Kerusso Daily Devotional

Adam, a first time father, looked down at his newborn son with love. Adam and his wife had made mistakes in the past and suffered greatly for it, but this child, their firstborn, was a chance to start fresh. The new family didn’t have the support of friends or relatives, but they did their best, and figured it out as they went along.

When the family was blessed with another son a few years later, they were so grateful to the Lord, and excited to watch their boys grow and play together. The family of four worked hard, loved God, and they were in it together. 

Sometimes, though, the sins of our past have a way of catching up with us.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were banished from the Garden of Eden, they plunged the world into sin. They couldn’t have known at the time just how far-reaching the consequences of this event would be for their family—that their son Cain would one day grow jealous of his brother Abel’s favor in the eyes of the Lord, and commit the very first murder.

Adam, the first man, and very first human father, has much to teach today's fathers about the consequences of our actions and the absolute necessity of obeying God.

Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Lessons we can learn from Adam include:

Obedience:

God wants us to freely obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to his love. A man who follows and obeys the Lord can be a child’s first example of obedience.

Integrity:

Fathers with integrity know that nothing is hidden from God's sight. Even when no one is around, God sees our actions; men with integrity act accordingly.

Responsibility:

Godly fathers take responsibility for their own failures and shortcomings, rather than blaming others for their mistakes. The ability to accept responsibility is not a show of weakness, but a sign of strength.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, Adam, the first human father, had no blueprint for fatherhood. Thank you for the wisdom and knowledge we can glean from fathers before us in your Holy Word, the Bible. Uphold fathers, Lord, and open their eyes to your love, and your good plan for their family. Give them the support they need to follow you, and to humbly obey your commands. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Welcome back. Today, we are wrapping up our series on forgiveness. In the final chapter, we're talking about the emotional benefits of forgiveness. 

In Christ, we experience peace that is so remarkable, it isn't naturally part of this world. As we think about the power forgiveness has for us and others, let's think about how forgiving someone lifts a huge burden off our minds. 

Matthew 5:23–24 says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.”

Notice that God is aware how we think. This passage from Matthew describes a very interesting trait that is often overlooked. The person who has come to worship God cannot properly do that, because he remembers there's trouble in his relationship with his friend. We just can't let it go. God is telling us here to take care of this spirit of unforgiveness first, then come back for worship. Refusing to do things in this order only diminishes our time with God. 

Jonathan Draper has written about this problem of holding onto grudges, and he specifically says that having a forgiving spirit allows us to grow closer to God. This is the number one benefit of forgiveness.

Tony Roberts is an Indiana pastor and relationship expert. In a conversation he had with a young woman impacted by a negative relationship, he asked for her top emotional health benefits that come from forgiving. She said, “It impacts emotional health, in that if you don't take care of you, nobody will.”

Taking care of you is forgiving and forgetting that person for trespassing against you. Forgetting isn't the most important part, but it's definitely one of the most challenging. And if they don't happen, you will lose yourself. Now, think about that. God has promised to walk with us through our trials, and those include cycles of unforgiveness. It's critical to our emotional well-being that we forgive, so that we begin the process of looking after our own emotional health. Letting go of bitterness is an important first step.

Let's pray. 

Father God, you intended for us to live in harmony, so that our physical bodies and our emotional selves would be in sync. And when that doesn't happen, we need your help to strike the right balance. Please walk with us in divine health. Let us come to a place where we embrace forgiveness. In Jesus' name, amen.

Welcome back to our series on forgiveness. Today, we're talking about the physical benefits of forgiveness. 

There are several stories in the Bible that tell us when God's people obey Him, they are in better physical and emotional shape. Remember, Daniel and his friends refused to eat the rich food sent by the king. After several weeks of their own diet, they emerged healthier than other young men in the Babylonian kingdom. So too do we learn that an attitude of forgiveness leads to peace. 

In Matthew 18:21–22, we read, “‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but 77 times.’” When Peter asked this, Jesus was thinking not only of the person who was to be forgiven, but also about the well-being of Peter. We know from scripture that the hot-tempered Peter learned to temper his temper over time.

