Kerusso Daily Devotional

Do you ever feel that you aren’t suited for sharing your faith in Christ? Maybe you’re not comfortable around people. Maybe you’ve encountered some who are hostile to faith.

If so, then we are speaking to you about sharing your light in a dark world.

Philippians 2:15 says, “Shine...like the stars in the sky.”

Have you seen the movie, “The Ten Commandments?” It’s doubtful the real Moses looked and talked like Charlton Heston. And do we really think God looks for His witnesses among people who have that perfect British accent in a Jesus movie? Nope. 

If we think we have to look or act a certain way, then we’re doing it wrong. God doesn’t ask our permission when giving us our marching orders for sharing the Gospel of Jesus. Instead, He approaches us as He did Job: Stand up and listen to what I have to tell you.

You are called to shine a light for Christ in a world full of dark things. You are equipped, just as you are. God has called you. Be bold in Christ.

He is the Star. We are just lights along the way.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, the time is now. So many need you. God would you help us to shine for you every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

John MacArthur once wrote a book called “Our Sufficiency in Christ.” In it, he revealed the path to finding true peace and contentment. And he says, “There’s a single word that encompasses all the riches we find in Christ—grace.” What a magnificent word it is. It’s used more than 150 times in the New Testament to speak of divine favor, bestowed on undeserving people. It is the means by which we receive every physical and spiritual benefit. 

People the world over search all their lives for peace. And who doesn’t want to be truly content? But we look for it everywhere but where it is. Chasing adventure or money or career success will leave you empty. Maybe you’ve been running hard for a long time so that you can advance in a career that you find meaningful. There’s nothing wrong with that. So long as there’s balance, and your life can remain focused on Jesus.

The Bible tells us very bluntly that anything else will leave us unsatisfied. And at the very least, you can start by finding even one or two minutes in your day before sun up or late in the evening, and just pray. Tell God that climbing the ladder at work is leaving you strangely empty. 

The Bible isn’t some interesting old book. It’s not just some historical treasure. It is life itself. Why? Because from beginning to end, it points us to Jesus Christ, who made us. Resolve right now, even as you’re sitting at your desk, to begin getting to know Christ. And sooner, rather than later, you will feel your anxiety lessen, and your priorities shift. You’ll discover what many have looked for in the wrong places for centuries. You’ll find peace for your soul.

Writing in 2 Corinthians, Paul said of Christ’s message to all of us, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

Philippians 4:12–13 says, “I know what it is to be in need. And I know what it is to have plenty. I’ve learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

And realizing all this, your circumstances might not change, but you will change for the better, for all time. 

Let’s pray.

Father God, you are sovereign, and that should make us calmer. Your power upholds everything in the universe, and you are good. You are not some impersonal being or one who is indifferent to our needs. Help us seek your Son Jesus at every turn. In Jesus’ name, amen.

As we continue in our series on finding contentment, today’s message is really about taking the long view. 

The human attention span is short. Like really, really short. Between the World Wars, Winston Churchill warned Europe that Hitler was a threat to the continent at least. But people ignored him. And then when the Nazis turned violent, the people turned to Churchill as their prime minister. 

Having led the country through another costly war to preserve freedom, Churchill was defeated for re-election in the last days of World War II. It’s like the people had forgotten his priceless contribution to world peace. He knew the war would take a long time and that it would be costly, and the people wanted to avoid thinking about it, and even later wanted it over quickly. And that’s rarely how life works.

Churchill returned as prime minister in the 1950s, but his experiences show that people mostly want short-term solutions. Working for the long goal is rarely popular. 

Jeremiah 15:15 says, “Lord, you understand. Remember me, care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering. Do not take me away. Think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.”

Here God is reminding us that often, we're required to stay in it for the long haul. Nowhere is this more true than in the pursuits of peace and contentment. That kind of thing is not built quickly. And not surprisingly, too many people don’t stay with it and they stumble along, looking for solutions in the wrong places.

If you’re in a bad place today, you have to start with basic steps. Talk to Jesus and tell him you’re struggling. Maybe you have a vague sense of depression and just can’t locate the direct cause. Take the example of people who did understand the source of true happiness, and were committed to seeing it through, no matter how long it took. 

Abraham knew the value of prayer and he waited for decades to have a son. Hannah was also unable to have children, but she prayed and stayed faithful. Eventually, God gave her a child and she felt fulfilled. Joseph spent years in exile and prison because of his brother’s actions, but his faith didn’t waver. He actually found his contentment in the middle of these trials, and eventually God restored his family, and all he had lost.

