himself. We learn in Psalm 149 that “the Lord delights in His people.” He first loves us, and that love flows down and through us. Truly, believers should be the most grateful people on the planet, because we know what God has given to us: His Son, Jesus Christ.

Honestly, the Christian should go through each day so happy he or she can barely stand it. God has given us what we need, much of what we want, and He’s already created a future for us that is so wonderful, humans can’t even perceive it!

Remember, God is the source of gratitude. He shows us how it’s done, because He knows us completely. Remember as we go along with this topic that practicing gratitude is a huge key to finding peace.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, Your goodness overwhelms us. Thank you for giving to us just because. We love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Isn’t it fascinating that a secular definition of the word blessed is “made holy; or consecrated.” It seems the whole world really knows, even deep down, that blessings are from God.

Psalm 107:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

As we focus on thankfulness and blessings this week, in this season of Thanksgiving, we are instructed to actually thank God for the ways in which He has blessed us. There are too many to count!

The Psalm tells us several things at once. Let’s meditate on each one.

We are to give thanks.

He is good.

His love for us is eternal.

That’s quite a good God.

Whatever our Creator blesses us with is holy. Unblemished. Our blessings come from a pure heart that wants what is good for us. This is really important to remember all the time, especially when life is difficult.

If you’re in that season, stop what you’re doing—even for two minutes—and really think about all the ways you are blessed. If you are in financial difficulties, do you have enough to eat? If your health isn’t the greatest, do you have medicine?

There are dozens of blessings staring us in the face every single day.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you shower us with blessing; help us to remember to give thanks to You, our Source. Thank You! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.