Kerusso Daily Devotional

Humans were built for language and communication. 

It's one of the bits of creative genius God used when He formed His highest creation. And apart from regular communication, whether it's the written word or verbal, we have a great gift from a loving God: prayer.

Prayer is an intensely personal way to communicate with our Creator, the One who knows everything about us.

Jeremiah 29:12 says, “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you.”

All through scripture, we see that God is available to us all the time. No regular hours or standing meetings. We can talk to Him anytime we want. There are 650 recorded prayers in the Bible, and we read about people praying while sitting, standing, kneeling, with faces to the ground or hands lifted up.

By the way, Amen means “let it be,” or “so be it.”

The word “prayer” appears for the first time in Numbers 5:22.

Since prayers are human communication with God, we see that the first prayers were way back in Genesis 3 and 4 when Adam and Eve, and later Cain, talked with God. In the second exchange, even though Cain was angry and had just killed his brother, he was having a conversation with God.

Jesus famously modeled prayer in Luke 11; and notice that He was talking to God, the Father.

It can be a fine line when thinking about how prayer is initiated. Often, thoughts come to our minds or we're reminded to pray for someone. However, there's an indication that God prompts us to talk with Him.

Galatians 4:6, that from our hearts we cry out, “Abba Father,” and that the indwelling spirit of the Lord prompts this in us. Of all the great gifts God has given us, Prayer is one of the most special. It's how our spirits commune with the One who loves us with perfect love. And He's always ready and waiting to hear from us.

Let's pray.

Father God, we worship you for who you are. We love you, and thank you for loving us. Thank you for making a way for us to talk with you about the things that lie hidden in our hearts in Jesus’ name, amen.

Do you need a miracle? If we're honest and open to the truth, miracles have always been a part of our world. In the beginning, God made a dazzling world full of diversity, beautiful animals, gorgeous sunsets, streams of water. He also made us to enjoy it all, and to keep it for Him. But just like the entrance of sin into our world, which marred the original beauty, we sometimes get weighed down with worry and cares of life. We look up one day and the drudgery of our days overwhelms us. The supernatural seems far away, and that's the very moment God will act. He has always been with us, and one of His greatest promises is that He will be with us to the end, to the moment He ushers in an eternity too wonderful to fully know now.

Revelation 22:1–3 says, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing 12 crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse.” 

In the meantime, maybe you're really going through a challenge in your life. You need a miracle. Do you know that you can simply ask Jesus for this? He's answered too many people, too many times not to be real. And if we're honest, the presence and regularity of miracles today are staggering. They're everywhere. 

So why not you?

1 Corinthians 1:1–2 says, “To those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours, grace and peace to you from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” There's such peace in this. Put aside your doubts and your fears. Just ask Him to help you, and He can. He will. In fact, He will bless you so much, you won't be able to stay quiet about it. You will have to tell people. You are a miracle.

Let's pray. 

Father God, you rescue us all the time in ways big and small. Your faithfulness in helping us is worthy of our worship. Thank you for making miracles part of everyday life. In Jesus' name, amen.

Only a person who is wilfully blind could deny that miracles happen today. They didn’t end at the shore of the Red Sea. Malachi 3:6 says, “I the Lord do not change.” From this, we can logically see that the Bible’s powerful and majestic miracles didn’t stop in the first century. They’re still happening. God didn’t suspend the love he dispenses in the form of miracles. 

Taylor McCaffrey was an alcoholic as a teenager. He was also a preacher’s kid, and these combined to weigh him down with guilt. From the age of 16, he drank heavily, but God didn’t leave him there. He says, “On my 21st birthday, I’d been drinking about eight hours straight and simply heard the voice of the Holy Spirit inside me say, ‘Either do what I’ve called you to or I will not continue wrestling you.’”

It sounded so stern. However, so loving, “I was instantly sober.” And that was several years ago. Today, Taylor is still sober. There are also countless examples of what we might call ‘corporate’ miracles—those that bless whole communities. At Christmas time of 2004, a group of 400 believers wanted to hold a Christmas service. The local authorities, though, told them that they could not do that in the city of Meulaboh in North Sumatra. The 400 decided to hold their service in a remote mountain region, and they stayed overnight. Early the next morning, an earthquake and resulting tsunami flattened their city, but they were safe in the higher elevations. Had they opted not to worship Jesus during their holiday, they would have perished.

