Kerusso Daily Devotional

Even though the Bible is world famous, we sometimes hear people say that it was really written for ancient people and that it isn’t relevant for us today. And in a lot of cases, this is totally wrong. It’s true that ancient people compiled the Bible, but God intended it to be for all people in all times and places. 

Psalm 102:18 says, “Let this be written for a future generation that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” This is amazing! It means that God is inclusive and both His rules for how we should live, and His promises to us, are available to all people. And the good rules for living are wonderful and ahead of their time. 

Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” This is just as valid for us today as it was for an ancient Israelite. 

The Bible is even up to speed on science. Psalm 8:8 talks about the paths of the sea—and now we know about ocean currents. Proverbs 16:24— “Gracious words are like a honeycomb,” and Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine,” describe the human psyche and good mental health. And these are also instructions for us on how to treat others. 

Of course, the most relevant aspect of the Bible is the clear description of Jesus himself as our savior. This free gift of grace is available to all people everywhere, and the closer we stick to what the Bible has for us, the more harmony we will see in our lives. 

It isn’t hard. Just pick it up and begin reading. You’ll be truly amazed by the Bible’s relevance for your life. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, your words really are healing, and all of us need that. We’re grateful for that. We’re grateful that you have spoken for yourself and have shown us how powerful your word is for each of us, help us pass this knowledge on to others. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

You know, someone may have tried to convince you at some point in your life that we’re alone in the cold void of the universe, but that has never been true. It’s especially false for the believer who understands what God has done for all people everywhere. He, the Creator of the universe, formed us long ago, and His Word tells us clearly that He never takes a second off in His pursuit of us. 

Consider this: If you’re stuck in a bad relationship, you won’t find your way into the light until you’re reconciled to God. That relationship is number one. It’s the one you cannot be without, even if others fail you. Resolve to work on that one, and the others will fall into place. 

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” 

That ‘friend’ is referring to Jesus Christ, who loved us enough to step into history and take the punishment meant for us. Understand that, and cultivate a relationship with Him. 

Let’s pray.

Lord, we owe everything to you...literally everything. We worship you, and we praise your name as the One who sacrificed all for us. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

One of the richest gifts God has given us is healthy relationships: a marriage and balance, friends who mutually respect each other—and most of all a strong God connection—can be the ticket to a healthy whole life. The full life that Jesus spoke about. 

Hebrews 10:24–25 says, “And let us consider how to spur one another to love and to good works. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another, especially as you see the day approaching.” 

With the fast pace of life, sometimes we forget to squeeze all the gratitude we can out of a great relationship. Remember to regularly tell the people in your life how much they mean to you, and to give thanks to God for sending these loved ones your way. Write them a note to tell them just what they mean to you. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, it’s not about the number of relationships we have, but the quality. Thank you for giving people who are loyal and love us in return. Encourage us to love others in Word, and in deed. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

The Bible is famous for speaking in parables and metaphor. One of the most famous is found in one of Paul’s letters, in which he tells us the benefits of a life in Christ.

The “Fruit of the Spirit” is a list of nine attributes that a person filled with the Holy Spirit will model for the world. It’s probably no coincidence that Paul starts with…Love.

Galatians 5:22–23 says, “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.”

Love defines what it means to be Christian. Jesus taught that we are to love others, even to pray for our enemies. John wrote that true love is obedience to Christ. This dimension of the Fruit of the Spirit causes people to turn from evil, husbands to cover their wives in love and protection, and many, many more benefits for the world.

Let’s pray.

Lord, Your Word tells us that healthy fruit is a benefit to everyone; inspire us to offer the fruit of love to all we come in contact with. In Jesus’ name, amen.

God created humans with a spirit, soul, and body, and in order for each aspect of our being to function in harmony, our relationships should also be in harmony. 

From the beginning, God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, talking with them and nurturing a personal relationship with them. In fact, throughout the scriptures, God built foundational relationships, whether it was with the reluctant leader Moses, or Hannah—the woman who wanted to be a mother more than anything. 

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

Right relationships are foundational to life. The Bible is clear that if one of ours is suffering, letting it drift is not an option. Make living in harmony with other people a top priority every day. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you gave everything for us, created us to have fellowship—to experience your love and to love you in return. Help us to always be mindful that life is short, but relationships can last for eternity. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

What is true love? The question has been asked forever. Not everyone agrees. There’s a startling answer found in the Bible. The prophet Hosea marries a prostitute named Gomer. She’s predictably unfaithful to him, but God tells him something that’s strange to us. He told Hosea to take his wife back and restore her. 

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 

How often does this world seem interested in redeeming anything? Rarely. And that’s why we need God to model perfect love for us, love that restores and heals. Hosea did not keep score—he only loved, and that’s a picture of how God deals with us, His chief creation. We reject Him and cause pain, but always He’s there waiting with open arms. I think we can do at least as much for someone in our lives. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you’re forgiving. God, thank you for loving us and our sin and our filth, you long to restore us and we love you for that. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Kyle hurt Jenny emotionally many times, and then he left her because he said he wanted to have more fun. His young wife could barely function at first, but as she got her bearings, she decided to wait before making a final decision about her marriage. And then the day came: a series of circumstances left Kyle broken in spirit and in body. He had burned so many bridges that no one was coming to help him—except Jenny. 

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Jenny made a choice to love her husband through his stupidity and poor choices. When he returned to their home, humiliated in his community, he came home to a warm place. 

Today, through dedication and hard work, their marriage is a model for others to follow, and this husband has been transformed—all because his wife’s love didn’t give in to hard feelings. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, we all mess up—sometimes horribly, but you always extend us grace. Help us to extend that same grace to those who hurt us. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Have you ever congratulated someone for a huge win in life, and then silently envied them? We all do it, but the problem is that kind of thing can grow into a monster if we’re not careful. All of a sudden, we’re so focused on what the other person has, we lose sight of the wins in our own life. 

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Cain envied his brother’s relationship with God, and he killed him over it. That’s when that monster that covets was born, and we’ve been struggling with it ever since. 

True love does not covet what our neighbor has. True love rejoices in grace showered on others. If this problem lives in you, meditate on these verses and decide today to change your thinking, and your heart will follow. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, the enemy wants us to focus on what others have so that we lose sight of what you’ve given us. Christ is our standard. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

We’ve all known kindness in our life. Think about someone who’s been kind to you; it might’ve been a Sunday school teacher, or maybe it was mom listening to our bad day. But how often do you actually think about the importance of kindness? Is it an active part of your day? If not, I think you’re missing the point. 

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs.” 

Real love compels us to practice kindness, a daily routine, and for the right reason. And what is the right reason? God tells us to be kind. The choice doesn’t depend on what the other guy is doing. 

Be that person who does a lot of kind things—and his only audience is God. Give it a shot. Try a random act of kindness and don’t let others see you do it. Then reflect on how good it makes you feel. That’s the best kind of kind. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, your Word shows us that we're blessed with kindness from you in countless ways. Help us to start giving back to those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.