Daily Devotions From Greg Laurie

“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” (2 Timothy 3:5 NLT) As an evangelist, I constantly observe how two people who hear the same message will react in two completely different ways. One person will be profoundly moved, while the other will become harder in their sin. We see the very same thing in the story of Cain and Abel. Both men were sons of Adam and Eve. Both were raised in the same home and exposed to the same spiritual message. When we first read their story in Genesis 4, it seems as though they were both believers. But time revealed that Cain was so jealous and embittered that he murdered his brother Abel. The story of Cain and Abel ought to remind us that there are people just going through the motions, spiritually speaking. They give the appearance of being believers, but they have no real relationship with God. Or, as the apostle Paul put it in 2 Timothy 3:15: “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly” (NLT). That’s the life story of too many people. They are all show and no go. Their faith in God is nothing more than a mere game or act. Paul followed his description with a warning: “Stay away from people like that!” (NLT). Believers, especially young believers, can be led astray by people with an insincere faith. Consider this. You can offer like Cain. You can weep like Esau. You can serve like Gehazi. You can be a disciple like Judas. You can recite long prayers like the Pharisees. You can be a seeking soul like the rich young ruler. You can have lamps like the five foolish bridesmaids. You can do all these things and still be lost. Jesus was referring to God’s words recorded in Isaiah 29:13 when He said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8 NLT). And while spiritual acts may fool many people, they can never fool the Lord. Remember: “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT). That’s why it’s such a short-sighted mistake to take a surface-deep approach to the Christian faith. One day, we will all have to answer for the choices we make in this life. And Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter” (NLT). Jesus offers not just eternal life in heaven but also “a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT) in this world. But you can’t experience it if your only concern is looking like a Christian. Jesus demands your whole heart. Reflection question: How can you tell the difference between a sincere and insincere faith? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NLT) Maybe you’ve heard someone say about a happy, loving couple, “They have a marriage made in Heaven.” The implication is that some marriages just work—and that, by extension, some marriages don’t. Don’t believe it. Good marriages thrive because of the efforts made by both partners. Bad marriages fail because of the neglect of both partners. You want a good marriage? Make it. You want a bad marriage? Neglect it. There are two things we can work at to strengthen our marriages. First, we must obey the Word of God. God’s Word must be the standard for marriage. If that’s the case, then we’re on the right track. If that’s not the case, then we’ll face troubles ahead. The apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 give us a master class in creating a solid, thriving, durable relationship. It starts with choosing patience and kindness in interacting with one another and refusing to allow circumstances to change that. It challenges us to act selflessly, to work through the insecurities that lead to jealousy, rudeness, and a sense of privilege. It calls us to strive for integrity, emphasizing a spirit of forgiveness, honesty, faith, hope, and endurance. And that’s just one passage. Building a marriage on the foundation of Scripture is a lifetime pursuit. But what a life it promises! Second, we need to lay aside the world’s distorted and perverse concept of marriage. We need to learn to see through the lie that marriage is secondary to our own needs and wants. And the lie that marriage is disposable. We need to remove the word divorce from our vocabulary. Divorce can’t be some trapdoor that’s always nearby in case we want to escape. We need to resolve to make our relationship work through thick and thin, no matter what. We need to determine that because we’ve made a sacred vow, we’re going to stand by our marriage. Jesus was quoting God’s words in Genesis 2:24 when He said, “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one” (NLT). He added, “Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:6 NLT). Let no one split apart what God has joined together. That doesn’t leave much wiggle room, does it? Winston Churchill said during World War II, “Wars are not won through evacuation.” The same is true of marriage. It’s a commitment until death do us part. Reflection question: What does a healthy, God-honoring marriage look like? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.” (1 Timothy 4:6 NLT) Somewhere along the line, we have separated evangelism from discipleship. But there is no such distinction in Scripture. The idea of the Great Commission is not just to pray with someone to receive Christ and then say, “See you later. God bless you.” That would be like a mother who gives birth to her baby and then says, “God bless you, my child. It’s a rough world out there, but here’s a box of Pampers. Now get going.” A little baby needs to be nurtured and coddled and cared for and loved and taught. A new believer requires the same. As believers, our objective, our vision, and our mission is to make fellow disciples. That means working to help new Christians get on their feet spiritually, acclimate to the church, and learn what it means to be a Christian. Only then are we truly fulfilling the Great Commission. Look at the apostle Paul’s words to Timothy, a young spiritual leader: “If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed” (1 Timothy 4:6 NLT). Timothy had been nurtured, physically and spiritually, by a godly mother and a godly grandmother. They had instilled in him a strong faith. And that’s what Paul wanted Timothy to do for others: nurture and instill a strong faith. That’s what all believers are called to do. You’ll notice in Paul’s words that this nurturing and instilling begins with three simple words: “Explain these things.” The truths of Scripture aren’t always intuitive or self-evident because they call for us to resist our natural inclinations—the impulses of the person we used to be—and do things that seem completely out of character. Love your enemies? Forgive those who do you harm? Put other people’s needs before your own? Take up your cross? If you don’t have questions and concerns about the Christian life as a new believer, you’re not paying attention. Believers who aren’t new to the faith can fulfill the Great Commission by addressing their questions and concerns. The apostle Peter said, “If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15 NLT). We can make ourselves ready by studying God’s Word purposefully and faithfully, asking and answering our own tough questions, by spending quality time in prayer—talking and listening to our heavenly Father, deepening our relationship with Him—and by spending time in fellowship with other believers, sharing experiences, encouraging one another, and holding one another accountable. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (NLT). The more time we spend honing our own spiritual edges, the better prepared we’ll be to sharpen new believers into disciples. Reflection question: How can you equip yourself to mentor new believers? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.” (1 Corinthians 3:6–8 NLT) In the process of preaching the gospel, every Christian plays a part. Some of us sow seeds. Others water seeds that have already been sown. And still others have the privilege of reaping the seeds that have already been sown and watered. In 1 Corinthians 3, the apostle Paul addressed a problem that was causing divisions among the believers in Corinth. Some Christians there were identifying themselves as followers of him, Paul. Others were identifying themselves as followers of Apollos. And still others were identifying themselves as followers of Peter. These believers thought that their allegiance to a particular leader made them morally and spiritually superior to their fellow Christians. In his response to this burgeoning cult of personality, Paul gives us an important glimpse into the nature of evangelism. Look what he says in verses 6–7: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (NKJV). Paul made it clear that he and Apollos (and Peter) were simply laborers, planting and nurturing the seeds of the gospel. God was the one who made the seeds grow. Therefore, He was the One the people needed to follow. But the principle of sowing seeds and trusting God to make them grow still applies today. Sharing our faith with others is a personal investment. It often involves opening up about private matters and making ourselves vulnerable to rejection. It’s only natural that we’d want to see dividends from our investment—to see the seed we planted sprout and grow before our very eyes. But that doesn’t always happen. And sometimes if we don’t see immediate results, we grow frustrated. We question whether the seed has taken root. We wonder why God isn’t blessing our efforts. But remain steadfast, Christian. God is trustworthy. The seed that we sow today may not be reaped in our lifetime. It may grow after we’re in Heaven. That may be when the nonbeliever that we loved, nurtured, and shared the gospel with will come to faith. Then again, that nonbeliever might come to faith tomorrow. The timing is out of our hands. As Paul made clear to the believers in Corinth, it doesn’t matter who sows or waters the seeds of the gospel, as long as the work is being done. That’s not where the credit goes. The credit goes to the One who makes the seeds grow. Our responsibility is to sow the seed of the gospel in as many lives as possible and then leave the results to God. Reflection question: How was the seed of the gospel planted in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (Galatians 5:16 NLT) There are two ways that we can live: the right way or the wrong way. There are two paths that we can take: the narrow road that leads to life or the broad way that leads to destruction (see Matthew 7:13–14). There are two foundations that we can build on: solid rock or sinking sand (see Matthew 7:24–29). The choices we make concerning these things will determine whether we live a holy and happy life or an unholy and miserable life. Of course, the choices that seem obvious to some are less obvious to others. The right way, the narrow road, and the solid rock have little appeal for many unbelievers—and for believers who have fallen away from the faith. They see only misery, boredom, and restrictions. For them, Christianity is just a list of all the things they can’t do. No drinking. No smoking. No partying. No sex. No fun. I certainly felt that way before I became a Christian. I believed that Christians lived the most boring lives imaginable. But when I became a Christian, I discovered that my thinking was about 180 degrees off. I found that the holy way, the godly way, the way of obedience is, in reality, the best way. The happier way. The more joyful way. The more fulfilling way. That’s certainly the message we find in Psalm 119:1: “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord!” (NLT). We find true happiness when we walk in the ways of the Lord. No one is suggesting that it’s easy to live the right way or walk the narrow road or build a foundation on solid rock. Often it requires us to go against the flow of our culture. And sometimes the right way isn’t always apparent right away. Our enemy the devil is a master of deceit. He appeals to our old sinful nature. He makes the wrong paths look appealing. He uses guilt and shame to immobilize us when we make the wrong decisions. But we have powerful resources to counter his strategies. We can turn to mature, godly believers for advice, counsel, and direction. We can pray for insight and discernment to correctly analyze our circumstances before we start down a path. Our spiritual common sense comes from our understanding of Scripture, so we can immerse ourselves in God’s Word until His truths become second nature to us. And we can listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside each of us. The apostle Paul wrote, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:16 NLT). When we let prayer, the godly advice of others, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit guide us, we can be confident that we’re following the right paths the Lord has planned for us. Reflection question: How do you approach an important decision in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NLT) Some Christians prefer not to concern themselves with the details of their faith. They may say something like, “I don’t care about theology. I just love Jesus.” That’s a sweet sentiment, but it’s a dangerous one. We need to care about theology. Theology is the study of what God has revealed to us. If we don’t know what God has revealed to us, then we won’t have a spiritual or moral compass to guide us through life. Without a spiritual compass, we may be just slightly off course today, but we’ll be entirely lost in no time at all. Let’s say you board a plane to Hawaii. As you’re buckling your seatbelt and the plane is taxiing down the runway, you hear the captain say, “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Flight 232 with service to Honolulu, Hawaii. I’ve been having problems with some of our navigational devices. They seem to be a few degrees off. I’m not really worried about it, though. I think we’ll be okay.” That would be ludicrous. From 35,000 feet in the air, Hawaii is just a speck in the middle of the ocean. I’m always amazed that pilots find it under the best of conditions. If the navigational devices aren’t working properly and the plane is even just a few degrees off, it would be miles off course by the time it’s supposed to land. The same principle applies to our spiritual navigational guide. Without theology, you might be a little off course now, but you’ll be crash-landing at some point. The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (ESV). But our faith is based on compelling evidence from Scripture. The more we understand the big picture of God’s Word and the concepts on which our Christian faith is built, the stronger our faith will grow. What’s more, the better acquainted we are with our spiritual compass, the better able we’ll be to help others find their way. Look at Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth” (NLT). You have to know the Word of Truth—and the basic theological principles in it—to be able to explain it correctly. The apostle Peter chimes in with these words: “If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15 NLT). Since you have no way of knowing what someone may ask, you need to have a broad understanding of theology. To be an effective disciple of Jesus, you must know what you believe and why. You must know what God has revealed through His Word and what it means and doesn’t mean. If you don’t know sound theology, you may find yourself further off course spiritually than you ever imagined. Reflection question: How can you become better prepared to explain your hope as a believer? