Kerusso Daily Devotional

Today we’re talking about the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:18 says, “I am the Living One. I was dead, but look, I am alive forever. I have power over death and hell.” Jesus died on the cross and rose again three days later; even death could not overpower Him. The miracle of His resurrection is life-changing for believers now, and forever. 

In John 11:25–26, Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” This means that through faith in Jesus, we too can have eternal life—even after physical death.

As believers, we have access to this resurrection power. This power is not only for the future, but also for the present. It gives us the ability to overcome any challenge or difficulty we face in life. We can have hope even in the midst of trials, because we know that Jesus has overcome death and has the power to give us victory. Nothing we experience in this life is truly the end—because our souls are eternal.

Whatever you face, remember that Jesus has the power to bring you out of it. Call on His name and believe in His resurrection power. Jesus is alive forever, and He brings life to any dead situation.

Let’s pray. 

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Help us to always remember that we have access to this power and that through it, we can overcome any obstacle. Strengthen our faith and give us hope in every situation. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Spring is the season of new life. As we finish up our series on the Psalms, we come to the most famous one of all.

Psalm 23:1–2 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”

This psalm contains some of the most famous words ever written. It has everything: beautiful language, a man’s raw honest heart for God, and a universal theme of love that God has for all people.

It echoes in the universe.

Think of the picture that God is painting here for us.

We are bone weary, but He has actually made a place for us to rest in a garden. We hear the flowing water. We are refreshed inside and out.

And He is with us.

Do yourself a favor this spring. Memorize every line of the 23rd Psalm. Put it in your heart so that when you are in that dark valley, you will remember that the one true God loves you absolutely and completely.

Goodness and mercy follow you. Close your eyes and sit in the cool grass.

He is with you.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you are the Great Shepherd who provides a sanctuary for us. Thank you, thank you for making a place of safety for us as we go through life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

One of the things that sets God apart from all others is His ability to tell us what is going to happen. We read about this in Isaiah 46, where He says only He knows the end from the beginning.

An amazing example of this is found in Psalm 22, and it’s almost surprising how many people are not aware of it.

Psalm 22:11 says, “Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.”

If you read the entire chapter carefully, you begin to realize that this is a conversation that Jesus has on the cross.

This psalm was written a thousand years before that world-changing event!

It describes a man being mocked on the cross. A man who is so thirsty his mouth feels like a piece of dry pottery. He even mentions that his tormentors are casting lots for his clothes. All these things are described in the New Testament, and even some of the language Jesus used on the cross is seen here for the first time.

God is in charge of all things, all the time. Including your situation. He raised Jesus from the dead, and He will provide life eternal for you if you call on Him.

He knows the end from the beginning.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you know all things. No one else does. That alone should give us confidence that you will be with us always. In Jesus’ name, amen.

From the time he was a young shepherd in the wilderness, David had deep relationship with God. He escaped enough dangerous situations to know that God was always with Him and was his deliverer.

Psalm 91:1–2 says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

This psalm is famous for its descriptive language. We can see a picture of this in our minds. And the specific things listed in this passage are very personal for each of us.

We are not to fear.

When we call on Him, He hears.

His angels watch over us.

One of the most beautiful images in the Bible is found in this psalm, as God, like a strong eagle, covers us with his wings so that we are protected.

Remember the words of Psalm 91 and call on Him day or night.

Let’s pray.

Lord, your protection for us is just one of the things that separates you from anyone or anything else. We are grateful for your wings that draw us near and cover us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Nothing is more basic to life than creation itself. The Bible tells us that God alone has the power to truly create, and the beauty of language in Psalm 139 explains this fully. Some believe the psalmist was writing in part about the creation of Adam.

Psalm 139:1–3 says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”

The writer marvels at the ways in which God understands each of us intimately, and is present everywhere

Are you aware that God loves you with a supernatural love? He created you to be a singular presence in the world…what we call “unique.” You might feel sometimes that you are worthless, or that no one cares.

Not so.

The Creator of the Universe, in that vast space, took time to make only one of you. You are precious to Him and you should never forget it, even when things look depressing.

God sees you when you sit in that chair and when you get up. He knows what you’re thinking and what’s in your heart.

You are on His mind.

Let’s pray.

Lord, it’s comforting knowing that you’re with us in each moment of our day. Help us to live in that moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the collection of songs known as “Psalms,” originally written as music for worship, especially in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Today we celebrate them as prayers for the most part, and they give us a beautiful picture of who God is.

Psalm 1:6 says, “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”

Traditional authorship is assigned mostly to King David, who loved to worship God with music and even dancing. His heart was open to God, and this inner life could be seen by anyone; this earthly king worshiped the King of kings.

In this introductory psalm, we read about the contrast between those who love God and those who don’t. And we are encouraged to “meditate” on His Word every day.

