Kerusso Daily Devotional

This is the day of days. While the exact day is unknown, what we do know is that 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ came to earth as a child to rescue us from sin. 

Christmas is a date on the calendar that literally quickens our hearts. Everyone understands the significance of it. It’s why hateful people behave differently for at least 24 hours. 

Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us, a child is born. To us, a son is given. And the government will be on His shoulders, and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

This wonderful passage from Isaiah recorded 700 years before Jesus was born, speaks of course, of our Messiah—born there in a damp setting surrounded by farm animals, and a few people who began to understand that they were seeing something extraordinary. 

Keep Christmas in your heart this year. Today, stop and think about the one who came bearing the gift of gifts just for you. Have a Merry Christmas. 

Let’s pray.

Lord, today, we wake up with anticipation. A day unlike other days through the year, we love you for the greatest gift anyone could ever give. The gift of Jesus, the gift of eternal life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Celebrating Christmas with family and friends is a great time of the year, but do we know how all this started? This observance of the holiday? 

We’re pretty sure Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th. There are clues in scripture that put the date more in the springtime. 

In ancient times, the winter solstice occurred on December 25th. Sometime early in the 4th century, the church fathers set the date as the one we now celebrate. 

Even factoring in the diverse cultures around the world, Christmas is celebrated on every continent close to the same time for everyone. It’s pretty much agreed that our present day celebrations have their origins in pre-Christian, Christian and secular festivals, and there’s some debate about what is and isn’t appropriate.

However, for the believing Christian, the season is truly all about the birth of our Savior. No matter where you live or how you choose to celebrate, the scarlet thread of Christ’s birth and sacrifice that runs through scripture is the tie that binds. 

Let’s pray.

Lord, it has been said that we can keep Christmas in our hearts. We thank you for sending your Son as the ultimate gift to mankind. In Jesus’ name, amen.

O Holy Night is a well-known Christmas carol that began as a French poem celebrating the opening of a new church. The beloved song we know today was translated into English by John Sullivan Dwight, an American minister and abolitionist, in 1855.

This poignant carol reflects on the birth of Jesus as humanity’s redemption.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

A thrill of hope...what a beautiful, moving way to describe the feeling in our hearts as we approach the date that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Right now, you may be feeling a weariness that you haven’t felt before. Concerns about the health and well-being of your family, and worldly troubles beyond your control, may be weighing heavily on your heart this year.

We invite you to join us as we approach Christmas Day in rejoicing in the Lord. A new and glorious morning is on the way, and our hope is still, and always, in Jesus.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, we confess this year has made us weary. God, we pine for your holy presence, and we rejoice in your gift of Jesus! Be present among us, Lord. Bring peace to the chaos of this world and renew our hope for the coming year. We ask these all of these things in Jesus’ name, amen.

Charles Wesley, an English Methodist leader in the 1700s, wrote more than 6,000 hymns—more than any other male writer.

His goal was to teach the poor and illiterate sound doctrine. God used the writing talents of Charles Wesley to bring the Good News to people in a memorable way; even those who couldn’t read, could hear and understand a beautiful song, and even sing along.

Think about the songs you hear on the radio during the month of December. So many of the songs Americans enjoy listening to and singing aloud this time of year are praise-filled anthems celebrating our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and His birth—and many people don’t even know it!

Hark! the herald angels sing

Glory to the new-born King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations, rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With the angelic host proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! the herald angels sing

Glory to the new-born King!

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, we give you the glory for reconciling our sin through the birth, death, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus. May our hearts join together in peace as we sing and shout with joy over the gift of your Son. It’s in His name that we pray, amen.

A remarkable prophecy in the little book of Micah predicted the Messiah's birth in great detail.

Micah 5:2 says, “But you oh, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

Most of us know the basics. Jesus was born in humble surroundings. His parents were traveling to take part in the census, and Mary delivered in a tiny village south of Jerusalem. If the traditional site is accurate, Jesus was born in a grotto where animals were kept. Because of the business of the year there indeed was no room for the family in the modest inn.

Jesus was born in a dangerous time, but He came for us, to redeem us, and He came as the most vulnerable of all. 

Let’s pray.

Lord, only you could bring Jesus into the world in such circumstances. His earthly parents watched over Him and He became the sacrifice for us all. Thank you for this gift. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Did you know that “Joy to the World” was not written as a Christmas carol? In its original form, it had nothing to do with Christmas. It wasn’t even written to be a song.

Isaac Watts was one of the great hymn writers in church history, and nothing shows that better than the fact that he wrote one of his most famous hymns entirely by accident. In 1719, Watts published a book of poems in which each poem was based on a psalm.

