Kerusso Daily Devotional

What would you think is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for us as we try to live our lives with integrity?

How about pride? 

The Bible tells us that the sin of pride can lead to a whole range of bad outcomes.

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.”

Walk humbly? Man…that can be the most difficult part of living out this verse. We have to constantly check our spirits to make sure our motives are pure, and are centered on God’s plan for us and those we encounter.

Micah is communicating to us that God actually requires certain things of us. Justice and love are critical, but staying humble is no less important. It puts legs to the journey God has mapped out for us.

Lay down your pride and see what God will do!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, we are at war with ourselves at times. God, our desire is to be the object of attention. Father, help us to lay this aside, and to live only for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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No one is truly alone. Some people have many relatives and friends, others, just a few. Occasionally, someone will have no real friends or family, but all of us interact with humans, and that over time has proven to be dicey. 

The health of our relationships is one of the biggest factors in how we function each day. Turmoil and chaos at home or work, or both, puts us in emotional quicksand. On the other hand, healthy relationships in our lives improve our overall health and make us more productive. 

In Genesis, God modeled right relationships for humans, and this model continues through the Bible right to the end in Revelation. From this, we see that our first priority in relationships is to be in fellowship with our creator. Get that one right and everything else flows. Following close behind is finding harmony in our human relationships, and getting this right is crucial to finding peace. 

Ephesians 4:2–3 says, “Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” 

Most people are familiar with the well-known Bible verses that deal with relationships such as Paul’s wisdom from Ephesians. But scripture is loaded with helpful and healing relationship commands. We hesitate to call it advice because God doesn’t really give advice. He tells us what is good for us, and what may be harmful. 

For example, a fairly obscure passage in Job speaks to mean in any era having healthy relationships with women. In Job 31:1, the suffering man says, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.” Wow, so simple—yet very important and profound. 

That chapter goes on to say that God sees all that we do. He’s watching how we treat people. Job made it clear that a man can decide he is going to treat women with respect. It isn’t complicated or beyond our reach. So often, simply deciding to be a decent human being leads to waves of healing and peace of mind for everyone. 

Lots of books have been written about relationships from marriage to raising children, but the best book of all has the best wisdom, and if you check that out, I think your relationships will thank you. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, you’ve given us the gift of interacting with other people. Each is unique and created special. We ask that you send the Holy Spirit to guide our relationships so that they’re pleasing to you and to others. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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1 Peter 5:6–7 says, “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.”

These two short verses tell us several things: One—if we submit to God’s power by acknowledging we can’t solve our problems, He is strong enough to intervene and bring about the outcome we really want.

Second, He does this in His own time, on His own timetable.

Third, we are to leave our problems at His feet. There is nothing wrong with getting an image in your mind where you actually do this, and then walk away—your burden lifted.

Key in getting on track is recognizing that you might have a trust problem. If you’ve been deeply hurt by, say, a family member, you might subconsciously be failing to trust God himself.

And this is the first step in getting free of fear for good.

Know that an unburdened mind is not usually gained quickly, or without what we would call maintenance. The only thing predictable about our world is that it’s unpredictable. If you think you’re going to have one great afternoon and then every day after that is carefree, you’re deluding yourself.

We’ve already established that a daily time of prayer, reading your Bible, and focusing on God’s love for you is a combination that our enemy can’t overcome. Choosing to believe God’s Word is practical, and it works. That can’t be emphasized enough!

Jesus said in John 16:33 that we will absolutely have trouble in our lives, but that He has already overcome the world. This fact will help to keep you on that straight path that will ultimately one day lead to paradise with the One that created you, sustains you, and loves you forever.

Let’s pray.

Lord, having the discipline to daily rely on you is something we often lack. When we focus and concentrate our minds and our hearts on your good gifts, fear leaves, and can be replaced with courage and peace. Thank you for providing for all of our needs, all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Micah had a tough job. The prophet that lived in the time of Isaiah warned the people in the land at the time that God was not pleased with their behavior.

He was not exactly a popular guy! He told them that the rituals they performed did not bring them closer to 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.”