If you’re depressed or ground down from money worries, or facing some other huge challenge, go to God right now and tell him you need peace for your soul. Tell him you fully trust him, and will wait with as much patience and faith as you can. It’s then you start the clock ticking on your difficult circumstances. And while you wait, your heart will be at rest. 

Let’s pray. 

Father, thank you for the good gifts that we already have. Help us be grateful for those things that sustain life. We fully trust you to bring about our delivery from life’s circumstances precisely the moment you have chosen. Sustain our spirits on this journey, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The big question for today is, can we find contentment in things? Have you ever listened to a very successful person complain about the fact that his wealth doesn’t make him happy, how the success of life has left him or her empty? Of course, you have. We've all heard stories like that. But, pay attention to that because it’s really important. Watch people roll their eyes when they hear those stories. Why do they do that? Because they’re thinking, “Yeah, just give me some of that emptiness. I’d like to live on that side of town for a while.” But that attitude misses the point that’s trying to be made.

From the past to now, there have been at least multiple millions of these stories, these laments from very successful people who would trade it all to be content, millions and millions of successful, but unhappy people. It’s when we’re confronted with numbers like that that we should say to ourselves, “Wait a second. I need to think that through. Maybe having things and fame and success really doesn’t satisfy.” It’s then we start walking the right road to contentment.

April Model is a writer in California who works with her husband in ministry. Recently, she made a fascinating point. She said, “About six months ago, my husband said he thought the Lord was trying to teach him to be content with mediocrity. Mediocrity? Never. We should always be striving for the best, I thought to myself. But in light of a few life lessons of my own, I think I now understand what my husband was saying. It's easy for us to want the best life has to offer, but sometimes the best is learning to be content with what we have.”

Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.’”

You don’t actually need to hear another story of unfulfillment from someone you’ve admired to know that stuff doesn’t ultimately satisfy. You have only to think about your own life and realize that what God has given you materially is not the ultimate prize. It’s only when you’re in harmony with Him that you begin to know a life of contentment. 

Let’s pray.

Father, we know in our hearts that things don’t bring fulfillment. That fact is plain to us no matter how much we have. Help us be mindful that You alone would find the desires of our hearts. Remind us daily not to pin our hopes for the future on what we can acquire today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Today, our big question is, can we find contentment in relationships? How many times has this scene been repeated? A guy sees a girl he can’t live without. He thinks she will bring him happiness, and for a while, that’s how it plays out. But then one day he’s melancholy just like he used to be.

Or how about the woman who believes marriage will fulfill her heart’s desires, but then over time, her husband isn’t so perfect? You see the common denominator in these two scenarios. Partners aren’t the issue. The lack of contentment comes from the person seeking it. It comes from within. They’re looking in the wrong place.

Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think, then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Author Rob Kuban sums up right relationships for those seeking contentment. He says, “The Bible calls us to allow our convictions, not our circumstances, to govern our sense of contentment.” If you aren't willing to do the work of changing from within, your desires will largely go unmet, and honestly, you will not be attractive as a potential friend or mate. Our first assignment is to find peace with God and then seek the one he has for us. You see, choosing to be content is the first step. It’s just that so many people want shortcuts.

Read Ecclesiastes sometime, it’s a leadership book, really, but it opens a window into Solomon’s mind and heart. Here we see his thoughts on what happens when a person looks in the wrong places for real happiness. Solomon was the richest man of his time, and he also had hundreds of wives. But as an old man, he was bent in body and spirit from too many years of pursuing everything but his creator. Learn from his example and fix your eyes on the ultimate relationship. People will then be able to see the contentment on your face.

Let’s pray. 

Father God, our first priority should be a right relationship with you. Only you can bring peace to our hearts and minds long-term so that in turn we can bless others. Thank you Father, for making a way for us to be content. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The diversity of life on this planet is astonishing, good, bad, beautiful, painful. Our world is a place of blessing and it’s also a struggle for a lot of people. Each of us has a whole batch of issues to deal with every day, ranging from physical challenges to emotional needs. And a fascinating element in all this is how we see contentment. 

What is it? 

Where is it found? 

Is it lasting?

