Kerusso Daily Devotional

The Great Commission…have you heard that term before? Christianity is 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.” 

Although 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. 

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 in 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. 

As humans, we compartmentalize, don’t we? By that we mean, it is in our nature to rank priorities, then even lose sight of some of them. This can often lead us to confusion about which direction we’re supposed to go.

This confusion even can extend to faith itself. We wonder, When am I supposed to pray, and when am I supposed to act on faith?

Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

When we get the Word deep in our hearts, we always have a ready answer for our personal questions. This sweet psalm tells us that we are to always remember the great gifts Father God bestows on us. His greatness is ever before us and in this way, we can worship Him all the time, no matter what we are doing.

Learn to bless the Lord and praise Him as you do your job, as you fellowship with others, even as you engage with people who don’t believe as you do. They need to see the love of Christ shining through you.

Let’s pray.

Lord, we bless you and praise you with our words. Thank you, Father, for never ever forgetting us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In all the world, there are almost countless ways people try to find God. Some are drawn to the mystical, while others chase after the practical. Does it work?

God knew we would all look to fill the void in our spirits, the one put there when man first sinned. He also already knew what our escape route would be, the path back to Him.

Romans 10:9–10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

The so-called “Roman Road” is in reality a face-to-face with the Living God. Jesus Christ Himself is our aim, and our benefactor. He loved us so much that He offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin. It’s very simple. God accepted the sacrifice and raised His precious Son from the dead. Now it is there, waiting for us to accept that great and priceless gift.

Let’s pray.

Lord, we complicate things sometimes, but your salvation is a simple choice, and it is free. Blessed be your name forever and forever! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Emma used her hand to brush her husband Edgar’s white hair from his forehead…he was near death.

Their marriage had been happy, and now she was saying goodbye. The nursing staff talked about the love between the two. Only three days after Edgar went into eternity, Emma joined him.

The Bible often uses marriage as a backdrop for what God has done for us. We know that in earthly marriages, it’s important to persevere. When we think of the Fruit of the Spirit, patience is very closely linked to faithfulness. It’s the act of sticking with someone or something, all the way to the end.

Proverbs 3:3 says, “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Our loving Father has been with us every step of the way. The faithfulness of God is an awesome thing to see and experience, and we know His promises always come true.

He’s waiting for us at the end, with outstretched arms. In the tough times, think about that—imagine Him there. It makes the wait worth it.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you are faithful to your people all the time, in every circumstance. We’re grateful that you love us this much. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Because there’s so much easy access to information and ideas today, we can take in a huge amount of stuff. The downside is that much of it is just noise, and a lot of it simply isn’t true. 

What we hear, even if it sounds good, is not always good for us, especially when we’re talking about spiritual doubt. There are many opinions floating around out there on the subject. For instance, some will say that doubt is really something to wrestle with continually never finding a satisfying answer; while at the other end of the spectrum, some will say that if you doubt, you are permanently cut off from God. Both of those extremes are not helpful at all. 

The Bible is clear that God gives us a choice whether to believe in Him or not. John 1:12 says, “Yet, to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” 

Within each person is a longing to understand our place in the world and to know if there is something or someone beyond this life. The Bible says that He has set eternity in our hearts; that curiosity is in all of us, and if you're wondering about God, then that curiosity is a good starting point. 

A bedrock truth for Christians is that God sent Jesus in human form to atone for the sins of mankind. This is not an easy concept to grasp honestly, but it’s what is known as the Gospel—the foundation of our faith.

Christianity’s exclusive claims are too much for some seekers. In Mark chapter 10, the Bible describes a wealthy young man who asked Jesus what he had to do to be saved, and Jesus replied that besides following the 10 Commandments, he should give his money to the poor. The story ends with that man sadly walking away. It’s likely that Jesus was helping him to see that his heart was not yet ready to receive anything that would require any sacrifice on his part. 

In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” 

Believing in the true God is not a bed of roses, but if you can make the search for God your starting point, you’ll likely find what you’re looking for. 

Let’s pray. 

Father, you’ve given us the knowledge of saving faith in your Word. Thank you for giving us a free choice to decide our path in life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When you’re having a bad day, a run-in with an immensely cheerful person doesn’t always turn that frown upside down. Does it? Commiserating with someone else though—a word literally defined by two or more people wallowing in misery together—that can be a balm to an anxious and worried mind. Sometimes. The relief though, is temporary. 

Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” 

The apostle Paul was talking about more than mere cheerfulness in his letter to the Christian believers of Rome. Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord command us, ‘Thou shalt always be chipper,’ but these wise words from Paul remind us to think—before we sink. No matter what hardships we face, our hope is found in Jesus Christ and this hope is an infinite well of joy we can turn to in times of trouble. 

Paul also reminds believers to be patient no matter what befalls us. Paul was a respected missionary, even honored and admired by powerful officials of his day who didn’t share his Christian beliefs. Despite his good standing, for a period of two years he was in prison—literally chained and under constant guard. And from this depth of experience, he’s able to tell others to be patient in affliction. Whether our chains are literal or figurative in nature, the trials we face can mold our character and build our patience if we choose to let them. 

The most important part of Paul’s message in this verse is the reminder to be faithful in prayer. God is worthy of all honor and praise, but He also knows us, understands our weaknesses, and loves us anyway. On the days life feels too difficult to approach the Lord with a smile on our faces and joy in our hearts, He still wants to hear from us. Prayer is not a sometimes thing; it’s an all the time practice that grows our faith, strengthens our relationship with God, and changes our lives. 