Notice that the exchange between Peter and Jesus about forgiveness is an ongoing process. It isn't a one-time deal. Being intentional about the art of practicing forgiveness ensures that we don't fall back into bad habits. A Journal of Behavioral Medicine study tells us that forgiving someone can reduce feelings of tension, anger, depression, and fatigue. This leads to much better sleep patterns. Another study provides evidence that forgiveness can lower blood pressure significantly, especially among spouses. An article in the Journal of Health Psychology provides a link between much lower stress levels and people who forgive.

God knows us in every way. He created us. In Philippians 4:7 we read, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This comes in the form of a person who is willing to make a conscious choice to forgive and let grudges go. 

The enemy of our souls wants us to hang on to bitterness. The God who created us and loves us wants to see us well, along with those who have hurt us. Healing replicates itself and it starts with us. 

Let's pray. 

Father, it's painful to watch someone who's locked down by unforgiveness. Help us model what it looks like to be healthy and whole when we forgive. In Jesus' name, amen.

The story of the Prodigal Son is one we can all relate to. 

The Bible tells the story of a brash young man who leaves his home after asking for his inheritance. His loving father complies, and let’s just say the son learns some valuable lessons on his travels.

Eventually, he humbles himself and comes home; he needs his father and his family.

It’s really a story of Jesus and us.

Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

We screw up sometimes. And maybe it’s so bad that we can’t possibly see a way back.

That’s when Jesus stretches out His arms and welcomes us home. He isn’t as concerned with where we’ve been as He is where we end up. His perfect love and forgiveness are the only real healing for our self-inflicted wounds. If you think you’ve screwed up too much, put that out of your mind and simply tell Jesus you need Him.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your willingness to welcome us back to fellowship is something to behold. We are so grateful for your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

One of the most corrosive elements in the human character is unforgiveness. Bitterness and fighting in relationships is really a drain. Physically and emotionally, we’re simply not wired to survive long-term problems in this area. 

According to Dr. Michael Berry, 61% of cancer patients have forgiveness issues. And Dr. Karen Schwartz of the Johns Hopkins Hospital confirms that the hurt and disappointment associated with forgiveness issues can spike incidents of heart disease, depression, and diabetes. On the other hand, forgiveness calmed stress levels, leading to improved health. 

The Bible tells us that we can make the decision to forgive when someone wrongs us. And Colossians 3:13 we read, “Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you so you must forgive others.” Did you notice that? We should basically cut each other some slack. 

We all fail, but making a choice to let it go, especially with an individual, will benefit everyone. Your own stress will melt away. It's like a gift you can give yourself. 

In a Focus on the Family article by Rose Sweet, we find this key piece of wisdom that can unlock our inability to forgive: “Forgiveness is returning to God the right to take care of justice. By refusing to transfer the right to exact punishment or revenge, we are telling God we don't trust him to take care of those matters.” 

So you see, it's not really so much about the person who wronged you, it's more about your refusal to let God handle it. By doing that, by letting God handle it, taking that critical step, we can step into the freedom that God had waiting for us the whole time. Your physical health will improve, but that pales in comparison to the improvement in your spiritual health. 

Let's pray. 

God, an unforgiving spirit is so hard to carry. Help us see daily that we can choose to forgive just like you chose to forgive us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Welcome to the Kerusso Daily Devotional. Today, we're kicking off a series on a topic all of us probably need a reminder about from time to time: forgiveness. 

Even though most US homes have at least one copy of the Bible, few know what's in it. There are all sorts of things: wisdom for living, history, spiritual food. It's the Bible's practical value that hooks most people who read it. The Bible says a lot about money, how to raise kids, and even how to strengthen your marriage.

It also tells us a lot about forgiveness. 

Forgiveness is mentioned dozens of times in the Bible. In Genesis 33, Esau forgives his brother Isaac's treachery in stealing his birthright. And the most famous example is the forgiveness Jesus chooses on the cross as his accusers and executioners mock him. Think about how hard that was. It gives some perspective on our own situations in life.