In Micah’s time, foreign enemies did a lot of damage, but the message the prophet brought was that the Savior was coming one day. It was a message that resonates in our own day.

Tough times are not fun. Sometimes it feels like life is crushing us. But Jesus is coming! He is with you in this life and the life to come. The prophets were sure of it. And we can be, too!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your will is where we want to be. God help us stay in line with your best outcomes for us. We love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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In the last century, a 4'10" woman from England answered the call of God to become a missionary in China. Her accomplishments there, especially in saving orphaned children during war and conflict, have made her sort of a legend.

Near the end of her life, Gladys Aylward gave an interview in which she said the most amazing thing—something that could only have come from the heart of a truly humble servant:

“I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done for China. There was somebody else…I don’t know who it was—God’s first choice. It must have been a man—a wonderful man. A well-educated man. I don’t know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn’t willing…and God looked down…and saw Gladys Aylward.”

Ephesians 4:1–3 says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

If you remember who you are in Christ, and remember that only through His strength can you accomplish anything worthy of leaving a legacy, you’ll find contentment that most only dream of.

Let’s pray.

Lord, give us a humble heart in everything we do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever had the pleasure of waking up in a cozy cabin…after you’ve let the fire go out from the night before? If you don’t get out of bed and put more wood in, the squirrels or raccoons aren’t going to do it for you!

Much more serious is the tendency to get lazy about the fire inside us to share the love of Christ. After so many years of being a Christian—especially living in a free country—sharing the Gospel can be put on the back burner.

Romans 12:11–12 says, “Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord. When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful.”

Do you see what God is urging us to do in Scripture? He says to never let the fire go out! Never doesn’t mean sometimes, when we’re tired or annoyed about something. This is too important to mess up. Remember—Jesus saved you. And more than likely, through someone keeping their own inner fire going, they saw you through the eyes of compassion.

Let’s pray.

Lord, give us a passion for the souls of all people, at all times. And help us be ready to share Christ with them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Some of the greatest stories of believers down through time have involved those who really studied God’s Word. These people have gone before us to show us the way. From Charles Spurgeon to a missionary mother in China, daily study of the Word, and prayer, prepared them to mentor entire generations.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

We also read in Romans 10 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We have to do it, so that others know how. And remember, there is no substitute for spending time in God’s Word.

In order to properly train an apprentice, you need to obviously be prepared and adept. Anything less leads to weak faith, or no faith at all.

This is what the Great Commission—sharing the Gospel—has always been about. Duplicating disciples. Grounding your own faith in the Bible, and then imparting that to others. That is the essence of true iron sharpening iron.

Let’s pray.

Lord, keep us about your work by daily reminding us to spend time with you in Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Sweat was pouring off Peter as he moved to protect Jesus. As Roman soldiers held the one who had been labeled a heretic, Peter drew a sword and cut off a soldier’s ear. And he was stunned when Jesus told him to put the sword away. You see, Jesus knew infinitely more than Peter or anyone else. He knew the end from the beginning, and He knew He had an agenda to see through to the end. Peter couldn’t see that, and impulsively He moved to change the facts on the ground.

And that’s so typical of us as humans. The authentic Christian wants to do something to fix things or change the world. The theologian, Francis Schaeffer, wrote a whole book titled, How Should We Then Live, on the role of a Christian in the modern world. And there are arguments over whether America is still a Christian nation or whether postmodernism has won the day.

But what does the Bible say about being a witness in the world? 

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

Notice it doesn’t say engage. We’re in fact told not to become like the world in all its anti-God stuff. Yet we also know one of the last things Jesus said to His disciples before he ascended into heaven was that we should go into all the world and make disciples. The Apostle Paul made an interesting observation in 1 Corinthians 9. He said that he was free from conformity to the world. It had nothing he coveted. But that he chose to be a servant to all, so that his example might win some to Christ.