The fact is our world is miracle heavy. They happen all the time. Miracles happen to ordinary people and to whole nations every day. This is one of the clearest evidences of the power and the majesty of the living God. We can choose to be witnesses for Him by pointing out to everyone we come in contact with that though our world has problems, God is still working in a mighty way.

Let’s pray. 

Father God, thank you. The example of miracles. They give us strength in our faith and a boost to our days. We’re forever grateful to you for routinely doing things that some say cannot happen. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Charles Darwin and some of his friends saw a certain beauty and order in evolution, believing that random processes can bring about living systems. That anyone survived what a poet has described as ‘nature, red in tooth and claw,’ is a miracle for naturalists. Others believe miracles, if you can call them that, happen because some impersonal cosmic force allows them.

There's not much comfort in that though. 

Remember the account of ancient people who longed to see a miracle from their God? The Egyptians developed a complex system of gods that operated on a whim, but when the God of Moses showed up, they very clearly understood the true source of miracles. And that was the point of the 10 plagues: to show them that the Creator God was infinitely powerful and capable of producing miracles. 

We've been given a reasonable source that tells us where miracles come from: The Bible. Deuteronomy 29:2–3 says, “Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes, you saw those great trials, those signs, and great wonders.’”

Here we see clearly that the source of any and all miracles is God Himself, not a force in the universe. Not a spirit guide. Miracles are from God alone, and He wants you to experience miracles in your life. He wants you to live an abundant life, not one of defeat and misery and oppression. His limitless power was seen by the ancients and today, people on every continent see that miracle-working power. There's a beautiful description of this in Isaiah 43:13, which says, “Yes, and from ancient days I am He. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” And this is the truth we can expect from the One who really does want to help you, and help you today. 

Let's pray. 

Father God, You have put within each of us the knowledge that tells us You are the source, all miracle-working power. And this is part of the good news of Jesus that we get to tell others about. Thank You for the miracle of Jesus. Thank You for all of Your miracles. In Jesus' name, amen.

The late writer Christopher Hitchens was a skeptic who claimed that miracles are born from nightmarish ignorance, and that they often are simply 10th-hand reports from illiterate peasants. Wow. The flaw in his argument, of course, is that it isn't really an argument. It's simply a rant against God, and the fact is unexplainable miracles happen every day in our world, but Hitchen's views are shared widely by certain influential people in our time and their claims that miracles are impossible do tend to have an effect on how others think of miracles. 

Another reason some have trouble really believing in miracles is because when one is needed, doubt and fear crowd out our belief. Remember, even the ancient Israelites who saw historic miracles almost on a daily basis sometimes complained that God had left them to die in the desert.

Man, our attention span’s short. 

Maybe the most famous example of doubting a miracle is seen in the New Testament when one of the disciples of Jesus, Thomas, refuses to believe reports of his resurrection. John 20:25 says, “But he said to them, unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” The 18th-century philosopher David Hume thought that miracles violated the laws of nature. In fact, his views and others like him influenced many people in Europe and America in the next two centuries. So they believed that reason cannot believe in miracles.

Notice that doesn't mean they don't exist. The opinions of men too often influence people who haven't really thought this through. As the Christian writer Timothy McGrew has said, “Science properly understood will tell us the limits of nature, but it will never tell us that nothing lies beyond those limits.” In the case of Thomas, we could say that he didn't have enough information. Once he saw the risen Lord with his own eyes, he could believe. 

For others, it's a matter of the heart. Perhaps you've been wounded and you're shutting God out. This can cause you not to see what's right in front of your face. So do this. Allow yourself one day to be open to the possibility of miracles. Scan the news. Listen to friends. Scroll through social media. It would be a miracle if you don't find a miracle. 

Let's pray.