When you think about it, the entire theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is one of forgiveness. Man chose to bring sin into the world and defy God's perfect plan. Yet, God didn't leave us in that state. He made a way for our sins to be put away forever. Jesus Christ became the vessel through which forgiveness could be extended on an epic scale.

One of the most difficult passages in all the Bible is found in the New Testament. Matthew 5:43–45 says, “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and you hate your enemy.’ But I say, love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”

Now, in the here and now, is there anything more difficult than forgiving a mocking enemy? There are people in the world who delight in making others miserable their whole lives, but Jesus is telling us that is possible. The key is when we take the long view. We must mentally and emotionally take ourselves out of the pain we are experiencing right now. Think of the future. Begin imagining the most wonderful healing that can take place between enemies.

And that's what God did for us. The Bible tells us He's holy, and cannot look on sin. Yet, in Genesis chapter 3, God began the process of grace. In the gospels and in Paul's letters, we see him continuing to be patient with us. And then in Revelation, the long view: God takes our acts of forgiveness and makes a powerful redemptive new world, and we can look forward to that.

Let's pray. 

Father, thank you for having mercy on us in every way. Sometimes we need to forgive someone, and sometimes the shoe is on the other foot. Help us to read Your Word and act on your commands to forgive, especially when it hurts. In Jesus' name, amen.

Scores of people today, even in many of our churches, walk around aimless. They work their jobs and take care of their families, but they struggle to understand what it is that God wants them to do.

He’s told us in His Word!

As with every other situation, His Word speaks directly to our circumstances.

Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

The Lord requires of us that we have the mind of Christ. That we aim for showing justice and mercy to those we encounter. And notice: we are to love doing these things, not just go through the motions! Finally, we are to remember to be humble. 

There’s only One Who is perfect, and that is the Father. In our present state, we are to emulate the qualities that caused His Son Jesus to turn the world upside down for good.

If you ever wonder what your purpose is, start with these awesome words from the prophet Micah!

Let’s pray.

Lord, help us to keep in front of us at all times the simplicity that is in Christ. He shows us the way. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jill felt like she couldn’t keep up anymore. Four years out of college, she was doing well in her chosen career. But it had not only taken her far from home, it took her away from the values she had known her whole life.

This new place she lived in pressed in on her mind and heart.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Burdened by her stresses, Jill realized something had to change. But in that unique way He has, God showed her that she didn’t necessarily have to move home, or even change careers. What she needed to do was continually give her burdens to Jesus.

She did that and she continued to do it, and one day, months later, she realized with great joy that she had at some point come back to her place of peace. And her parents and loved ones were still several states away!

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you so much for caring about us. For loving us. Teach us to rely on You as our only source of peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Carl loved working on his farm. He loved the solitude and sense of accomplishment. One day though, working alone, he was injured severely. In fact, if he didn’t get to the hospital, he would likely die.

So, he banged the door of his old pickup shut and took off. He pulled into the hospital parking lot and lost what little consciousness he had.

Waking up 24 hours later after surgery, he realized he remembered nothing of his injury or even getting to the hospital.

In effect, the God he loved and trusted had driven him to town.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

We can never save ourselves. It’s then that God proves Himself to us and carries us to safety.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for taking over when we can’t. We’re so eager to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps in the midst of trouble. But the truth is, we’re bound to arrive safely at our destination when we let you take the wheel. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Does your life feel out of control? Are you experiencing that common feeling of weaving down a busy highway, about to crash?

It’s a metaphor for life that many of us internalize at some point. All of a sudden, what you were sure of isn’t there anymore. You might as well be behind the wheel of a fast car that’s heading into oncoming traffic.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

This isn’t some nice little bit of wisdom someone put on a greeting card. This is the very Word of God. It has sustained civilization for thousands of years. It’s a proven method for getting your life back under control.

It doesn’t work though, unless you can see Jesus taking the wheel. Let him get you to safety and peace.

He’s ready and waiting to take all your worries and set you on a smooth and straight path.

Will you pray with me?

Lord, feeling out of control is not something we want to have anymore. Please take over and guide us in your perfect ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.