Kerusso Daily Devotional

Having the “patience of Job” is a common saying, even if people don’t really know its origins. Job of course was the biblical character that suffered greatly before God restored him.

But if you read the book of Job, it’s not at all clear that he really had much patience! 

Because being patient is really, really hard.

1 Corinthians 13:4–5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

In 1 Corinthians, we have our blueprint for practicing perfect love. Pure love. And when it comes to patience in this context, we are to train ourselves to be patient with those around us.

It requires a willful choice to be patient with someone—as long as it takes—in an effort to project Christ’s love outward. If a situation calls for you to be patient, just remember that someone in your life has had to be patient with you, too.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you call us to be patient and we want to obey, even though it’s against our natures. But we will follow you in this. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We “love” all sorts of things. We love a friend’s new hairdo. We love pistachio ice cream and travel to exotic places.

Many times, the word itself loses all real meaning. It’s like homemade chicken soup without the chicken, and without the soup.

1 John 3:16–18 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

The Divine Word helps us yet again. Here we learn that true love means doing for others. Get involved. Don’t just say you love your community. Show the community your love.

Cleanup projects, running errands for a shut-in, taking your niece to the movies because her mother is working two jobs…you know what to do. You know the opportunities.

Think you love those around you? Show them.

Let’s pray.

Lord, there is so much good to do in this world! Please show us opportunities every day, so that we can put action to our words. 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. 

The Bible is famous for speaking in parables and metaphor. One of the most famous is found in one of Paul’s letters, in which he tells us the benefits of a life in Christ.

The “Fruit of the Spirit” is a list of nine attributes that a person filled with the Holy Spirit will model for the world. It’s probably no coincidence that Paul starts with…Love.

Galatians 5:22–23 says, “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.”

Love defines what it means to be Christian. Jesus taught that we are to love others, even to pray for our enemies. John wrote that true love is obedience to Christ. This dimension of the Fruit of the Spirit causes people to turn from evil, husbands to cover their wives in love and protection, and many, many more benefits for the world.

Let’s pray.

Lord, Your Word tells us that healthy fruit is a benefit to everyone; inspire us to offer the fruit of love to all we come in contact with. 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.

Love is the essence of God. We know that.

At the same time, we can say that there are different kinds of love; we’re talking about that this week. Love for family. Love for our fellow humans. Love for nature.

But we can think of what is called Agape Love as “Big-Tent Love.” Agape is an ancient Greek word meaning “Love of God for people, and of people for God.”

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 says, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

Get out of your bitterness toward someone. Stop looking at others as less than you are.

Our world is a great big old tent.

Your neighbor is you, and you are your neighbor.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for making us diverse. Help us love all people, all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Our world has rich diversity. In nature, we see almost countless stunning animal species. We linger on pictures of beautiful landscapes. Even different cultures give us amazing experiences.

There are also many different religions. Some of them offer a measure of peace. Some have reflections that can help us be better people. Today we’re talking about salvation, and that is one thing only Jesus offers. That is a harsh thing to say to some people, but if we are true to God’s Word, we affirm it.

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Founders of other religions can’t save you. God tells us in Scripture that He alone saves, through the sacrifice on the Cross by his Son, Jesus Christ. Maybe you’ve been offended by that seemingly exclusive offer, but what could it hurt to really reflect on it?

Choose to do that today. Privately, tell Jesus that you want to know Him.

He’ll answer.

He has a gift for that.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your world is beautiful but flawed. The world to come that you’ve prepared for us will be perfect and without end. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let’s think about something deep today:

What is the end game?

In this context, we’re talking about what comes after this life we are living now. Believers of course look forward to an eternity with the Living God. And even unbelievers wonder about what comes next after you draw your last breath.

It’s the most important element in our discussion this week.

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.”

Like snowflakes and other beauty in nature, no two lives are alike. Each of us is unique. God made us that way. The Psalmist said that you are fearfully and wonderfully made!

And in your unique life, you face singular challenges. If you believe in Christ, you are well aware that in this life there is pain, and struggle, and obstacles.

But all through Scripture, the Lord lovingly reminds us that He is always with us and when we pass to the next life, He has prepared a wonderful future for us. One that will never end and will never be tainted by sin.

If you endure in your faith, that is what is waiting for you. Think about that today!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your Word tells us that eternity is joy beyond our understanding now. All glory belongs to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A farmer, perhaps more than most, knows something about faith.

Harvest time captures much of our attention and all the good press, but the farmer’s careful planning, toil, and belief in the outcome are all necessary to reach that moment of glory.

First, the farmer must decide what to plant in his fields. What do history and the Farmer’s Almanac say about likely weather patterns in a given year? What will various seeds cost right now? Is it a cyclical year for grasshoppers, or other pests?

Soil is carefully prepared and shaped for seeds, which must be planted under appropriate conditions. And then, the waiting. New shoots finally begin to show, followed by prayerful weeks and months: for moisture — not too much, not too little. For an ideal mix of sunshine and shadow and temperature that will grow a robust crop worthy of bringing to market. For favorable conditions for sale, once the crop comes in.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Farm life is a tug-of-war between blessed abundance, and faith that the toil in the fields will yield results: praying for sun or rain, watching corn or wheat or sunflowers grow green and tall, or waiting for trees to bear fruit again this year.

Like the faithful farmer, if we seek God first, turning to Him in prayer and giving every aspect of the growth, health, and harvest in our lives to Him, the Lord will be faithful to bless us and lay out a good plan for our lives.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, we are so grateful you watch over the fields of our lives, giving us rain or sunshine in turn, sometimes teaching us through harsh conditions, and blessing us with a fruitful harvest at the right time. Help us to be patient in our faith, like the farmer watching over his fields. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Of the many gods throughout world history, almost none of them seem to care about individuals. They might alter the weather so that crops can’t grow. Or cause some global upheaval.

But only one claims to care about you.

Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Isn’t that amazing? The story is that Jesus left His place of royalty in heaven to come to Earth as an innocent baby, then grow into a man ready to carry our sins for us. He came to find you! You! God sent Him on a search-and-rescue mission.

As we continue our look this week into the Good News—or, the True Story of Jesus—we begin to see that He is powerful: so powerful He can concentrate fully on each of us. That is astonishing. And comforting.

We can say that we choose Christ, but it is more accurate to say that He looked for us and found us. He sees the heart. He spends time healing your heart and your life. It’s why the imagery of a shepherd tending to his sheep is used so often in Scripture.

Our great God stands alone as the champion of the individual. Praise God!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your love for us has no limits. We are given your grace and mercy every day. Thank you so much for that! In Jesus’ name. Amen.