Matthew 6:32–33 says, “For the pagans run after all these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them but seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” 

Our old friend balance is so important. In every aspect of our lives, we should have a goal of keeping steady. Solomon spoke to this in Proverbs 30, when he asked God to give him not too much or too little. He reasoned that if he had great wealth, he might forget God. If he was in poverty, he might be inclined to steal. This effort to find balance is the heart of finding contentment. God is the ultimate source and He gives us the capacity to be content, using scripture as our guide. And as usual, God has a comprehensive plan for you, especially in the area of contentment.

Notice what Proverbs 14:30 says, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” 

The actor Chris Tucker discovered all this after the huge success of “Rush Hour” and other projects. But he became a Christian, and now he’s selective in what he does, and he keeps it clean and real. It’s been estimated that since he turned to faith, Tucker has turned down a hundred million in projects. What’s his take on all that? He says, “But I've got a hundred million of great experiences.” 

Whether you’re hard-charging and ambitious, or you’re simply neglecting the pursuit of peace in your life, you’re damaging your spiritual health.

Finding spiritual harmony makes you a complete person. Anything short of that, you’re flying with a broken wing. Bottom line is, if you look at all the verses in the Bible that speak to being truly content, you’ll quickly understand that Christ is the answer. 

Let’s pray, 

Father, You’ve provided the only way to true peace and contentment, and we thank You for that. Help us to keep this in front of us every day as we seek to live life well and abundantly, 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. 

Today, we continue our series on healthy relationships, and we’re talking about managing difficult relationships. 

There’s a wonderful scene in the classic film to kill a Mockingbird, when the attorney Atticus Finch is confronted by the father of a girl who has accused a black man of rape. The father, enraged, walks up to Finch—played perfectly by Gregory Peck. He spits in Finch’s face as the attorneys’ children watch. 

You can see the anger in Finch’s face, but he slowly and calmly maintains his composure. He simply walks past the man, who now looks pretty small and everyone’s eyes. 

God has given us the power over difficult people. It’s called not letting them set the rules. 

1 Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing.” 

Not always easy, definitely, but we’re capable of it. Remember that. This life is very much about winning and losing. Determine that a difficult person in your life is not going to win by controlling you and getting under your skin. In wrestling terms, don’t let that person pin you. 

Is that obnoxious person in your life really all that obnoxious, or are you a grouch, letting yourself get caught in what is really only a difference in personalities? Go home from work one evening and think about that. Make your mind up to start out the next day by being nice to that person. You’ll be surprised how that can change the equation. And that's what Colossians 4:6 is talking about when it says, “Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.” 

Or maybe you’re a man frustrated with the relationship between your wife and your mother. This is always a potentially difficult situation. Maybe you think your wife should be more adaptable, but have you forgotten what God told the man in Genesis 2:24? It says, “This is why a man leaves his father and mother, and is united to his wife. And they become one flesh.” Your responsibility in that situation is to your wife, not to making sure your parents’ feelings come first in all situations. 

So you see, often that difficult person you’re dealing with is you, or at the very least a different perspective will help you see where the fault really lies. 

Finally, in 1 Corinthians 5, we read that Paul advises for really difficult people, a cooling off period is legitimate. For example, the person who is causing real strife in a church should not be allowed to go on like that indefinitely; bad behavior sometimes must be confronted for the good of the community. And even for the good of the offended person, this is sound advice. 

So if we stick to what the Lord has already told us, and our tried and true methods for dealing with difficult people, we can get to a better place. 

Let’s pray.

Father God, a person who is angry or troublemaker creates chaos for everyone. Help us analyze each of these situations as unique so that we know how to handle them from Your Word. And most especially help us make it a habit to pray for those who are difficult, so that we might see their lives changed, and brought into harmony and unity. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

One of the richest gifts God has given us is healthy relationships.

A marriage in 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, even a text, 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.

God’s Word shares powerful wisdom for dealing with harmful relationships. A damaged marriage, child-parent relationship, or friendship gone bad can cause us to spiral downward. Everything is affected. Work, sleep, even our prayer life.

When a relationship sours, it’s important to remember we bear responsibility for doing everything possible to nurture healthy relationships. Our prayer life and resolve can go a long way toward repairing the damage.

When King David’s advisor, Nathan, saw what sin had done to David’s life, he confronted him. It must’ve been difficult for Nathan to be this honest with the king about his personal issues, but things got better.

Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Commit yourself to healing in a bad relationship. With God’s help, it can be done. 

Let’s pray.

Lord, there is so much hurt in this world, and none of us gets out without some trouble. If we’ve hurt someone, or if someone has hurt us, please put a burden on our hearts to go to that person in a spirit of love and peace, seeking to make things right. In Jesus’ name, amen.