Father God, you are good to us in big ways and in small ways. You make miracles happen in our lives. From healing to repaired relationships, we know that we can ask you for your good gifts and you will give them. Help us to be ambassadors for your miracle-working power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

We're starting a series today on miracles. They're one of the most popular subjects in culture. We're fascinated by them. We want them to happen, and we love it when they happen to us. But what is a miracle? Do they happen in our world today? Lots of questions. 

Skeptics claim that miracles are impossible.

Chad and Mandy Stacy saw one of them when their son, Ethan, was born with leukemia, and over a period of three weeks, he developed tumors all over his body. He couldn't eat. His heartbroken parents began to make his funeral arrangements and took him home. But one night at his lowest, he began taking nourishment, and over the next week he improved so much that his doctors were not able to find evidence of the killer disease in his body. One doctor said it was just remarkable to witness it.

One scholar has a thought that skeptics might consider: “To say that miracles are scientifically impossible is one thing, but to say that they can't happen is another thing. We might even define a miracle as an event which is scientifically impossible, but which happens anyway.” Well, there you have it. 

The Bible, in fact, has much to say about miracles, and because Scripture also tells us that our God does not change, we can reasonably believe He gives us miracles. We might say that the very first miracle was the creation of everything out of nothing. A marvelous world that still retains great beauty. The moon is just the right distance from earth to allow perfect tides that clean our oceans. The sun is just the right distance so that we have heat, but not too much. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

One of the first of what we might call personal miracles is recorded in Exodus 3, the burning bush. Moses is allowed to talk with God up close as the Lord's presence was in a bush nearby that wouldn't burn up. Another use of fire we see in 1 Kings 18 when Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to sort of a dual, each is to call on his God to answer. And Elijah says, “The true God will answer by fire.” And He does, as fire comes down from heaven and consumes the altar they've built.

An especially heartfelt miracle occurs in the New Testament in John 4, when Jesus heals a nobleman's son. Jesus doesn't force Himself on anybody. But as we will see, He's in the miracle business. If you need one, tell Him that. Tell Him your friend or relative or a stranger needs a miracle. He's the God who answers by fire.

Let's pray. 

Father God, you have proven yourself to us so many times that we don't need to doubt anything in Your Word. We believe that You grant miracles in different times and places, and no one is beyond Your miracle-giving gifts. Thank you for that. And help us to carry them in our hearts and our minds so that we can be witnesses for you. In Jesus' name, amen.

It was once said that the sun never set on the British Empire. The island nation had expanded its reach around the world for hundreds of years, and the Union Jack flew over many countries. But as happens with earthly kingdoms, the sun did set. Today, the British are back to being basically just that island nation. 

The Bible talks about a kingdom that will have no end. What do we mean when we talk about that Kingdom? The Kingdom of God. The concept is found in the New Testament and refers to the entrance of God into the world again, through His Son, Jesus. They will be fully established at the end of history when God reconciles all things to Himself, and opens a glorious eternity for believers. Christians are invited to participate in making sure the Kingdom of God is heavily populated. We do this not in our own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

For 300 years, the Roman Empire tried to kill Christianity, but by the end of the first century, there were 500,000 Christians throughout the empire. By the Middle Ages with all its terrors and plagues and wars, the Kingdom of God had increased to 50 million. And today, even in oppressed areas like China, Christianity is experiencing explosive growth. Worldwide there are 2.2 billion Christians. 

When times are tough, people turn to the living God. And as we've discussed, God invites us to participate in building His kingdom. We have daily opportunities to talk freely about what Jesus Christ has done for us.

Talk about a purpose-driven life, making your life count for something eternal. Share the Good News so much that when eternity comes, you'll have no regrets. 

Revelation 21:23 says, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it. For the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp,” and that is a kingdom that will never sit in twilight. 

Let's pray. 

Father, you are always adding to your kingdom, drawing people to you. Thank you that we can participate with you by sharing our faith in all the diversity of our days. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Sharing our faith should be exciting to us. It is exciting. When we consider the free grace God gave us through His Son, telling others about Jesus should be on our priority list every day. For whatever reason, many find it very awkward to talk to others about Jesus. We can talk about just about anything else, though. That's why it's crucial that we look at sharing the gospel as an intentional thing we do. Intentionality is a great way to overcome our hesitancy. And let's be honest, sometimes fear keeps us from sharing.

