Kerusso Daily Devotional Kerusso

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. 
 
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Nick Vujicic, born without arms and legs, faced obstacles few could fathom. Less than 10 people worldwide have this condition. He’s now a person of faith, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world. 
 
Oh—and he’s married with four kids. 
Oh—and he graduated from college with a double major. 
 
Nick, now 35, was born with a condition known as Tetra Amelia syndrome. Not surprisingly, he faced bullying as a kid, and it continued into adolescence. Then one day his mother gave him a newspaper article to read. It was about a man coping with severe disability. The story touched Nick, and he began going deeper into his faith. 
 
Not surprisingly, as a teen, Nick constantly wondered why he was so different from everyone else. There seemed to be no purpose to his life, and depression was a very real threat. He credits his faith as the sole reason he overcame his condition. 
 
Today, he’s the founder of the ministry Life Without Limbs, and he also launched a motivational speaking company. With global travel and communications taking Nick’s speaking opportunities to new levels, he is absolutely passionate to share his faith. As he says—if God can use a man without arms and legs to be his hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart. Who wouldn’t be inspired by such a person? 
 
Nick’s life perfectly fits Ephesians 2:10, which says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 
 
Few of us endure something as radical as what Nick has been through. His limitations, while rare and extreme, have been supernatural inspiration for millions. 
 
How would you react to that severe kind of testing? If you focus on what you don’t have, or on what you wish you were, you are missing a direct and customized blessing for you from God. 
 
Maybe you have an obstacle, or several. You feel stuck in life. And that’s fine…for a little while. If nothing else, reflect on the story of Nick Vujicic, and then read one of the most beautiful verses in all the Bible: Psalm 139:14; it says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.” 
 
You are wonderfully made, perfectly suited for the purpose God has always had in store for you. 
 
Let’s pray. 
 
Lord, how many times do we wish we were someone else, or in different circumstances? Sometimes we just aren’t comfortable with who we are, but your word tells us we have freedom in Christ. And as the psalmist says, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Each of us uniquely made to do your will on this earth. Help us to keep this truth in front of our face all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen. 
 
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The action of sharing the Good News—the Great Commission—means that we don’t just sit in our houses and shut away the world.
 
Scripture is an action item.
 
Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”
 
If the Bible is true—if God’s story intersects with our story—then a hurting world is in need of a Savior. The pain many are enduring will have no end until they meet Jesus. He is our healer and His glory fills the earth.
 
We all have different personalities and various methods of engaging with others. But whatever personality God has given us, we are tasked with sharing the life-giving news of Jesus and His sacrifice.
 
Get in the game! God has called you to share His salvation with anyone and everyone. 
 
Darkness can be oppressive—but the Light has come!
 
Let’s pray. 
 
Lord, you showed up in our world at precisely the moment that we needed you most. God, would you help us tell others that eternal story? It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray, amen.
 
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If you’ve ever wondered what the best way might be to share your faith and defend it in the modern world, it might help to look at past examples.
 
In the Bible, the husband-and-wife team of Priscilla and Aquila shared Christ with Apollos, who would become a famous early evangelist. In colonial England, the abolitionist William Wilberforce shamed his own government into freeing slaves.
 
Jude 1:3 says, “Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.”
 
Today more than ever, it’s truly important that Christians prepare to defend our faith. The world is hurting and dying. People the world over desperately need the love of Christ, and they will have questions. They might wonder about the divinity of Jesus, or ask you specifically how to be saved.
 
You should be ready to answer, and do so with a heart full of love and compassion. And don’t be afraid to be bold!
 
Let’s pray.
 
Lord, give us a spirit of courage in this chaotic world. Help us to love as you love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 
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Defending your faith can sometimes be a subjective thing. As examples of extremes, we’ve seen the Crusades, and at the other end of the spectrum, it’s perhaps an aggressive “pitch” to someone who isn’t a believer.
 
The thing is, it’s great to be zealous for our faith, but let’s also be disciplined. We don’t want to alienate a person who might otherwise listen. To put it simply: an angry Christian is usually a lonely Christian.
 
Jude 1:3 says, “Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.”
 
We can defend our faith in a strong way. We can be bold in what we believe, sure of our eternity with Jesus Christ. But our messaging is very important. It could be that just having a conversation with someone is the right approach. Don’t feel pressure. Don’t press. Jesus has the job of saving; we just have to be available to share about Him.
 
Let’s pray.
 
Lord, please always remind us to share the Gospel with love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 
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In every generation, it falls to believers to spend time in defending our worldview as Christians. And honestly, it’s not the nicest part of the gig—but it is part of the gig. Usually, it involves simply explaining what your faith is all about. 
 
Followers of other religions do the same thing, but for us, we’re sharing the person of Christ with someone who may not know Him. That makes it a big deal.
 
Jude 1:3 says, “Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.”
 
It’s exciting that God has entrusted this to us. It’s a privilege. Even if you find yourself in an adversarial conversation—and they’re not all adversarial—but if it is, remember the main thing: you get to share your faith, and see someone else find freedom in Christ!
 
Let’s pray.
 
Lord, thank you that you allow us to tell others about you. Help us always to be ready to give an answer when asked about our faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 
Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.