Our God is the great God, and loves each of us more than we can even imagine.

That love is a song in your heart.

Let’s pray.

Lord, your love for us is eternal and we are so blessed to receive it, as David did, all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

As Christians, we are called to live a life that reflects the love and grace of our Lord and Savior. Living for Jesus means putting aside our own desires and ambitions and seeking to live in a way that honors Him.

The Bible says in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” This means that every action we take, every word we speak, should be done with the intention of honoring Jesus.

It's not always easy to live for Jesus. We live in a world that often goes against His teachings, and we may face opposition from those around us. But Jesus promises that when we live for Him, we will experience true joy and peace.

How do we live for Jesus? It starts with putting Him first in our lives. When we spend time in prayer and studying the Bible, we learn more about His teachings and how we can apply them to our lives. We are also called to love others as He loves us, showing compassion and grace to those around us.

Living for Jesus isn't always easy, but it’s worth it. When we choose to follow Him, we are choosing a life of purpose and meaning. So today, let’s commit to living for Jesus in everything we do, honor Him with our words, actions, and attitudes.

Let’s pray. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of knowing, loving, and following you. Help us to live for you in all we do. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Ananias is a disciple who is mentioned only briefly in the Bible, but God called on him to play an important role in the life of Saul of Tarsus, who went on to become the apostle Paul. 

Saul of Tarsus was a terrible human being—an enemy of Christians who sought to punish and imprison men and women who professed to believe in Jesus, but his life was turned around. Known worldwide as one of the greatest Christian missionaries, Paul’s story of transformation from a cruel persecutor of Christians, to a devoted follower of the teachings of Jesus, provides proof that God can change hearts and minds. 

On the road to Damascus with his henchmen, Saul encountered God and was blinded by a bright light that surrounded him. This experience left him blind for three days. 

Acts 9:10–12 shares how God used Ananias to help change Saul’s life: “Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ So the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.’’’ 

Despite Saul’s fearsome reputation among Christians, Ananias expressed readiness to execute the Lord’s instructions, and God used him to restore Saul’s sight, at which point the man came to faith and began preaching about what God had done in his life. No longer a persecutor of Christians, Saul became the apostle Paul, and his life was forever changed. Ananias was ready when God called on him, and many, many lives were changed because he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 

Let’s pray. 

Dear Lord Jesus, the Bible is filled with examples of men and women who lived for you. Open our eyes to opportunities to serve you, so when you call on us, we too can say, “Here I am, Lord.” In Jesus’ name, amen.  

Judson Van DeVenter was an art teacher and artist when he became a layman in the Episcopal-Methodist Church. He was passionate about his work, but also actively devoted to the evangelistic meetings held at his church. 

Seeing his abilities, Judson’s friends urged him to quit his job and become an evangelist. For five years, he wavered between the ministry and seeking recognition as an artist. He felt God’s call on his heart, but it was a difficult choice to set aside his career and artistic talent. 

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

One of the most challenging things we can do as humans is to surrender our lives to God. We want to control our lives and make our own decisions, but true freedom comes when we surrender to Christ.

Judson Van DeVenter, or “JW” as his friends called him, finally surrendered his life completely to Christ, and traveled extensively throughout the United States, England, and Scotland as an evangelist, visiting art museums and studying painting as he shared the Good News about Jesus. Along the way he wrote the beloved hymn “I Surrender All,” among other songs, and was credited later in life as being a positive influence on the work of Billy Graham, who counted him as a friend and enjoyed time in his home for fellowship and singing. 

When we surrender to Christ, we allow Him to take control of our lives. We become more focused on following His will, and less concerned about our own desires. We become more dependent on Him and less dependent on ourselves.

Let’s pray. 

Dear Lord Jesus, today I surrender all to you. Let me lean more on you, and less on my own desires. I give you my life. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Have you ever been the new kid at school, or the latest hire at work? Maybe you’ve been first time visitors at church after a big move, or the newest neighbors on the block. Being the new guy or gal may be a little nerve-wracking, but it’s also an opportunity to reinvent yourself. It’s a chance to cultivate new habits, and build a great reputation without the baggage of your old life weighing you down. 

When we accept Jesus into our heart, we receive a new life. It's a life that's filled with hope, purpose, and joy. But embracing this new life also means letting go of our old ways and the things that held us back before we met the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

It's not always easy to change our habits and let go of the things that once defined us. But when we surrender to Christ, we receive a new identity in Him. We become new creations, free from the chains of our past.

As believers, we are called to embrace the new life Christ offers us. God asks us to let go of our old ways, in order to be the person He created us to be. Following Him is both a gift, and a choice we make again and again. 

Let’s pray. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of new life! We don’t have to be tied down by our old ways, or burdened by our former sins, because you have made us new. In Jesus’ name, amen.