One of those poems was an adaptation of Psalm 98, which Watts interpreted as a celebration of Jesus’ role as King of both His church and the whole world. More than a century later, the second half of this poem was slightly adapted and set to music to give us what has become one of the most famous of all Christmas carols: Joy to the World.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room

And Heaven and nature sing

Instead of celebrating the birth of Christ, like most hymns, this carol is all about the triumphant return of Christ. Ponder that as you sing along at home, in the car, or in the pew at church.

Christmas is so much more than Jesus’ birthday—it’s the recognition by believers that Jesus was born, died for our sins, rose again...and that He will return someday to make all things right!

Let’s pray.

Dear Lord Jesus, today we do celebrate your birth. We picture you with your earthly mother and father, Mary and Joseph, and we celebrate you coming into this world. Thank you for renewing our joy and reminding us that you are truly our King of Kings for all time, and you will return to make all things new. It’s in your holy name that we pray, amen.

Clive Staples Lewis was successful. A British writer and theologian, his work has become very famous. When Lewis wrote his classic “Surprised by Joy,” he was emphasizing the fact that true joy comes from a place we cannot create, but only claim and receive.

His story really brings a point to our weeklong series about asking the Lord for help when we are at the end of our rope.

John 16:24 says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

In ‘Surprised by Joy,’ Lewis compares joy to a signpost in a deep wood, pointing us to safety. Lewis was an intellectual and well known as an atheist, until he reached a point where life had no real meaning. He realized—not too late—that it isn’t weakness to reach out to God.

If you’re in a deep wood and can’t find your way out—if the sun is setting—stop and ask Jesus for the thing you need the most. Think about the implications of the psalm: He is telling you that you will receive what you asked for; it’s already done!

Lewis thought of himself as a “complete man” once he found the Lord. The same thing can happen for you.

Let’s pray. 

Father God, life has ups and downs, and you know that. God, we need you to be there for us, with us, all the way. In Jesus’ name, amen.

We look for things and stuff to make us happy, don’t we? Especially in the United States, where we are blessed with abundance. People from all walks of life look for more and more.

That can bring us to an empty place. Spiritually and emotionally, we look in the wrong places. But as we’ve discussed this week, that spark of joy we look for can be found only in Jesus. Everything else is—yes—clutter.

John 16:24 says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

This plays out over and over every day. We see this in dramatic ways when a famous person turns from materialism and empty fame, and finds Jesus. Someone like that, who has experienced uncommon wealth, comes to a place where Jesus must be dealt with.

Are you tired of your empty pursuits? Has the excitement over a new career or a new car worn off? If you’re listening and nodding, or maybe you’re not even sure—do this today: tell Jesus what’s in your heart and what’s on your mind. 

He said to ask. 

Ask. 

Receive His joy. 

Then you’ll be complete. 

You will be uncluttered.

He’s literally waiting for you to sit down and tell Him all about it.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, refresh us and renew us. Clean our hearts and our minds. We know that you can and will. We receive that! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Part of the joy of being a believer is that we can share the Good News with literally anyone and everyone. And how we share that faith is often critical for the other person’s future.

Romans 5:3–4 says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

As we share this week about holding fast to faith, it should be obvious that we are greatly blessed to be able to show others the way. And in that, we can be an example that just because things don’t always go our way, Jesus is better than anything.

On a difficult day, or in the midst of life’s challenges, we can let doubt fester and complain to those around us…or we can turn to Jesus, and point to Him no matter our circumstances.

People are watching. Don’t doubt that. If you put yourself out there as a Christian, others will look to see how you handle yourself when the going gets tough. Some look for you to mess up, but many more genuinely are curious about what you have.

Show them that your faith isn’t dependent on every day being smooth. Your task is to walk in faith — up and down the hills.

No Grit, No Glory!

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for giving us the gift of sharing the Good News! In Jesus' name, amen.

Do you remember the last time you laughed? Do you remember the last time you laughed from sheer joy?

Many of us don’t. The weight of life presses down on us…it weakens us.

Proverbs 31:25 says this of a godly woman: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

Did you know that God means for you to be strong? He wants you to have dignity. You are a child of the King. You are a woman of faith. Or maybe you are a man who seeks God.

That beautiful proverb reminds us that it is God Himself who dresses us each day with the respect He has for us as His creation. Because of His favor and His blessing, you can meet today with boldness in who you are, not shaking with fear or worry.

So, today as you head to work or as you do whatever you’re about to do, take as your own promise that the all-powerful, true God made you to live this life not with fear of the future, but with strength and dignity — because you know what’s in store for you, in the next.

Let’s pray.

Lord, we are better than what the enemy tells us we are. Thank you for clothing us in strength and in confidence each day. We get that strength only from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.