So, be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you are the source of all our hope, the teacher of patience, and the one who listens to every prayer. Help us to choose joy over despair, patience over exasperation, and to pray faithfully. Sometimes fear and frustration threaten to overwhelm us, but you are near, and we pray you will turn our hearts to you. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

There is a movement in our society for a return to simple living. We might not want to give up all our technology—much of it is wonderful and helpful. But it is true that we want to quiet our minds and find some peace. This week we are talking about the simplest, sweetest truth around: Jesus Saves.

With that knowledge in hand, we can all find peace that the Bible says is from another world.

Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

It seems at times we are moving at near the speed of light through this amazing Information Age. Constant access to that much information can bring with it tired minds and weary hearts.

With that said, wouldn’t you like to be able to grab hold of the secret of life?

We just read it. God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth as a man to take on our sin and pay the penalty for those sins. When he was crucified, God raised Him from the dead three days later. It is what believers call the Good News. 

Those of us who follow Jesus believe God has proven Himself many times over.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you have given all of us the hope of a joyful eternity. Your Son’s sacrifice has saved us, and we’re eternally grateful for that. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray, amen.

Humans have limited understanding of our world and the world beyond; not that we’re unintelligent—far from it. The Bible makes it clear that God gave man a sound mind, and from the beginning, people were capable of accomplishing amazing things. The construction of the great pyramids, modern scientific advances, and our knowledge of the cosmos is a testament to how much humans can know and achieve. We’re even capable of presenting truth in various ways through art, teaching, and moral agendas, but man’s abilities are finite. There is One, though, that claims all truth: the person Jesus Christ. 

John 1:17 says, “For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” 

In other words, man has been capable over time of building structure and order in society. Around the time of Moses and the 10 Commandments and the laws that govern the Israelites, other cultures were doing somewhat similar things. The Code of Hammurabi, a set of Babylonian laws, helped create a functioning society, and in 1254, the Magna Carta, a set of English laws that was the forerunner of the Declaration of Independence, brought England out of the Dark ages. 

Yet the Bible is very clear that ultimate truth, the sum of all reality, is found only in Jesus Christ. It is in Him that we unlock the mystery of who we are as individuals. He knows each of us, and invites us into relationship with him. 

People all over the world follow their own set of rules. It’s often said that truth is true if it’s true for you, meaning of course that each of us has the right to follow his or her own reasoning. For example, to a person who frees himself from moral constraints, love can mean many things. 

In 2 John 1:6 we read, “And this is love, that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you’ve heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” 

Do you see the difference? We can tell ourselves anything; that love, for example, can have many definitions, but God tells us in His Word that true love is being obedient to our Creator. 

In the end, the world is full of philosophies and opinions of men. Some see truth differently, but only in the Bible do we find true truth. For Jesus Christ is the ultimate truth. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, the world can be a dangerous place. Help us to continue relying on you and as our ultimate source of truth so that we can make the best for us and our families. Your Word is our guide, Jesus’ name, amen. 

Part of God’s unchanging nature is that He is sovereign and does things His way. In Isaiah 55, we read that God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. In other words, He’s infinitely more powerful than we are, especially when it comes to perspective. 

We read in the Old Testament that sometimes other nations mocked the Israelites when they were exiled from their homeland. Really, they were mocking God because it was said that maybe He couldn’t keep His promises. After all this, after the Assyrians and Babylonians conquered Israel, neighboring pagan nations remembered that God had promised to give the land to the Israelites. But did that mean God had lied, and was in reality no more powerful than man? No, not at all. 

Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” 

In fact, God tells us clearly that He does exactly what He wants, when He wants. We see this in Isaiah 46 when God led the Israelites out of Egypt, but they were then confronted at the Red Sea by Pharaoh’s army. Did that mean God had lied when He promised to lead them out of slavery? Of course not. In fact, it was then He performed one of history’s greatest miracles. 

In Psalm 16:10, we read that God would not allow your holy one to rot in the grave, and this is a reference to Jesus. Yet, when Jesus died on the cross, many assumed that God had either lied or was powerless to stop Jesus from being entombed. We know how that story ended, and the triumph of life over death. God did raise Jesus from the dead. His body did not decay in the grave. So it’s a matter of perspective, then. 

Humans, with their limited understanding, think from time to time that God cannot keep His promises, but He keeps them all the time. All promises fulfilled—100% of the time. He cannot lie. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, you alone are powerful and you are our strength. You are perfect in all of your ways and have demonstrated that time after time. Help us let others see that—those who might doubt you. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Tribes usually think a lot of themselves, exclusive groups are sometimes arrogant. Even whole nations can be this way. In the 19th century, several European countries felt they were the descendants of the first people in the world. 

With religion, this can be infinitely worse with Christianity. Critics often say the exclusive nature of it is just unfair. They cite the Christian view that the only way to be reconciled to God is through Jesus Christ, and say that’s degrading to people of other faiths or those with no faith. Other worldviews claim to have truth and a few claim a superior view of the world, but none are quite like the Christian faith. 

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” all meaning all. That’s the meaning of the verse. And this is offensive to a lot of people. Christianity, though, doesn’t force itself on anyone, at least not in the modern world. It’s been said that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman, meaning he won’t force a person to yield to God. Instead, God offers grace to all who want it. 

Paul made it clear in particular that in order to be born again, one must believe in Jesus Christ. And rather than see this as exclusive, maybe we should change our perspective just a little and see how inclusive it really is. 

Many religions claim truth—but not absolute truth. Along with that, many believe all religions lead to God, but the totality of scripture tells us clearly that it is in Jesus that we find the truth, and satisfy the longing in our souls. In John 8:31–32, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. And then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” 

So you see, far from being a hateful, dominant view, the Christian faith shows people everywhere how to be free from sin. Not a workspace religion, but one that makes the very most of God’s grace. And that is true truth. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, your Word is truth. In it, we discover who we are and what our relationship with you can be. Thank you that you haven’t left us in the dark about our world, and the world beyond. In Jesus’ name, amen.