Kerusso Daily Devotional

We as people tend to be goal-oriented. Even if you think you’re not, you really are. 

Maybe you don’t have a burning ambition to work in finance on Wall Street, or you aren’t going to be a pro athlete any time soon. But you do want to earn a living for your family. Hey, maybe you even want to get your chores finished before your favorite show comes on TV.

Sometimes, this love of goals can trip us up when it comes to eternal matters. We think we can make our own way. It’s just hardwired in us to set goals and meet them in order to reach our reward.

The Bible says otherwise.

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Eternal life with God, being reconciled to Him in spite of our sin, is a gift we cannot win for ourselves. In fact, we can’t do anything to get it other than simply receive. This is what God’s Word says. Salvation through Christ does not depend on our talent or initiative or drive. It depends entirely on the choice of Christ long ago to stand in our place as punishment for sin.

Once you wrap your mind around that, you’ll be ready to receive it with joy and anticipation for a future so good, we can’t even imagine it!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, thank you so much for your free gift of salvation. Jesus alone is our Savior. It’s in His name that we pray. Amen.

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Francis was just 6 weeks old when she became ill in the spring of 1820. The family doctor was out of town, and a charlatan pretending to be a doctor prescribed a treatment that rendered the baby completely blind, although she recovered from the initial illness. A few months later, her father died, and her mother went to work as a maid to support the family. She was raised by her grandmother, a devoted Christian who taught her granddaughter from the Bible.

At the age of 8, the little girl wrote this poem:

“Oh, what a happy soul I am,

Although I cannot see!

I am resolved that in this world

Contented I will be.”

The little girl was encouraged to work to the best of her abilities, and not to view herself as limited by blindness. She carried that resourceful attitude throughout her 94 years of living, and during her lifetime penned over 9,000 hymns.

You may not have heard of Fanny Crosby, but if you’ve ever sung or listened to favorite hymns in church, chances are you’ve heard her music.

She poured out her heart writing hymns, many of which are still sung today, nearly 200 years after her birth. Songs such as “Blessed Assurance” and “To God be the Glory” are treasured classics in many denominations.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Fanny Crosby was struck blind as an infant, but she allowed the Lord to shape her story, and used her talents to praise Him, and inspire others to do the same.

Let’s pray.

Lord, the story of Fanny Crosby is an encouraging reminder to rely on you, no matter our circumstances. You had a plan for her life from the very beginning, and the songs you wrote on her heart continue to inspire us today as we worship Your Holy Name. Thank you for writing Fanny’s story so beautifully. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Tim closed his laptop and wondered what to do next.

He had a degree. Great job experience. Enthusiasm and passion for his work… But the job market was tough in his new hometown, and his savings was running out fast.

“Lord,” he prayed, “please help me find a job. You know my talents, and what I need to help support my family. Please provide.”

He’d been praying this same prayer daily, but no job had come along. Tim knew God’s promises were real, but the disappointment of unanswered prayer was weighing on his mind.

Luke 18:1 says, “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought to always pray and not lose heart.”

God’s timing is not our timing—even when we’re frustrated, even when money is tight and circumstances are strained. The Bible promises when we obey the Lord, we can ask for what we need in prayer and God will provide.

God’s answer doesn’t always come immediately. Sometimes it’s completely different than what we expect. The answer might even be a resounding, “No,” and we have to trust God’s plan, even though it doesn’t meet our hopes or expectations.

Not every story is going to have a happy ending. In Tim’s case though, an ideal job in his field was advertised a couple of weeks later. His new work offered exciting challenges, the opportunity to network in his new community, and a Christian leadership team at work. God came through for Tim, big time!

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for loving us through our impatience. Your plans for us are good, and your timing is always right. Thank you for hearing our prayers. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Judson Van DeVenter was an art teacher and artist when he became a layman in the Episcopal-Methodist Church. He was passionate about his work, but also actively devoted to the evangelistic meetings held at his church. 

Seeing his abilities, Judson’s friends urged him to quit his job and become an evangelist. For five years, he wavered between the ministry and seeking recognition as an artist. He felt God’s call on his heart, but it was a difficult choice to set aside his career and artistic talent. 

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

One of the most challenging things we can do as humans is to surrender our lives to God. We want to control our lives and make our own decisions, but true freedom comes when we surrender to Christ.

Judson Van DeVenter, or “JW” as his friends called him, finally surrendered his life completely to Christ, and traveled extensively throughout the United States, England, and Scotland as an evangelist—visiting art museums and studying painting as he shared the Good News about Jesus. 

Along the way he wrote the beloved hymn “I Surrender All,” among other songs, and was credited later in life as being a positive influence on the work of Billy Graham, who counted him as a friend and enjoyed time in his home for fellowship and singing. 

When we surrender to Christ, we allow Him to take control of our lives. We become more focused on following His will, and less concerned about our own desires. We become more dependent on Him and less dependent on ourselves.

Let’s pray. 

Dear Lord Jesus, today I surrender all to you. Let me lean more on you, and less on my own desires. I give you my life. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Nick Vujicic, born without arms and legs, faced obstacles few could fathom. Less than 10 people worldwide have this condition. He’s now a person of faith, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world. 