Truth is each personality requires a customized approach to sharing about Jesus. Some are outgoing and others are shy. A blogger for God TV has written that he admired a friend who told every seatmate on every plane he'd been in about Jesus. The blogger went on to write that, “Even if my fellow passengers desperately wanted to know Christ, they likely couldn't even get my attention with a jackhammer drill or a pie in the face.” Kind of funny and also kind of sad, also very common.

Matthew 16:24 says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

So if we're looking for ways to overcome our mediocre gospel sharing, what can we do? Let's look at a few tips. The first is prayer. Get honest with God and tell Him you're not so great at evangelism. I mean, He already knows anyway. Ask him specifically to give you both opportunities and an intentional plan for communicating the best news anyone will ever hear.

Two, plan—think ahead. Are you a person who's good at conversation? Go over a mental checklist that provides you with enough scripture and short sentences to make your pitch when the time comes. However, if you're not outgoing, maybe you're a writer. Consider communicating with a card to let the person know you're thinking about him or her. Play to your strengths, not your weaknesses.

Number three, listen before you talk. How many times do we jump into a conversation or meeting without taking a breath? Train yourself to be quiet for a bit until you hear where the other person is coming from. You’ll learn about your friend or acquaintance, and you can then think through the best way to approach them about the saving gift of Jesus. But also, don't just wait for your turn to talk. Hear them, meet them where they are, and listen to the Holy Spirit to see how you can speak Jesus into that person's life.

Very few of us are Billy Graham. That doesn't mean we can't share the gospel. Somebody's depending on it. 

Let's pray. 

Father, whatever our personality and our experiences, give us a passion for loving unbelievers and caring about their wellbeing. The world is full of diversity. Help us embrace that. In Jesus' name, amen.

The Bible's book of Daniel tells us that one day knowledge and innovation will increase exponentially in our world. And it could be surmised that the prophet was looking ahead to our day, but maybe he was looking even further. The technological advances of the 21st century are no secret. In the ancient world, an ocean voyage could take months. Now, a person can have breakfast in New York City and dinner in Paris.

Communication is beyond anything our grandparents could have imagined. The number of mobile devices at this moment stands at 7.22 billion, a slightly bigger number than the human population of our planet. There are more than two billion personal computers around the globe. People in Asia can chat in real-time with friends in Chicago or anywhere else. Such communication is instant and constant. Consider that as recently as World War II, whole armies could be on the move before the enemy was aware.

Travel is easier, too. There's a wonderful story from our friends at Our Daily Bread, in which a teen on a mission trip shared the Gospel with an elderly man in Jamaica. He was disabled, but listened intently when she described new life in Jesus and the hope of a new body in heaven. He asked her, “Will you dance with me up there?” He accepted Christ.

Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” We have almost limitless ways to get a Bible into someone's hand. According to The Bible Society, between 1816 and 1975, 2.5 billion Bibles were printed. Many people, of course, still prefer to hold a book and read the printed word, and that method has been responsible for many millions of conversions over the years.

It's exciting to think that, now, 100 million Bibles are being printed every year. Technology brings advancement here as well. That remarkable YouVersion Bible App has been installed on 300 million devices around the world.

Knowledge is increasing drastically. We have the greatest opportunity in all of history to share the Good News of Jesus with the world. God has given us the means to use technology, prayer, and one-on-one conversations to bring people to Jesus. What will you do with your finite amount of time? It's up to you.

Let's pray.

Father God, your provision for us is wonderful. You've made it possible for each believer to share their faith with close friends and family, as well as those around the world. Give us a sense of urgency. In Jesus' name, amen.

Today we're continuing our series on sharing the gospel, and what we're covering today is about the Great Commission. Have you heard that term before? Christianity's 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 us churchgoers don't know what that term Great Commission means. And when asked if they had heard of the Great Commission, half of US 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.” And though 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. And the Bible tells us that this activity will have an end point. 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 and 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 then we should have a sense of urgency about sharing your good gift with everyone we come into contact with. In Jesus’ name, amen.