In Hebrews 13, we’re told to practice hospitality. And this echoes many Old Testament passages, too. The idea is a believer is to be an example of what life with God looks like in hopes it will draw unbelievers. And this must be done with sincerity, though, especially in our jaded modern culture. First Corinthians 10 tells us, whatever we do, do it for the glory of God alone.

To sum up, the Bible tells us to absolutely live in this world and be appealing to people. But to do all this while holding onto our convictions. Balancing being a gospel witness, while also being seen as personable is the approach for our modern world. 

Let’s pray.

Father God, you’ve given us direction for all that we do. Help us to continually have a burden for the lost and to always remember we’re to be salt and light for a hurting world. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

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It was once said that the sun never set on the British Empire. The island nation had expanded its reach around the world for hundreds of years, and the Union Jack flew over many countries. But as happens with earthly kingdoms, the sun did set. Today, the British are back to being basically just that island nation. 

The Bible talks about a kingdom that will have no end. What do we mean when we talk about that Kingdom? The Kingdom of God. The concept is found in the New Testament and refers to the entrance of God into the world again, through His Son, Jesus. They will be fully established at the end of history when God reconciles all things to Himself, and opens a glorious eternity for believers. Christians are invited to participate in making sure the Kingdom of God is heavily populated. We do this not in our own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

For 300 years, the Roman Empire tried to kill Christianity, but by the end of the first century, there were 500,000 Christians throughout the empire. By the Middle Ages, with all its terrors and plagues and wars, the Kingdom of God had increased to 50 million. And today, even in oppressed areas like China, Christianity is experiencing explosive growth. Worldwide there are 2.2 billion Christians. 

When times are tough, people turn to the living God. And as we’ve discussed, God invites us to participate in building His kingdom. We have daily opportunities to talk freely about what Jesus Christ has done for us.

Talk about a purpose-driven life—making your life count for something eternal. Share the Good News so much that when eternity comes, you’ll have no regrets. 

Revelation 21:23 says, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it. For the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp,” and that is a kingdom that will never sit in twilight. 

Let’s pray. 

Father, you are always adding to your kingdom, drawing people to you. Thank you that we can participate with you by sharing our faith in all the diversity of our days. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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A trait most of us share is a tendency to do things our own way, and possibly ignore helpful suggestions that might enhance our efforts. In business, it’s easy to see how this could waste time and produce counterproductive results. In other areas of life, the impact of going our own way has much bigger implications. 

As people of faith, we believe nothing is more important than sharing the gospel. Too many times though, we obsess over the process and perfecting the marketing. Yet two New Testament stories give us the perfect blueprint for effectively sharing our faith. 

In the first from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a group of fishermen to head out to deep water and lower their nets. They did exactly as He said, even though the night before they had caught nothing. Peter did as he was told, and when they brought up the nets, the hall was so great the nets began to break. 

In the second fishing miracle from the book of John, Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection. The situation was similar to the first: a previous night of fishing yielded not much. Calling to them from the shore, Jesus told them very specifically to lower their nets over the right side of the boat, and they would catch some fish. And once again, the nets began to break. 

Have you noticed the common denominator when it comes to sharing the gospel? This is what Jesus meant, of course, by telling them that He would make them fishers of men. Fishing was something these men understood very, very well. It is when we are obedient to the Lord that good things happen, and obedience is key. 

We don’t have to be able to speak like Billy Graham. Most of us don’t have some amazing, unusual gift of talent, but we can have an obedient spirit, and a willing heart. It is then we lose our fear of engaging others. We no longer focus on having a little memorized pitch ready. We just believe God. 

It also becomes obvious that after we obey the call to share the gospel, we’re not responsible for the rest of a person’s life. To put it a way a fisherman could relate to: we catch ’em, God cleans ’em. Just be willing. Be available. If you do that, results could be identical to those Galilean fishermen 2000 years ago. God will use the obedient person to do great things. Let’s pray. 

Lord, our efforts for you sometimes fall short. There could be many reasons, but where the problem lies with us, help us to have hearts open to your direction. It’s in you that we find the desires of our hearts. We pray that we are obedient to your calling to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with anyone we encounter. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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