Oh—and he’s married with four kids. 

Oh—and he graduated from college with a double major. 

Nick, now 35, was born with a condition known as Tetra Amelia syndrome. Not surprisingly, he faced bullying as a kid, and it continued into adolescence. Then one day his mother gave him a newspaper article to read. It was about a man coping with severe disability. The story touched Nick, and he began going deeper into his faith. 

Not surprisingly, as a teen, Nick constantly wondered why he was so different from everyone else. There seemed to be no purpose to his life, and depression was a very real threat. He credits his faith as the sole reason he overcame his condition. 

Today, he’s the founder of the ministry Life Without Limbs, and he also launched a motivational speaking company. With global travel and communications taking Nick’s speaking opportunities to new levels, he is absolutely passionate to share his faith. As he says—if God can use a man without arms and legs to be his hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart. Who wouldn’t be inspired by such a person? 

Nick’s life perfectly fits Ephesians 2:10, which says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 

Few of us endure something as radical as what Nick has been through. His limitations, while rare and extreme, have been supernatural inspiration for millions. 

How would you react to that severe kind of testing? If you focus on what you don’t have, or on what you wish you were, you are missing a direct and customized blessing for you from God. 

Maybe you have an obstacle, or several. You feel stuck in life. And that’s fine…for a little while. If nothing else, reflect on the story of Nick Vujicic, and then read one of the most beautiful verses in all the Bible: Psalm 139:14; it says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.” 

You are wonderfully made, perfectly suited for the purpose God has always had in store for you. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, how many times do we wish we were someone else, or in different circumstances? Sometimes we just aren’t comfortable with who we are, but your word tells us we have freedom in Christ. And as the psalmist says, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Each of us uniquely made to do your will on this earth. Help us to keep this truth in front of our face all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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The action of sharing the Good News—the Great Commission—means that we don’t just sit in our houses and shut away the world.

Scripture is an action item.

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

If the Bible is true—if God’s story intersects with our story—then a hurting world is in need of a Savior. The pain many are enduring will have no end until they meet Jesus. He is our healer and His glory fills the earth.

We all have different personalities and various methods of engaging with others. But whatever personality God has given us, we are tasked with sharing the life-giving news of Jesus and His sacrifice.

Get in the game! God has called you to share His salvation with anyone and everyone. 

Darkness can be oppressive—but the Light has come!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you showed up in our world at precisely the moment that we needed you most. God, would you help us tell others that eternal story? It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray, amen.

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If you’ve ever wondered what the best way might be to share your faith and defend it in the modern world, it might help to look at past examples.

In the Bible, the husband-and-wife team of Priscilla and Aquila shared Christ with Apollos, who would become a famous early evangelist. In colonial England, the abolitionist William Wilberforce shamed his own government into freeing slaves.

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.”

Today more than ever, it’s truly important that Christians prepare to defend our faith. The world is hurting and dying. People the world over desperately need the love of Christ, and they will have questions. They might wonder about the divinity of Jesus, or ask you specifically how to be saved.

You should be ready to answer, and do so with a heart full of love and compassion. And don’t be afraid to be bold!

Let’s pray.

Lord, give us a spirit of courage in this chaotic world. Help us to love as you love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Defending your faith can sometimes be a subjective thing. As examples of extremes, we’ve seen the Crusades, and at the other end of the spectrum, it’s perhaps an aggressive “pitch” to someone who isn’t a believer.

The thing is, it’s great to be zealous for our faith, but let’s also be disciplined. We don’t want to alienate a person who might otherwise listen. To put it simply: an angry Christian is usually a lonely Christian.

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.”

We can defend our faith in a strong way. We can be bold in what we believe, sure of our eternity with Jesus Christ. But our messaging is very important. It could be that just having a conversation with someone is the right approach. Don’t feel pressure. Don’t press. Jesus has the job of saving; we just have to be available to share about Him.

Let’s pray.

Lord, please always remind us to share the Gospel with love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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In every generation, it falls to believers to spend time in defending our worldview as Christians. And honestly, it’s not the nicest part of the gig—but it is part of the gig. Usually, it involves simply explaining what your faith is all about. 

Followers of other religions do the same thing, but for us, we’re sharing the person of Christ with someone who may not 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—and they’re not all adversarial—but if it is, remember the main thing: you get to share your faith, and see someone else find freedom in Christ!

Let’s pray.

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

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Most of us feel a deep respect in our hearts for those who have sacrificed so that we can remain free. Loving those who have paid the ultimate price is just something we do as people. We pause to remember each year.

Isaiah 56:5 says, “To them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.”

God instituted the concept of maintaining memorials. He remembers, and so do we.

Maybe you’ve had a brother or mother or cousin or uncle that never came home from war. Even before the American Civil War, our citizens were placing flowers at the graves of veterans. It’s one way we can keep their sacrifices front-and-center, so that we don’t forget and become complacent.

This year on Memorial Day, stop to take time and pause. Do something tangible, like visit a cemetery. Ask an older relative to give you some insight into a family member who never came home. And then thank the Lord for that sacrifice.

Let’s pray.

Oh Lord, We remember those who had paid with their lives. It’s the least we can do, but we want to do more by keeping their memories alive in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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