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6 NLT) The devil doesn’t want you to know this, but the truth is that you can approach the throne of God any time—twenty-four hours a day. The devil wants us to believe that approaching God in prayer is based on a point system. He wants us to think, If I’ve been a good Christian, I can approach God. But if I’ve sinned, God will never hear my voice. The author of Hebrews counters that lie with these words: “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:14–16 NLT). Christians can approach God any time because our relationship with Him isn’t based on what we’ve done for Him. It’s based on what Jesus did for us. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross applies to us when we’re down as well as when we’re up. No matter what our situation is, we have access to go boldly to the throne of God. Nevertheless, the devil wants us to believe that we’re not good enough to pray to God. No doubt that’s what he whispered into Adam’s ear after Adam sinned against the Lord. “Hide when the Lord comes,” he probably said. And when the Lord came into the garden, there was Adam, hiding from God when he should have been seeking Him for forgiveness. The next time you fall into sin, turn to God and go to church for help. All too often we think, I can’t go to church now. Church is for godly people. We need to remember that church is a hospital for sinners. When the devil says you aren’t worthy, don’t hide from God. Run to Him and receive help from Him and His people. The apostle Paul put it another way: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT). You’ll notice there are no restrictions and no fine print on this offer. If you’re not sure what to say to God, let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts. Look at Paul’s words to the believers in Rome: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will” (Romans 8:26–27 NLT). No matter where you are in your Christian life right now—up or down, confident or discouraged, grateful or confused—you can approach the throne of God boldly. You can trust that He will hear and respond to you if you pour your heart out to Him. You will never be offered a more valuable resource. Make the most of it. Reflection question: In what situations are you most and least likely to pray? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT) How do you feel about Bible study? Be honest. Is it a delight? Or is it drudgery? Unfortunately, many of us look at our time in God’s Word as mere drudgery. Perhaps it’s the way we read the Bible. Many of us read God’s Word in a hunt-and-peck method. We read a little here and a little there with no genuine concern for context or what a book of the Bible is teaching. We read the Bible sporadically, and then we can’t understand why we’re unable to benefit from what Scripture teaches. Psalm 1:1–3 says, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (NLT). The wise person of God meditates on Scripture day and night. The meditation the psalmist refers to isn’t the so-called transcendental meditation, in which people disengage their minds to the point of receiving impressions from elsewhere. The meditation that the Bible advocates deliberately engages the conscious mind with the truths of God’s Word. Meditation involves studying God’s Word with a searching spirit and engaging with what it says. The apostle Paul offered these words to his protégé Timothy: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT). The potential of Scripture to change our lives is limitless. The question is, how do we harness that potential? How do we get from God’s Word everything He wants us to get? The next time you attempt to meditate on God’s Word, ask yourself these four questions about the passage you’re reading: Is there any sin here for me to avoid? Is there any promise for me to claim? Is there any victory to gain? Is there any blessing to enjoy? When we read Scripture with these questions in mind, we develop a real sense of anticipation. We’re no longer just reading the Bible as though it were a classroom assignment. Instead, we’re showing that we understand the value of God’s Word and are earnestly looking for ways to claim that treasure for ourselves. The more we search, the more we find. That’s why wise believers meditate on Scripture day and night. Reflection question: How can you interact with Scripture in a more personal and profound way? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is beneficial.” (1 Corinthians 10:23 NLT) As Christians, we need to avoid anything in life that will hinder our spiritual growth. To help you mature spiritually, here’s a litmus test that will assist you in identifying what might weigh you down in your spiritual walk. The first question to ask yourself is: Does this thing benefit me spiritually? The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is beneficial” (1 Corinthians 10:23 NLT). Certain things are permissible for us to indulge in—that is, they’re not necessarily sinful. But that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily harmless. They can still weigh us down in our walk with Christ by pulling us away from God and His people or by dulling our hunger for God’s Word. Any pastime or hobby—from fishing to hiking to playing in fantasy sports leagues—could fit this description. There’s nothing wrong with them—in moderation. We’re certainly allowed to do them. But if they start to overrun the boundaries of a pastime or hobby, if they begin to occupy an unhealthy amount of our time and attention, we need to adjust our priorities. And that brings us to the second question: Does this thing bring me under its power? Earlier in his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT). There are a lot of things that can gain power over us: family, friends, significant others, work responsibilities, goals, and aspirations, just to name a few. None of those things are bad in and of themselves. It’s when they start to dominate our priorities and overshadow other areas of our lives that they become dangerous. That’s when we need to take steps to wrest control back from them. As believers, we want to be under the power of Christ and Christ alone. The final question of our litmus test pertains to the gray areas in life—things that aren’t condemned in Scripture, but also aren’t endorsed. When we face these gray areas, we must ask, Do I have an uneasy conscience about what I am doing? To put it scripturally, when these situations arise, remember the words of Paul: “If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning” (Romans 14:23 NLT). The Holy Spirit is your ally in this area. He communicates to you through your conscience. He gives you discernment and wisdom regarding your “life inventory.” He helps you recognize the things that will help you grow in your Christian faith, as well as the things that will hinder you. Wise Christians constantly take inventory of their lives and avoid whatever aspects of life can hurt their spiritual walk. Be wise and take inventory of your walk with God. Reflection question: What’s an example of something that might be permissible for you, but not necessarily beneficial to your spiritual growth? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.” (2 Timothy 2:6 NLT) Many times, when people feel burned out or overwhelmed, it’s not because God has given them too much to do. It’s because they haven’t spent time with Him. Psalm 91:1 says, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT). Likewise, the apostle Paul wrote, “And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor” (2 Timothy 2:6 NLT). That simply means you can’t give out what you don’t possess. If you’re going to operate from a position of spiritual strength, you first have to do the things that build your spiritual strength. And at the top of the list of spiritual strength-builders is living in the shelter of the Most High. What does it mean to live in the shelter of the Most High? The Hebrew word translated live in Psalm 91 speaks of a consistent presence. It parallels the New Testament word remain that Jesus used in John 15:5: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (NLT, emphasis mine). It means to stay in a given place. Essentially, God is saying, “I don’t merely want a relationship with you. I want fellowship. I want you to come close and to remain consistently in My presence.” What an opportunity—an invitation to rest and recharge while we bask in God’s love and mercy! Who could refuse? Yet many believers do, knowingly or unknowingly, because of the challenge involved. Our culture is wired to discourage the kind of rest God offers. Our time and attention are monopolized by the 24/7 news cycle, an addictive and endless parade of social media timewasters, season after season of programs to binge, and countless other diversions. And that’s in our “down” time! Even when our busyness has a purpose, we need to make sure that it’s being fueled properly. Believers sometimes substitute perspiration for inspiration. We substitute work for worship. We get so busy doing Christian things with Christian people in the Christian church that we forget about Christ. Did you know that’s possible? I ask you today, are you living in the shelter of the Most High? There’s a time and place for Christian work. But the best Christian work will always overflow from a life of worship. That work can never take the place of worship. Because it’s in worship, in spending purposeful time in God’s presence, that we become equipped to carry out God’s work. If you want to grow in your Christian faith, and make a difference for God’s kingdom, make sure you’re spending consistent, quality time in God’s presence. That’s the place where life-changing things happen. Reflection question: What would living in the shelter of the Most High look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31–32 NLT) Frederic the Great, the king of Prussia, once visited a prison and talked with each of the inmates. He heard countless tales of innocence, exploitation, and misunderstood motives. If the prisoners were to be believed, no one in the prison was guilty. Each convict had been framed or set up. Finally, the king stopped at the cell of a convict who stared at him silently. Frederic said, “Well, I suppose you are an innocent victim, too.” “No, sir,” the prisoner replied, “I’m not. I am guilty, and I deserve my punishment.” Turning to the warden, Frederic said, “Quick, get this man out of here before he corrupts these other innocent people.” Frederic the Great couldn’t believe he had found an honest man—someone who would own up to what he had done wrong. Do you need to own up to something you’ve done? Or are you playing the blame game, as the prisoners did? It’s a tempting strategy—and a popular one. When politicians, public officials, or celebrities get caught doing something wrong, they all seem to have ready-made stories about their innocence and about the involvement of others. They’re only too happy to point fingers. Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:31–32 give us insight into God’s attitude toward finger-pointing—that is, get rid of it. Charles Swindoll summarized blame this way: “Blame never affirms, it assaults. Blame never restores, it wounds. Blame never solves, it complicates. Blame never unites, it separates. Blame never smiles, it frowns. Blame never forgives, it rejects. Blame never forgets, it remembers. Blame never builds, it destroys.” We could add to that list, “Blame never convinces God; it makes you look bad in His eyes.” In Psalm 139:7–8, David wrote, “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there” (NLT). His point is that nothing can be hidden from God. God sees everything. He doesn’t look in another direction when you point fingers because He already knows what you’ve done. Spiritually speaking, blame is a stall tactic. You blame others because you don’t want to own up to your guilt. Maybe it’s pride that causes you to look for scapegoats; maybe it’s denial. Whatever the cause, the longer you insist on blaming others and denying your guilt, the longer your guilt disrupts your relationship with your heavenly Father. The apostle John wrote, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts” (1 John 1:8–10 NLT). God already knows what you’ve done. And He stands ready to forgive and forget it. Sooner or later, you have to say, “I have sinned. I have done wrong. The problem is me.” The moment you stop blaming and accept full responsibility for your actions is the moment you start to heal. Reflection question: How do you avoid the temptation to blame others when you do wrong? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) One day, when I was a small boy living in New Jersey, I was walking around my neighborhood with a newly acquired pair of cowboy cap guns. I was feeling pretty tough. I had my little belt on with my holsters and guns. As I walked, I practiced my fast draw, pulling out my pistols and firing away. Before long, a couple of hoodlums saw me and said, “Hey, you, come over here.” They started pushing me around and laughing at me. And then they did the unthinkable. They took my guns. All I could do was go home crying with empty holsters. When I got home, I found my half-brother, who was five years older and a lot bigger than I was. I asked him, “Would you help me get my guns back?” Together, we went back to the scene of the crime, where the hoodlums were still playing with my guns. With great courage, I stepped forward and said, “Give me my guns back!” I was feeling tough again. It wasn’t because I was suddenly stronger. It was because my brother was with me. If those guys gave me a problem, my brother would take care of them. I had courage not because of who I was, but because of who was with me. As we get older, we may outgrow certain fears, but we never outgrow fear itself. We just become frightened by different things. Fear is an overwhelming emotion that takes hold of us and causes us to act with complete irrationality. In fact, we’re often more devastated by the experience of fear than by the thing we’re afraid of. But God says that we don’t have to be afraid—because He is with us. In fact, He says it in several different places in the Bible. Someone once calculated that the words fear not, or some variation of them, appear 366 times in Scripture. That’s one for every day of the year, plus leap year day! Joshua 1:9 is a perfect example: “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (NLT). For believers, those words are literal. The Holy Spirit dwells within every Christian. He never leaves us. The apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT). You don’t have to go get Him and bring Him back with you to confront what’s scaring you. He’s always there, inside you. That’s why the apostle Paul was able to write with confidence, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT). If we embrace the Holy Spirit’s presence and measure God’s power against whatever it is that frightens us, we can overcome any fear. Reflection question: What is your best strategy for dealing with fear? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV) I’m a messy person by nature. I don’t like to live in messy environments, but I make a lot of messes. My approach to cleaning is the path of least resistance. If there’s clutter on my desk, I pitch it into a drawer. Out of sight, out of mind. I tell myself that I’ll get to it later. I allow messes to build up—in certain areas of the house, in my car—until I can’t take it any longer. Then I go into attack mode. I clean until everything is back in order. And I feel proud of myself. And then I start making my little messes again. My wife is my polar opposite. She’s a very neat and tidy person. She is constantly cleaning. When she makes a meal, she starts cleaning the dishes before the meal is done. She is always straightening and organizing. So we see two approaches to straightening up and cleaning. You can take the Greg approach, which is never do today what you can put off until tomorrow. Or you can take the Cathe approach, which is deal with it today and don’t let messes get worse. We can apply those same approaches to our spiritual lives. Sometimes we allow little problems to develop. Maybe it’s a flirtation with sin. Or a spiritual mess we get ourselves into. Or a compromise we allow. One thing leads to another, and the problem begins to build and build. Suddenly, what started out as a small issue becomes a big problem. Maybe a fascination becomes a habit that turns into a full-blown addiction. The question is, are we going to let the mess build and build until it starts to overwhelm us before we start to clean it up? Or are we going to attend to each mess immediately and then frequently thereafter, as needed? You probably won’t be surprised to discover which approach the apostle Paul favored. Look at his words in 2 Corinthians 7:1: “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (NIV). That’s a call to immediate action. Paul understood the dangers of letting spiritual messes get bigger. Maybe you made a commitment to Christ five, ten, or twenty years ago. You cleaned out things in your life, such as bad habits and misplaced priorities that displeased God. You dealt with your personal messes in your pursuit of becoming a hardcore Christian. Since then, maybe you’ve relaxed your vigilant life-cleaning. You’ve let a few messes start to accumulate. You can’t quite work up the motivation to tackle them. This is your call to action. It starts with a simple prayer: “Lord, I need another cleaning. I’ve let things go, and I need your help.” And then? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV). Reflection question: What areas of your life need to be cleaned? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16 NLT) Have you ever fallen unexpectedly? It happened to me several years ago. I was riding my bike on my way to meet my wife at a restaurant for breakfast. Unbeknownst to me, someone had loosened the levers that held the front tire on my bike. As I was crossing a street and approaching the curb, I pulled up on the handlebars. The handlebars and wheel forks pulled up with me. The wheel did not. I ran into the curb, went over the front of the bike, and hit the ground face-first. I didn’t know it was coming, so I didn’t have time to brace myself for the fall. I blacked out for a few seconds. When I came to, some fellow was standing over me. He asked, “Are you okay?” I said I was fine. I wasn’t fine. I was bloodied and bruised. It’s hard to be fine after a fall you didn’t see coming. It’s tempting to say that the same thing applies to unexpected spiritual falls. But I suggest to you that when people fall away from the Lord—when they crash and burn, spiritually speaking—there are always steps leading up to the event. Maybe the people involved weren’t fully aware of the steps, but that doesn’t change the fact that those steps were taking place. We need to realize that nobody falls away overnight or immediately. There’s always a process that unfolds over a period of time. The apostle Paul urged his protégé Timothy not to allow such a process to get started in his life. His words apply to every believer. “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16 NLT). We must talk the talk and walk the walk. Our words and actions should bring glory to God. People should be able to see Jesus’ life-changing impact in us. We do that by staying true to what is right—that is, studying, understanding, and applying God’s Word. Sometimes we get careless in our approach to Scripture. We listen to people who have ulterior motives in their interpretation of the Bible. We try to stretch God’s Word to fit our political or social agendas. Keep in mind, though, that the serpent’s temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden began with four seemingly harmless words: “Did God really say . . . ?” (Genesis 3:1 NLT). If your enemy can put distance between you and God’s Word, or if he can cause you to doubt or twist what Scripture is really saying, he can make you vulnerable to attack. He can prime you for a fall. You can maintain your spiritual balance by holding fast to God’s Word. If you support yourself with His truths, you can walk with confidence. Reflection question: In what areas do you need to watch your step, spiritually speaking? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.” (2 Timothy 4:6 NLT) When you take a trip, you have to leave at a certain time. If your flight departs at 8 o’clock, you have to account for traffic, parking, getting through security, and finding your gate. You need to allow time for all of them. You have to prepare for your departure if you want to arrive at your destination as planned. Of course, how you approach your departure will depend on how you feel about your destination. I remember taking a trip to North Carolina that I wasn’t looking forward to. The weather there was hot and very humid. And I had a three-hour layover in Chicago. It’s safe to say that I wasn’t eagerly anticipating the trip. The very next week, however, I was scheduled to fly to Hawaii. And I was eagerly anticipating that trip. It all comes down to destination for me. If I’m going to a place I don’t want to go to, I dread the trip. But if I’m going to a place I do want to go, I look forward to the trip. I don’t mind the travel, even if I’m sitting in coach with a person in front of me fully reclined. It’s okay. The destination makes everything else worth the journey. In 2 Timothy 4:6, the apostle Paul was anticipating a different kind of departure. “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near” (NLT). Paul had lived a remarkably dangerous life. He offered a glimpse of it in 2 Corinthians 11:24–27: Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. (NLT) Yet, through it all, there’s no indication in Scripture that Paul ever thought the time of his death was near. Until 2 Timothy 4:6. There’s no trace of sadness or regret in his announcement—only victory. In the next verse, he declared, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (NLT). More importantly, Paul was excited about his destination. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord” (NLT). Are you excited about your ultimate destination? Will you leave this life with a sense of accomplishment and victory? If you trust in Christ as Savior and Lord, you can approach death with the confidence, assurance, and excitement that Paul had. Reflection question: What is your attitude toward death? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7–8 NLT) While reading the newspaper one morning, Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist and engineer, was shocked to find his name listed in the obituary column. It was a mistake, of course, but there it was. Nobel was dismayed to see that he was remembered primarily as the man who invented dynamite. At that point in history, dynamite was being used to great and devastating effect in warfare. Nobel was distressed to think that he would be known for creating an instrument of death and destruction. He was so distressed, in fact, that he decided to change the course of his life as a result of reading this mistaken obituary. He decided to commit himself to world peace. He established the Nobel Peace Prize. Today, most people who know the name Alfred Nobel associate him with that prize. Many know nothing about his invention of dynamite. That’s because Alfred Nobel had the chance to change the course of his life. What if you had the unsettling opportunity to read your own obituary? What do you think you’d be remembered for? What if you could write your own obituary? What would you like to be remembered for? It’s not too late to change the course of your life if you want to. In 2 Timothy 4:7–8, the apostle Paul offers an obituary of sorts for himself. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing” (NLT). Keep in mind that Paul transformed the world that he lived in. He was used mightily by God to establish churches throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. He left countless converts in his wake. He mentored young Christian leaders. He fearlessly proclaimed the gospel to philosophers, Pharisees, rulers, soldiers, sorcerers, slaves, and possibly even Caesar himself. In the end, though, he saw himself as a wrestler, someone who fought spiritual battles with all his might; a runner, someone who finished the race despite pain and exhaustion; and a soldier, someone who guarded the truth of the gospel with his life. If your life were to end today, would you be able to say that you’ve fought the good fight, finished the race, and guarded the faith in the way that you live? If so, then Paul’s reward—“the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return” (NLT)—will be yours as well. Reflection question: What would you like your obituary to read? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.” (1 Timothy 1:19 NLT) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, was a bit of a practical joker. One day, he jotted notes to twelve of his friends and sent them off with no name signed to them. On the notes he wrote these words: “Flee at once—all is discovered.” Within twenty-four hours, all twelve of the people who received the notes had left the country. Doyle got a big laugh out of showing what happens when people have guilty consciences. Your conscience may be the most overlooked part of you. If you did a quick online search, you’d find hundreds of articles and tips for keeping your heart healthy. Or improving your memory. Or protecting your skin. Or taking care of other important parts of your body. But what about your conscience? The apostle Paul emphasized its importance when he gave this advice to Timothy for choosing deacons: “They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9 NLT). Everyone has a conscience. In Romans 2:14–15, Paul said, “Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right” (NLT). Not everyone appreciates their conscience. Some people treat it like a nagging companion who always starts complaining just when things begin to get fun. They learn to ignore or disable it. And that’s a huge mistake. Paul warned in 1 Timothy 4:2 about people whose “consciences are dead” (NLT). Your conscience is actually one of the most valuable gifts God has given you. You don’t have to guess at what’s right or wrong. You can sense it, deep in your heart, thanks to your God-given conscience. Let’s look at one more warning from Paul to Timothy: “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked” (1 Timothy 1:19 NLT). Many believers spend a lot of time trying to discover God’s will for their lives. But in most cases, it’s not a one-time reveal. It’s the dozens of daily decisions we make that bring us closer to Him. Every day we’re given choices to do right or wrong. Every time we choose to do right, to obey God—using our conscience—we grow closer to Him. The closer we are to Him, the better we can see the doors He opens and closes. The closer we are to Him, the better we can sense His leading in key situations. The closer we are to Him, the better we can recognize His hand in the events around us. If you want to discover God’s will for your life, stay close to Him and keep your conscience clear. Reflection question: What can you do to keep your conscience performing at a high level? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22–23 NLT) Many people have a very pessimistic, cynical outlook on life. Screenwriter John Patrick Shanley wrote this for a character played by actor Nicolas Cage: “We are here to ruin ourselves and break our hearts and love the wrong people and die.” Benjamin Disraeli, the former prime minister of England, came to this conclusion: “Youth is a blunder; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.” Actor George Clooney said, “I don’t believe in happy endings, but I do believe in happy travels, because ultimately, you die at a very young age, or you live long enough to watch your friends die. It is a mean thing, life.” I’m here to tell you that there’s more to our existence in this world than this. Life need not be a series of inevitable bad choices. It need not be a progression of blunder, struggle, and regret. And it doesn’t need to be a mean thing. Jesus said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Often, when we think about the life that Jesus offers, we think of the next one—how His death on the cross and resurrection makes eternal life possible for those who believe in Him. But as He makes clear in John 10, He transforms our lives in this world as well. Jesus frees us from our slavery to sin and gives us a taste of true freedom. He allows us to experience life as God intends. He makes it possible for us to find real purpose and experience genuine fulfillment in this life. The apostle Paul wrote, “And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago” (Ephesians 1:13 NLT). The Holy Spirit guides us down the paths God would have us go. If we follow His lead, our lives will be transformed. In Galatians 5:22–23, Paul shows us what that transformation involves: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (NLT). If you were to ask one hundred people what they need most in their lives right now, how many of them would mention one or more of the items on this list? Keep in mind, too, that these fruits grow in all conditions of life. Even without romance, you can grow in love. Even in trying times, you can find joy. One of the devil’s most effective strategies is to convince people that the life Jesus offers is somehow restrictive, boring, or unfulfilling. He tries to distract us with empty, shallow, selfish, and ultimately destructive pursuits. He warps our perspective so that we can’t tell what’s truly meaningful and satisfying in life. Don’t fall for his lies. Follow Christ. Discover how rich and satisfying your life can be. Reflection question: How would you summarize your philosophy of life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.” (Ephesians 5:29 NLT) In yesterday’s devotion, we looked at the problems that arise when you prioritize yourself in marriage. Today we’re going to expand the picture and look at the problems that arise when you prioritize yourself as a believer. So often today we hear about the importance of self-image, self-love, self-worth, and self-esteem. We even hear it proclaimed from our pulpits: “Doesn’t Jesus say in Mark 12:31, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’? First, you must love yourself before you can love your neighbor.” Wrong. Jesus was not teaching you to first love yourself and then love your neighbor. Rather, He was teaching that you already love yourself, so now love your neighbor. Look again at the apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:29: “No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church” (NLT). We already have self-love. Now we need to love others in the same way. You’ll hear people say things like, “I’m trying to find myself,” to explain their inward gaze. Jesus said, “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39 NIV). In other words, if you want to find out what your life was really intended for, deny yourself. You’ve heard the expression, “Finders, keepers; losers, weepers.” We could take what Jesus is saying and call it “losers, keepers.” The people who lose their lives, in reality, keep them. Think of it in computer terms. Self-regard, self-image, self-love, self-worth, and self-esteem take up enormous storage space in our lives. They leave little capacity to operate efficiently in other important areas, especially when it comes to serving or having empathy for others. Isaiah 1:17 says, “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows” (NLT). But how can you do those things if your focus is on yourself? You’ll find no wavering in Paul’s words in Philippians 3:7–9: “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him” (NLT). He knew for certain that he had made the right decision in losing his life for Christ’s sake. People who “lose” their lives as Jesus instructed discover an amazing truth. God loves us far more than we can ever love ourselves. He knows far more than we do about what will bring us lasting fulfillment and joy. So when we sacrifice our self-interest for His sake, we gain far more than we lose. Reflection Question: What’s been your experience in losing and finding your life in your walk with Christ? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33 NLT) Selfishness is the secret to an unhappy marriage. Too often two people enter into marriage saying, “I want my way.” The husband says, “You do what I say.” And the wife says, “I want it my way.” Because of selfishness, couples riddle their marriage with friction. It all comes down to self. Genesis 2:24 says, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one” (NLT). But parents aren’t the only things marriage partners must leave behind. There’s also the priority of self, the tendency to place your needs and wants above everything else. If two people are “looking out for number one,” they’re going to have a hard time being “united into one.” Today, there are marriages dissolving because spouses are trying to “find themselves.” Listen, husbands and wives! If you want to find yourself, you need to lose yourself. Remember what Jesus said, “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39 NIV). If you want to find yourself and have a biblical marriage, learn the secret. Stop thinking about yourself and approach your marriage saying, “I want to love, please, and help my mate. I want to care about my spouse more than I care about myself.” This is biblical. Before Paul ever says in Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord” (NIV), and before he ever says in verse 25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (NIV), he says in verse 21, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (NIV). That word submit means “to place or arrange under.” The idea is a voluntary submission. Paul is saying to voluntarily place your needs under the needs of your spouse. Operate with the mindset that your spouse comes first. This principle of selfless service is so important that God makes it the model for all our interactions. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:3–4, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (NLT). Following these guidelines in our daily encounters is a powerful testimony of our Christian faith. Following them in our marriage is a powerful expression of love and commitment. If you prioritize the needs of your spouse and work hard to meet those needs, you’ll find that something amazing happens. You’ll find that your own needs get met in time, because you’ll be in God’s order, and your spouse will be, too. And God will bless your union in ways you can’t imagine. Reflection Question: What does submitting to one another look like in your marriage—or in a marriage that you consider to be healthy? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:11–12 NLT) Paul urged the believers in Philippi to embrace a spirit of contentment. And we should point out that Paul wasn’t a do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do type of guy. He talked the talk and walked the walk when it came to being content. Paul had more opportunities to be discontent than most people ever will. “I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm” (2 Corinthians 11:23–27 NLT). Someone who learned to be content under those circumstances deserves to be heard. Paul’s words in Philippians 4 align with Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25–27. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (NLT). It’s a matter of focus. If your eyes are on the things of this world, you won’t be content. There’s always a new toy, a nicer car, and a bigger house to aim for. It’s only after you acquire those things that you discover the stinging truth of Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes 2:11: “But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere” (NLT). If, on the other hand, your eyes are on God and His will for your life, contentment is always within reach. The apostle James wrote, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow” (James 1:17 NLT). To be content is to recognize the goodness and generosity of God that put you where you are. To be content is to continuously take an inventory of the amazing things He’s done for you and given you. To be content is to remember where all good and perfect gifts come from. Reflection Question: What obstacles might keep you from being truly content? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13–14 NLT) If you want to run the race of life successfully, then don’t look back. If you’ve ever run a race and looked over your shoulder to see what your competitor was doing, then you know that looking back can break your stride and ultimately cause you to lose. Paul applies this principle to the Christian life in Philippians 3:13–14: “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race” (NLT). His point is that if you’re going to be an effective disciple of Jesus, you must forget the things that are behind you. In this context, the word forget doesn’t mean a failure to remember as much as it means no longer being influenced or affected by the past. In other words, leave the past in the past. Forget the things that already have happened. You may not be able to erase them from your memory, but you don’t need to let them influence you. Sometimes we dredge up things that God has forgiven and forgotten. The Lord says, “I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins” (Jeremiah 31:34 NLT). Yet many times we bring up our past sins, driven by a sense of guilt or shame. Those backward glances reveal an immaturity in our faith, a misunderstanding of God’s nature. When we lose our forward focus in that way, it’s like we doubt God’s willingness to forgive certain sins. We forget that He has a big eraser. Why should we choose to remember what He has chosen to forget? If God has forgiven my sins and forgotten them, then I need to leave them behind, learn from my mistakes, not do the same thing again, and move forward. And it’s not just our past sins that we need to leave behind. We also need to forget our past victories. Certainly, we should thank God for them and learn from them. But we also must remember that we’re running a marathon. Replaying over and over again the jump we got at the starting line takes our focus off the course ahead. It makes us lose stride. The temptation to celebrate early or to rest on our laurels is strong. That’s the work of our enemy. His aim is to slow us down—or, better yet, to stop us in our tracks. The best way to counter his moves is to press on toward the goal. To keep our eyes focused on what God is doing and where He’s leading us. God will greet you at the finish line with the sweetest words you’ll ever hear: “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (see Matthew 25:23 NLT). Until that time, don’t slow your pace or break your stride. The race isn’t over. Reflection Question: What does pressing on to reach the end of the race look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31–32 NLT) As the pop star Taylor Swift noted, “Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.” You’ve probably encountered more than a few haters—that is, people filled with bitterness. We all have. The thing about bitter people is that they’re never content to keep their bitterness to themselves. They want to spread it around. The only exercise they get is jumping to conclusions and running others down. When that bitterness comes from believers, it brings “sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30 NLT). And that’s something we never want to do. That’s why the apostle Paul is quick to follow that verse with these words: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (verses 31–32 NLT). You’ll notice that he uses the word all twice in that short passage. He leaves no room for exception. Whatever your cause is, whether it’s doctrinal, theological, political, or personal, if it makes you a mean, argumentative, malicious person, you’ve missed the point. You’re prioritizing the wrong thing. We’re seeing churches splinter when they should be uniting because people have decided that if you’re not with us, you’re against us. People ask me, “Greg, where do you stand on these issues?” But if that’s your concern, you’re again missing the point. The issue is not where you stand on the issues. After all, people are entitled to their own opinions. The real issue can be found in Jesus’ words in John 13:34–35: “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (NLT). That’s an incredibly high bar. Jesus didn’t love only those who agreed with Him on certain issues. He gave His life to save even the people who rejected, mocked, tortured, and crucified Him. And that’s the kind of love He calls us to show. There’s the takeaway. Do whatever you do in love—not tearing others down, not weaponizing what you believe to destroy others. Our primary mission is sharing the gospel. That’s where our energies should be primarily channeled in our culture today. Bitterness is often a symptom of a spiritual problem. When I see a person constantly lashing out, whatever their cause is, my first thought is that they need to get reconnected to the Lord. They need to get their priorities in order. They need to return to their first love. Paul wrote, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). Bitterness and resentment are part of our old life. Until we rid ourselves of them, we can’t experience all that God has in store for us in our new life. Reflection Question: How can you promote unity when you encounter fellow believers who are struggling with bitterness? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.” (Ephesians 2:1 NLT) Sin is a difficult concept for many unbelievers to grasp. To be more specific, it’s a difficult concept for many unbelievers to accept. They prefer to think of themselves as decent human beings with a good heart. They know they’re far from perfect, of course, but who isn’t? Compared to certain people, they’re practically angels. Or so the justification goes. The Bible has a different take. In Romans 3:23, the apostle Paul writes, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (NLT). In Ephesians 2:1 he writes, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins” (NLT). And in 1 John 1:8, 10, the apostle John writes, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. . . . If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts” (NLT). Two points are made clear in these passages. The first is that sin is a universal condition. No one is unstained by it. The second is that sin means to miss the mark, to fall short of God’s perfect standard. Jesus says in Matthew 5:48, “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (NLT). Imagine that you and I are competing in an archery contest. We each have ten arrows. You fire all ten of your arrows into the target, but never hit the bullseye. You get close to it, but not close enough to count. I fire all ten of my arrows, and not one of them comes close to the target. I hit a tree, a cow, a bystander, and a passing car, among other things. Maybe I did worse than you, but if the standard is perfection, the result is the same for both of us. We missed the mark. In terms of sin, we’re both guilty. Because God is holy and just, He demands the ultimate punishment for sin—that is, death. But because He loves us, He sent His Son to take that punishment in our place. Jesus did what we couldn’t do. He lived a sinless life. He satisfied God’s perfect standard. So He became the perfect sacrifice for us. God punished Him for our sins so that we might have eternal life. Acknowledging our sin is the first step in receiving God’s amazing gift. We did nothing to deserve God’s mercy and salvation, but if we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, we receive His righteousness. So when God looks at us, He no longer sees the sin that separates us from Him. He sees the righteousness of His Son. Jesus destroyed the power of sin over us. Paul wrote, “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6 NLT). We now have the power over our desires and impulses. And we can celebrate the life-changing truth of verse 11: “So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus” (NLT). Reflection Question: What does it mean to you that you are no longer controlled by sin?Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT) For many people, prayer is a last resort. You might hear them say, “Well, we’ve tried everything else we can think of. Now the only thing left to do is pray.” What? Prayer is the first thing you should do. Look again at the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (NLT). Those first two statements can’t be separated. The only way you can not worry about anything is if you pray about everything. And if you don’t pray about everything, you’re going to worry about anything. Jesus prayed—a lot. And in Matthew 6, He taught His disciples to pray. He emphasized the importance of praying privately, as opposed to praying publicly for show. Prayer isn’t a performance; it’s an intimate conversation with our Father—a chance to share what’s on our heart and discover what’s on His. And there are no limits to the things we can pray about. Most people pray reactively. When something happens that’s beyond their control, they turn it over to God. They send out a prayer distress signal, asking Him to intervene as quickly and powerfully as possible. There’s nothing wrong with that. God always hears our prayers. And no situation is too big—or too small, for that matter—for Him. But don’t underestimate the power of proactive prayer. Jesus said, “When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private” and “Don’t babble on and on” (Matthew 6:6–7 NLT). In other words, put some thought, effort, and structure into your prayer time. When you carve time out of every day to speak to God, your relationship with Him deepens. You get to know and understand Him better. You get a sense of His power and presence in your life. You learn to trust Him. So when emergency situations arise, you feel less panicked and more confident in His ability to bring about ultimate good from them. God answers our prayers, but not always with a yes. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked that the cup of suffering be taken away from Him, that He be spared the agony of the cross (see Matthew 26:39). God said no. But when He says no, it’s because He has something better in store. Something that better aligns with His will. Something that will provide a better result. We may not always understand His answers, but we can trust that they are for the best. Is there something troubling you right now? Commit it to the Lord in prayer. Stop trying to carry the burden yourself. Pour your heart out to God and trust Him to guide you through it. Give prayer a chance. Reflection Question: What do you need to turn over to the Lord in prayer right now?Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.” (Ephesians 1:12–14 NLT) When you accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit seals you. Think of it in terms of buying a car. Imagine that you find the car you want on a dealer’s lot. You say to the dealer, “I plan to buy that car. I’ll be back in a few days to pick it up.” No dealer in his right mind is going to say, “It’s yours! We’ll put a sign with your name on it on the windshield so that no one else tries to buy it. And when you’re good and ready, you can come back and get it.” Instead, the dealer will insist that you put a deposit down on the car to reserve it. The deposit is a show of good faith that you’re serious about the purchase. In a spiritual sense, the Holy Spirit is God’s deposit, His show of good faith that He’s serious about His commitment to you. The final delivery will occur when you enter Heaven for eternity. Until that time, the Holy Spirit lives within you, courtesy of God, as a reminder of the value God places on you. In Ephesians 1:13–14, the apostle Paul says, “When you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people” (NLT). You can trust God’s promise because His Spirit is inside you. Paul also says, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:16 NLT). This is essential work. Every day we’re bombarded by temptation. We’re given opportunities to pursue our own agenda instead of pursuing God’s will. And when we give in, our enemy is quick to prosecute us. To make us feel unworthy of God’s love and mercy. He wants to shake our confidence in our Christian faith. He wants to sow seeds of doubt that neutralize us and make us less of a threat to him. The Holy Spirit reassures us that we are children of God. He reminds us of the sacrifice God made to save us. And He offers Himself as evidence of God’s work in our lives—the good-faith deposit God made to guarantee His promises. If you’ve placed your faith in Christ, you are a child of God. The Holy Spirit guarantees it. Reflection Question: How can you enlist the Holy Spirit’s help when you struggle with doubts about your faith? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:12–13 NLT) What if every Christian lived as you live? What if you were the sole representative of Jesus Christ on this earth? Would there be enough gospel in your life for people to believe? Enough saltiness to stimulate in them a thirst? Enough light for them to find their way out of the darkness and put their faith in Jesus Christ? That may seem like a farfetched scenario, but there are people whose exposure to the Christian faith is limited to the negative stereotypes they see in the media. If you don’t step into the role and embrace the idea of representing and modeling the Christian faith, you give other people the chance to do it. People with ulterior motives. People who have reason to misrepresent the Christian faith. That’s how negative stereotypes get traction. Of course, even in the face of negative stereotypes you have an opportunity to shine a light and show what genuine faith looks like. Titus 3:2 says believers “must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone” (NLT). First Peter 3:16 says, “Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ” (NLT). And Jesus says in Matthew 5:11–12, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven” (NLT). The opportunities are endless. As a believer, every situation you find yourself in, every interaction you have with someone else, and every choice you make in the way you conduct yourself has the potential to leave a lasting impression on someone else. The way you represent Christ may be the push someone else needs to begin a relationship with Him. In Philippians 2:12, the apostle Paul says, “Work hard to show the results of your salvation” (NLT). In verses 14–18, he explains how to do it. “Do everything without complaining and arguing” (verse 14 NLT). “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God” (verse 15 NLT). “Hold firmly to the word of life” (verse 16 NLT). “You should rejoice” (verse 18 NLT). If you’re a believer, you’re a representative of Christ. There’s no getting around it. Whether you like it or not, the way you live will factor into people’s attitude toward the Christian faith. Embrace the opportunity. Show people the life-changing power of a relationship with Christ. Give them a thirst for God’s truth. Be the light they need in this increasingly dark world. Reflection Question: How can you become a more powerful and influential representative of Jesus Christ? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:18 NLT) All Christians experience times when we come face to face with overwhelming hardship. For Peter, it was witnessing the betrayal and arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. You can find the story in John 18. Peter simply could not stomach the thought of the Lord’s enemies taking Him away. Frustrated and in despair, Peter drew his sword in defense of his Lord and cut off the ear of one of the men who arrested Jesus (see verse 10). Of course, that’s not what Jesus wanted. The sword was not the answer to salvation. Poor Peter. He was always doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. He was sleeping when he should have been praying. He was talking when he should have been listening. He was boasting when he should have been fearing. And he was fighting when he should have been surrendering. His instincts were 180 degrees off. Peter failed to see that he was fighting the wrong enemy. As the apostle Paul points out in Ephesians 6:12, our enemies are not of flesh and blood. They are principalities and powers, and they cannot be defeated by ordinary measures. Too often we, like Peter, forget that ours is a spiritual battle that requires spiritual weaponry. And we neglect the most powerful weapon in our arsenal—prayer. We are too quick to protest or picket and not quick enough to pray. In his description of the armor of God available to believers to withstand and counter the attacks of our enemy, Paul concludes with this: “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18 NLT). Pray at all times. Be persistent. Prayer isn’t just an emergency button we push when we can’t think of anything else to do. It’s an essential communication channel that links us to God, our source of strength, courage, wisdom, comfort, and peace. God supplies us with everything we need for our spiritual battles. But we don’t have to wait until we’re in the thick of the fight to call on Him. Jesus faced opposition throughout His ministry. Passages such as Luke 5:16 give us a glimpse into how He prepared for battle. “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer” (NLT). And when that opposition came to a head, Jesus headed for Gethsemane, a favorite prayer spot. The reality is that we all will face Gethsemanes in life. For Jesus, Gethsemane was a time of suffering and hardship, a time when He chose to surrender to the will of His Father. You, too, may face similar experiences in life that you don’t understand. You don’t know what lies ahead. But you can trust your unknown future into the hands of a known God. Reflection Question: How can you make your prayers more effective in your spiritual battles? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT) During the Korean War, a unit known as Baker Company was separated from its regiment, and enemy forces were advancing on it. For several hours, no word came from Baker Company. Finally, radio contact was made. When asked for a report of its situation, Baker Company replied, “The enemy is to the east of us. The enemy is to the west of us. The enemy is to the south of us. The enemy is to the north of us.” Then, after a brief pause, the voice continued, “And this time, we’re not going to let them escape.” Sometimes it seems that way in the life of a believer. The enemy is at every turn. Even so, some believers don’t realize that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. They are oblivious to the fact that a war is raging—and that, in this war, they are either winning or losing. In a battle, it’s always better to be an aggressor instead of a defender. A defender is simply waiting for the enemy’s next attack, hoping he will survive. If we, as believers, are always defending, then the devil is in a superior position. If, on the other hand, we are the ones who are attacking, then we are in the superior position. When the apostle Paul wrote about the armor of God in Ephesians 6, he mentioned one offensive weapon: “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (verse 17 NLT). Make no mistake about it: There is authority and power in the Word of God. Matthew 4:1–11 tells the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Three times the devil tried to get Jesus to do wrong. All three times Jesus countered his attack by quoting the Word of God. The result? “The devil went away” (verse 11 NLT). God’s Word keeps Satan from getting an advantageous battle position in our lives as well. For example, let’s say you’re feeling tempted to do something that you know is wrong. If your first instinct is to turn to 1 Corinthians 10:13 (“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” NLT), you’ll remember that God stands ready to strengthen you and help you escape. And you’ll have the high ground in your battle with the devil. He will have no solid footing for his attack. That’s how you keep him off-balance: by immersing yourself in Scripture. The devil has nothing in his arsenal that can counter the Bible. God’s Word sticks. God’s Word breaks through. God’s Word impacts. When the enemy has you surrounded, keep him on the defensive with the Word of God. Reflection Question: How can you sharpen your spiritual battle skills using the Word of God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10–12 NLT) When he was little, my son Jonathan had a habit of wandering. One day, we were in a hotel and came to an elevator. He ran ahead to push the button. I told him, “If the elevator comes, wait until Dad gets there.” Just as I arrived at the elevator, the doors were closing, and he was inside. He was gone. I frantically pushed the button for the other elevator and waited for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, the doors opened, and I jumped in. I went down to the lobby. He wasn’t there. I ran back to the elevator, pushed every button for every floor, and as the doors opened, I would scream out his name. I didn’t care about decorum. I wanted to find my son. And I found him, about three floors up, wandering around. But you know what? After that experience, he didn’t wander anymore. He got separated from his dad, and it was scary for him. He learned how important it was to stay close to me. As Christians, we should want to stay as close to our heavenly Father as possible. Our enemy, the devil, is a powerful adversary, and we are no match for him in our own strength. The apostle Peter wrote, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). We don’t want to venture out into this life on our own abilities and suffer spiritual defeat. I have a healthy respect for the devil’s ability. That’s why I want to stay as close to the Lord as possible. I want to be strong in Him. Wanting to stay close to your Father may seem like a childish instinct, but it’s actually evidence of a mature faith. In Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul instructs us to “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” and to “put on all of God’s armor” (NLT). He leaves no room for solo outings or wandering journeys. Staying close to our heavenly Father gives us more than protection by an all-powerful God. Psalm 94:17–19 says, “Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, ‘I am slipping!’ but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer” (NLT). If ever there was a time to be walking closely with the Lord, it is now. This is not the time to be playing games with God. This is not the time to wander away. Reflection Question: How can you tell when you start to wander away from God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15–18 NLT) A preacher was moonlighting as a lifeguard to make a little extra money. His supervisors were shocked when they learned that people were drowning near his lifeguard stand at an alarming rate. Every day brought news of a new drowning, each one in the vicinity of the preacher’s stand. The supervisors were baffled. They wondered, What’s the problem with this preacher lifeguard? He’s been trained properly. So they went to observe him. Before long, they saw a pair of swimmers in trouble, waving frantically from the ocean. The preacher looked at the swimmers and said, “God bless you. I see that hand. God bless you. I see that hand.” In case you’re too young or too new to the church to understand that punchline, it’s a reference to the go-to move for certain preachers during their altar calls. If you spend enough time listening to certain preachers, you’ll pick up on other quirks, tendencies, and habits. It’s an occupational hazard for pastors. And when it’s lighthearted—like teasing about a joke you’ve heard more than once from the pulpit—it can be fun and even unifying. But when it takes a darker turn—when people start to question a preacher’s qualifications, motives, allegiances, or leanings—it can be incredibly damaging to the body of Christ. Like it or not, we are all imperfect vessels delivering a perfect message. That goes not just for pastors and evangelists, but for anyone who shares the gospel. Skeptics and critics will ask, “Why should we listen to you? Who gave you the authority to say these things?” It’s not a new phenomenon. The apostle Paul dealt with a similar situation in his letter to the Philippian believers. And in his situation, the criticism was warranted. There were people preaching out of jealousy and rivalry with Paul. But look at how he resolved the problem: “The message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice” (Philippians 1:18 NLT). All that matters is that the Good News of Christ is being delivered. When the words of the gospel are spoken, God can plant the seeds of His truth in people’s hearts, regardless of who’s doing the talking. God calls us to build unity in the body of Christ. We can do that by showing grace and gratitude to our fellow believers who deliver the message of Christ. Reflection Question: How will you respond to someone who questions a pastor’s qualifications or motives? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:18 NLT) People come up to me and ask, “Greg, what’s the one thing you can say to a nonbeliever that will cause them to accept Christ?” Like I know the hidden secret. Like I’m going to say, “Since you asked, I’m going to show you the ultimate evangelism hack. Here’s what you do.” Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s no such thing as the ultimate evangelism hack. When I share my faith, I do the same thing that most of you probably do. I just tell my story. I tell people about Jesus, and I pray that the Lord will open their eyes. You may witness to one person and find that it’s like talking to a brick wall. Nothing. No response at all. And then when you witness in the same way to another person, boom! They get it. They’re responsive to your message. So always pray for the Lord to open a person’s eyes. I remember when my eyes were opened. I was seventeen years old, and I was listening to Lonnie Frisbee. He made one statement that resonated powerfully with me. He said, “Jesus said you’re for Me or you’re against Me.” And suddenly, I got it. I don’t know why I got it at that moment. I don’t know what it was about that statement. But when I heard it, it was like a light switched on inside me. Up until that moment, I had been looking cynically and critically at the Christian faith. And then I realized it was all true. It was all real. I should point out that it’s possible to have your eyes open and still not be a Christian. I’ve met people who say, “I agree that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that He lived a sinless life. I believe that He died on the cross for my sin. I believe that He rose again from the dead. I believe that He’s coming back again. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God. But that’s it. I believe it, but I’m not going to act on it.” So having your eyes opened doesn’t necessarily guarantee anything. But it’s a necessary first step. And only God can open a person’s eyes. Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18 for God to open the eyes of nonbelievers. And when you’re sharing your faith, the first thing you should do is pray, “Lord, open this person’s eyes because there’s nothing I can say or do that will make this person believe.” There are a lot of people in your orbit who fit Paul’s description in Ephesians 4:18: “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him” (NLT). Will you be bold and caring enough to reach out to them? To show them the light of the gospel? And to ask God to open their eyes to His truth? Reflection Question: How can you help facilitate an eye-opening moment in the life of someone you know? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:20–21 NLT) We’ve reached a point in the church where people are starting to divide over really small things—second-tier and even third-tier issues. And then subdivisions occur. Groups get smaller and smaller as their conditions for acceptance get narrower and narrower. Before long, you find yourself saying, “It’s down to the four of us, and I’m not sure about you other three.” It’s not hard to find things that divide us. They’re low-hanging fruit. When we mistake our personal preferences and opinions for absolute truth, we can justify separating ourselves from just about anyone. It takes a little more effort to find things that unite us. Or to recognize that the things that divide us don’t have to divide us. Instead of automatically separating people into categories of “us” and “them,” we can agree to disagree. We can leave judgment to the Lord. That’s the direction God would have us go. Remember, we’re the body of Christ. We’re meant to work together, with each part playing an important role. You can’t divide a body or separate its parts without doing serious damage to the whole. That’s why the apostle Paul issued this warning to the believers in Rome: “And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them” (Romans 16:17 NLT). It’s not just the teachings that are dangerous; it’s the divisions they cause. It’s also why Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT). Divisions in the church aren’t just an in-house matter. The implications and damage extend far beyond the church walls. You see, people are watching us. People outside the church. Unbelievers for whom the message of Christ seems almost too good to be true. Changed hearts? Transformed lives? They want to see proof. They want to see us walk the walk. As far as many unbelievers are concerned, Christians are hypocrites until proven otherwise. When they see division in our ranks or hear us attacking one another or questioning the legitimacy of one another’s faith, it only confirms their cynical suspicions. They feel free to ignore our message and dismiss the Good News of Christ. Paul said, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT). Make every effort. That doesn’t leave room for half-hearted attempts. God wants us to prioritize unity. Unity among believers isn’t just a matter of getting along with everyone or playing nicely with others; it’s also one of the most powerful testimonies available for showing the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. Reflection Question: How can you cross the lines of division that separate you from someone in your church? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8–9 NLT) There will be good people in Hell. When I say, “good people,” I mean people who trusted in their own human efforts, people who trusted in their own personal reality, and people who trusted in the religious things they did. Jesus issued a very clear warning in Matthew 7:22: “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name’” (NLT). If we updated the passage, the people might say, “Lord, Lord, we were baptized in Your name and received communion in Your name.” But the answer still would be the same. “But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws’” (verse 23 NLT). These are good people Jesus is talking to. These people paid their taxes. These people recycled and put the right trash in the right can. These people drove Priuses and ate kale and didn’t damage the environment. They’re good people. They’re just not nearly good enough. That’s why the apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8–9, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (NLT). Jesus never said that if you live a good life, you’ll go to Heaven. But here’s what Jesus did say: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NLT). He doesn’t want us to work ourselves to exhaustion, trying to be good enough to earn salvation. He wants to give us rest and assurance. He wants us to accept the gift of eternal life He offers. For people with a mature faith, this is a simple review. A chance to celebrate God’s mercy—that is, His kindness and compassion—and His grace—that is, His undeserved favor. But it’s also a reminder that there are people—people you know—who believe that their good works are good enough for God. People who believe that because their good outweighs their bad, they will be welcomed into Heaven. People who believe that growing up in a Christian home and attending church make them Christians. People who will be stunned to hear Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:23. People who need a mature believer to help them understand what it means to make a personal commitment to Christ: to confess that they’re not good enough to earn salvation, to turn away from their sin, and to accept Him as Savior and Lord. You can be that mature believer. You can share the gospel truth. You can help them see the futility of trying to earn salvation through good works. You can point them to Jesus’ sacrifice—the gift of God that makes salvation possible. The question is, will you? Reflection Question: How can you share God’s truth with someone who believes they’re a good person? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:17–18 NLT) When you think of being filled with the Holy Spirit, you may relate it to an emotional experience or a feeling of euphoria. Something dramatic and memorable. But the word filled can be translated as “controlled by.” Think of what happens when the wind fills the sails of a boat and guides it along. That’s the gist of what the apostle Paul is saying in Ephesians 5. God wants you to let His Spirit fill you, power you, and control your life. Another interesting thing about the word filled is that, in the original Greek language, the verb tense that Paul uses suggests something that is done continually. So you can translate verse 18 as, “Be constantly filled with the Spirit.” This is not a one-time event. Instead, it’s something that takes place over and over again. Just as you repeatedly fill the gas tank in your car to keep it running, God wants to refill you with His Spirit. It’s a powerful thing to say each day, “Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Lord, fill me once again.” Every time you say it, and mean it, you mature a little more in your faith. One more thing about this phrase from Ephesians 5:18 is that it’s a command, not a suggestion. The passage isn’t saying, “If it works with your schedule, and if you don’t mind, would you please consider maybe letting the Holy Spirit fill and control you?” Rather, God orders you to be filled with the Holy Spirit. You may ask, “Doesn’t everyone who trusts Christ have the Holy Spirit inside them?” The answer is yes. Paul says in Romans 8:9, “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all)” (NLT). But there are things you can do that interfere with the Holy Spirit’s work in your life. A boat sail that’s turned the wrong way won’t be filled with wind. In the same way, when you’re turned away from God—when you pursue your own agenda instead of His, when you give in to temptation instead of resisting it—you’re not being filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s why Paul warns, “Do not stifle the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19 NLT) and “Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live” (Ephesians 4:30 NLT). When you’re filled with the Holy Spirit, people will notice. They’ll see evidence of it in your life. Galatians 5:22–23 says, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (nlt). Those qualities have the potential to change lives—not just yours, but other people’s as well. If you will be filled with the Holy Spirit, God will use you to accomplish amazing things. Reflection Question: What are the daily benefits of being filled with the Holy Spirit? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.” (Philippians 1:9 NLT) I eat dinner at five o’clock. But I get hungry around three o’clock. So I start counting off the time until I eat. I look forward to my meal. Sometimes I get tempted to eat something to hold me over. You know, when five o’clock seems like it will never get here, and there’s a Taco Bell nearby. I start thinking about a burrito supreme—or maybe just a taco to hold me over. The problem is that it spoils my appetite. When I fill up on something that’s not good for me, it makes me lose my appetite for things that are good for me. The same thing can happen to us spiritually. There are things we do, places we go, and people we hang out with that dull us spiritually. They make us lose our appetite for the things of God. They stunt our growth. When we indulge ourselves with them, the result is that we want to do less, and not more, spiritually. On the flip side, there are other people who inspire us spiritually by their example and by the godliness of their character. They don’t hold themselves up as role models and ask, “Why aren’t you more like me?” They simply live their faith in a way that’s not just inspiring, but also motivating. Being with them stimulates our hunger for Jesus. And that’s a good thing, because it comes down to this: As Christians, there’s always more for us to know about being disciples. There’s always more for us to learn about sharing our faith and encouraging others. There’s always more to discover in God’s Word. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:9, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding” (nlt). His point is that you’re never done as a Christian. No matter how much you love, you can love more. No matter how much you pray, you can pray more. No matter how much you obey, you can obey more. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6 NIV). I don’t know about you, but I think all Christians should look at themselves and say, “I’m not content with where I’m at spiritually. There’s more to change in my life. I need to become more like Jesus.” The moment you fold your arms and say, “I’m content with where I am,” you set yourself up for a fall. When Jesus said, “Unless you . . . become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3 NLT), He wasn’t talking about being childish. He was talking about being childlike—always growing, always learning, and sometimes relearning things that we forget. Stay hungry for God’s truth. Thirst after righteousness. Refuse to rest on your spiritual laurels. As long as you have breath, continue to grow in your relationship with Christ. Look for ways to be a more effective prayer warrior and evangelist. If you do, God promises that you will be filled—and fulfilled. Reflection Question: How can you “stay hungry” in your Christian faith? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.” (Ephesians 1:5–6 NLT) Some people come from homes in which their fathers never expressed love or showed any affection toward them. Therefore, they take that concept of their earthly fathers and place it on their heavenly Father. They spend the rest of their lives trying to earn the approval of God, who has already given His approval to them. There are a lot of people who think they should keep the Ten Commandments because they are under the impression that God will punish them if they don’t. In a sense, they’re like Sisyphus, the character from Greek mythology who spent eternity pushing a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down again when he neared the top, forcing him to start over—again and again and again. These people work hard to earn God’s approval and be worthy of His love. But every time they slip up or do something to displease Him, they feel like they have to start over. Their faulty understanding of God and His mercy keeps them from maturing in their Christian faith. The fact is that God loves us and accepts us as we are. We don’t have to do anything to earn His approval. We don’t have to do anything to merit His love. In spite of our shortcomings and in spite of our sins, God loves us. He showed us how much He loves us by sending His Son to die in our place so that we might have eternal life. Romans 5:8 puts it this way: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (NLT). Understanding how much God loves us is what inspires us to love Him and others. As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love each other because he loved us first” (NLT). Instead of wanting to keep God’s commandments to earn His love, we should want to keep them because of His love for us. We should want to keep His commandments because we know they are right. It all comes down to our motives. We can’t do anything to earn God’s love or affection. His standards are too high. Because He is just, He demands perfect righteousness. And perfect righteousness is found only in Christ. That’s why Paul said in Ephesians 2:8–10: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT). We don’t live in a Christlike way so that God will love us; we live in a Christlike way because God loves us and because we want to honor our heavenly Father. Reflection Question: How, if at all, does your relationship with your human father affect your relationship with your heavenly Father? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” (Philippians 3:7–9 NLT) In testimonies, Christians often talk about what they gave up to follow Jesus Christ. But what do we really give up? Some people give up addiction to drugs or alcohol. For most people, they give up a sense of guilt, emptiness, loneliness, and the ever-present fear of death. So it would be pretty easy for them to agree with the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3. Paul is saying, “The things I have given up are nothing compared to what God has given to me.” This teaching of Paul’s is a very important principle to learn as we become more mature in our faith. We find happiness in God. The Bible says, “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless” (Psalm 119:1 NIV). The word blessed that is used here and throughout the psalms can be translated as “happy.” A more literal rendering of the word blessed—and I really like this one—would be “happy, happy.” So if someone had asked the psalmist, “How are you feeling today?” he might have replied, “Happy, happy.” But in this psalm and in other places in Scripture, we find that happiness is connected to holiness (or being “blameless”). We also find that happiness is not something that we should seek outright. Happiness should be the result of seeking holiness. Despite what our Declaration of Independence says, the pursuit of happiness in and of itself is generally a futile search. The apostle Peter wrote, “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now, you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:14–16 NLT). God didn’t create us to be happy in the shallow sense of the word. He created us to be holy, to live as Christ lived, to prioritize the commands of Scripture, and to share our faith with others. And He stands ready to help us whenever that pursuit seems too difficult. When we pursue holiness, we experience a soul-deep sense of satisfaction, joy, hope, purpose, and fulfillment. We discover true happiness. If you desire happiness, then seek the holiness of God. Only then will you be “happy, happy.” Reflection Question: What does pursuing holiness look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT) When my oldest son was a little boy, I would take him to Toys R Us. We would look around. I would tell him to pick out something for himself. He would look at the Star Wars figures. I would look at the X-Wing Fighter with the remote control, thinking that I would like to get it for him. The truth is that I wanted to play with it, too. He would pick out his little figure. Then I would say, “I was thinking of getting you something better than that.” He always went along with my idea. After a while, he started to learn something about Dad, which was that Dad liked to get presents for his kids. He came to realize that it was better to say, “I don’t know what to get, Dad. You choose it for me.” He came to realize that my choices were often better than what he chose for himself. Paul sends a similar message about our heavenly Father in Ephesians 3:20. The difference is that God’s generosity is perfect because God is perfect. He isn’t limited by resources. He isn’t swayed by moods, feelings, or impulses. He doesn’t have to guess at what might be meaningful or right for us. He designed us. He knows our code. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Sometimes that can be hard for us to accept. We don’t always recognize God’s perfect generosity because we allow misconceptions to warp our view of who He is and what He does. We fall for the lie that He’s a cosmic killjoy, always on the lookout for things that bring us joy so that He can put an end to them. And we compound the problem by being dazzled by temporary thrills—opportunities that have surface appeal but no real depth. Things that have no lasting value, that bring no sense of meaning, purpose, or fulfillment. Or, like my son, we’re content to settle for something small, something that pales in comparison to what we might have. Our enemy knows our tendencies and weaknesses and does everything in his power to exploit them. Look at his temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. He appealed to Jesus’ immediate physical needs. He offered fame and power. He wanted Jesus to settle for something less than the grand, glorious plan of God to redeem the world. And he does the same to us. He emphasizes flash over substance. He urges us to choose immediate gratification over long-term fulfillment. One of the many reasons God’s Word encourages us to become mature in our faith is so that we will recognize His generosity and respond with a spirit of gratitude. A mature faith understands that even though we have done nothing to earn God’s favor, He wants only what is ultimately best for us. Reflection Question: When have you experienced God’s generosity in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” (Ephesians 3:16–17 NLT) Can you imagine going home tonight and getting ready to go to bed when, all of a sudden, you see someone walking up to your front door and knocking? Lo and behold, it is Jesus. How would you react? Of course, you know this isn’t going to happen. The Lord isn’t going to come bodily to your home and knock on the front door. But let your imagination run wild for a moment and pretend that He is. Jesus Himself is knocking at your door. Would you open it up and gladly welcome Him in? Or would you feel a little apprehensive? The fact is, you should be living your life in such a way that Jesus could walk into your home at any moment and be welcomed without embarrassment. Look at the apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:16–17: “I pray that . . . Christ will make his home in your hearts” (NLT). He’s not talking about Christ simply living in your heart. The reality is that Christ lives in the heart of every believer. Paul’s point is that Christ should feel at home in your heart. This isn’t a temporary arrangement, the kind where you hide your mess until your company leaves. This is a permanent residency. Making Him feel welcome requires you to transform your life completely. But you don’t have to guess at how to do that. The Bible tells you how to live in a way that honors Christ—a way that makes Him feel at home in your heart. “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return” (Philippians 1:9–10 NLT). “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (Philippians 1:27 NLT). “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” (Philippians 4:8 NLT). If we were talking about a human guest, these extensive preparations might seem like an inconvenience. But notice in Ephesians 3 what Paul says results from making Christ feel at home in your heart. “From his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit” (verse 16 NLT). “Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong” (verse 17 NLT). “You will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (verse 19 NLT). Jesus doesn’t want to feel at home in your heart because He’s a fussy guest. When you prepare your heart for Christ, you make yourself useful to God. You find fulfillment, challenge, motivation, strength, peace, and joy. And you experience what Jesus meant when he said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Reflection Question: How can you make Jesus feel more at home in your heart? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1:20–21 NLT) Every one of us has something that moves us in life. Something we are excited about. What is your purpose in life? How would you complete this statement: “For to me, living means living for _______”? You might say, “For to me, living means living for fun.” Or “For to me, living means living for pleasure.” Or “For to me, living means living for money.” Or “For to me, living means living for success.” Or “For to me, living means living for fame.” Or “For to me, living means living for sex.” No matter what it is, everybody lives for something. For the apostle Paul, living meant living for Christ. That was his purpose. That was his motivation. But he didn’t stop there. He completed the statement by saying, “and dying is even better.” Only the person who says, “For to me, living means living for Christ,” can say, “and dying is even better.” When Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion, He destroyed the power of death. That’s why Paul wrote, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55 NLT). When you live for Christ, you no longer have to fear death, because you know that death is nothing more than a transition from point A to point B. A transition from a body that is wearing out to a new body that God has created for you. A transition from an earth that is corrupt and separated from God to a new Heaven and a new earth where you will live in His presence. A transition from a world filled with sin, temptation, and unhappiness to that place where there will be no more sorrow. When you confidently say in this life, “For to me, living means living for Christ,” you don’t have to be afraid of what happens in the next life. That’s not to suggest that Christians should have a death wish. If you look at Paul’s words in Philippians 1:22–24, you see his ambivalence about dying. “But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live” (NLT). The reality is that God has given us important responsibilities in this life—responsibilities to people who don’t yet know Christ as well as responsibilities to our fellow believers. Recognizing, embracing, and making the most of those opportunities helps build unity in the body of Christ. If we live for Christ, we can face death with no fear. In the meantime, though, let’s make the most of the time we have on earth. Reflection Question: What evidence of living for Christ might people see in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.” (Ephesians 1:9 NLT) No Christian should ever say, “I was really lucky today” or “Whatever will be will be.” Forget that. If you are a Christian, then you are a child of God. There’s no such thing as dumb luck. God has a plan and a purpose. He has a strategy for your life. You may not see it now, but He sees it and always has seen it. God is paying attention to what you are facing right now. He is paying attention to what you really need—not necessarily to what you want. So the great thing to know is that God is thinking about you and that He cares about you. The more mature you become in your faith, through prayer and studying God’s Word, the better able you are to see and trust God’s plan. Proverbs 19:21 says, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” So the first thing to do is line up your self-made plans behind God’s plan. You make His plan your priority. That’s the wise course of action. Isaiah 55:8–9 says, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts’” (NLT). You can find God’s thoughts and ways in His Word. If you study and pray about them enough, you start to align your decision-making with them. You make choices that honor the Lord and pave the way for His plans to be accomplished in and through you. God doesn’t reveal His entire plan for your life at once. Instead, He reveals only what you need to know at a given moment—just enough for you to stay dependent on Him. You can know how things will end, of course. God reveals the culmination of His plan in Ephesians 1:10: “And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth” (NLT). For those who receive Christ as Savior, this “bringing together” will be eternal life in Heaven under His authority. For those who reject Christ as Savior, this “bringing together” will be facing His authority as Judge. The first time Jesus came, it was as a baby. When He returns, it will be as the all-powerful divine Judge. God’s Word doesn’t give us a calendar for Christ’s return. All we know is that it will happen “at the right time”—that is, when God, in His perfect wisdom, patience, and justice, decides that it’s time. Until then, your job is to discover and embrace God’s plan for your life—and to align your will and your priorities with His. Reflection Question: Where do you see evidence of God’s plan in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:16 NLT) Good things happen when the church functions in the way God intends. Not only do God’s people become unified, like the parts of a body working together, but we also become spiritually mature. The apostle Paul offers a glimpse of what that maturity looks like: “We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:14–15 NLT). When I was a brand-new believer, I would talk with Pastor Chuck Smith, who was quite a bit older than I was. One day, I asked, “Chuck, how long have you been a Christian?” I think he said it was somewhere around fifty years. That number stunned me. “Fifty years?” I asked. “Does that make you an apostle now? Can you walk on water after fifty years?” There is maturity that comes with time. But I’ve been a Christian now for longer than fifty years, and while I’ve certainly grown and learned a lot, I have a long way to go. Some of you may be saying, “Yeah, you do, Greg.” And that’s true. I do. But you do, too. We all do. There’s no shame in admitting it. In fact, when we stop believing we have a long way to go, we set ourselves up for a fall. Paul himself said, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13–14 NLT). Even as he taught others how to become spiritually mature, Paul constantly was striving to become more mature in Christ himself. Spiritual maturity grounds us in the truth of Scripture. It keeps us from being “tossed and blown about” by false teachings. It gives us the wisdom and discernment to recognize deceivers, people who try to make the Bible say things it doesn’t say. Spiritual maturity and spiritual unity complement one another. When you develop a sense of unity with other believers, you also develop a sense of accountability. And believers who are accountable to one another will speak the truth in love when one of them starts to go down a questionable path. Reflection Question: What does spiritual maturity look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13 NLT) God didn’t say, “I desire unity in the church. Good luck with that.” Instead, He designed the church so that it would promote unity. In Ephesians 4:11–12, the apostle Paul tells us that Christ gives people specific gifts so that they can fill specific offices in the church. When those officers use their gifts to fulfill their responsibilities, something amazing happens. Connections are made. Fellowship occurs. Bonds of unity are forged. Some people are called—and gifted—to be apostles. They don’t have the authority of Jesus’ apostles, but they are special ambassadors of God’s work. Apostles may plant churches or serve as liaisons to other Christian organizations. Some people are equipped to be prophets. They don’t have the same authority as biblical prophets, but they speak the words of God that agree with the Old and New Testaments. In 1 Corinthians 14:29, Paul emphasized that the words of prophets are subject to the discernment and authority of church leaders. Some people are equipped to be evangelists. That is, they are specially gifted to share the Good News of Christ with others. And some people are equipped to be pastors and teachers. We shepherd the flock by making God’s Word accessible, understandable, and applicable. Often that involves building a bridge to our audience or making a connection to get their attention. Ultimately, though, the power of our message is not in some quote from a secular philosopher or a pop star or some other iconic figure. The power is in the Word of God. God said in Isaiah 55:11, “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (NLT). And Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (NLT). My job, and the job of all pastors and teachers, is not to make the Bible relevant. The Bible is relevant. I just need to let the lion out of the cage and let the Word of God do what it does best, change lives. In the bigger picture, Christ equips the leaders of the church to equip God’s people to serve. This common experience—of learning the truth of God’s Word, of being equipped, and of sharing a commitment to serve—strengthens the unity among church members. When we embrace our roles, the body of Christ grows, and the members of that body learn to work in unity. Reflection Question: How can you help create or nurture a spirit of unity in your church? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT) In our increasingly fractured culture, we don’t have to look hard for issues that divide us. But where can we find things that unite us? Ephesians 4 is a good place to start our search. For the next few days, we’re going to look at the apostle Paul’s teachings on creating and nurturing unity in the church. In the first three chapters of his letter, Paul reminded the Ephesian believers of what God had done for them. In Ephesians 4:1, he urged them “to lead a life worthy of your calling” (NLT). When you have a sense of what God has done for you, you’re more likely to serve Him out of gratitude. You don’t lead a worthy life so that He will love you; you lead a worthy life because He loves you. Leading a worthy life means embracing qualities such as humility, gentleness, and patience. That might involve tabling your own agenda for the sake of someone else’s. Or choosing to forgive instead of taking revenge. Or learning to appreciate the characteristics and quirks in other people that don’t mesh with ours. James put it a little more bluntly: “Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:9 NLT). Don’t complain about other believers. Go to them and try to help them. The phrase “grumble about each other” means to groan within yourself. It speaks of a person who has a bitter attitude. Some people are always criticizing. They think it’s a spiritual gift—the gift of tearing others down. But it’s not a gift of the Spirit; it’s a work of the flesh, and it’s used by the enemy. Don’t be known as someone who burns bridges; be known as someone who builds bridges. Don’t be known as someone who kicks others when they’re down; be known as someone who reaches out to people and pulls them back up again. Don’t denigrate and tear down one another. If you have something to say about someone, say it to them, not about them. Paul said, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT). If that means sacrificing your own preferences, so be it. If it means swallowing your pride, so be it. If it means meeting people more than halfway or doing the heavy lifting in a relationship, so be it. Keeping people united may seem like thankless work at times, but God sees and rewards our efforts. His Spirit works in us and through us, making sure that our efforts don’t go to waste. As believers, we share one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. That gives us a wide swath of common ground on which to build unity. Reflection Question: What is your best strategy for building unity in a group? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!” (John 20:19–20 NLT) If we were telling the origin story of the Christian church, this would be a compelling first scene. A handful of Jesus’ followers hiding behind closed doors, shell-shocked, confused, and too scared to show their faces in public. Suddenly the risen Jesus miraculously appears in the flesh, victorious over sin and death, confirming the truth of everything He taught and promised them. At some point, either while Jesus was in the room or after He left, the truth must have dawned on them. If the One they served is more powerful than sin and death, then (1) they had nothing to fear, and (2) the world needed to know. We see their newfound boldness and sense of purpose in the passages that follow. That’s the power of the resurrection. Armed with that power, this small group of believers changed the world. And most of them sacrificed their lives to do it. According to church tradition, Peter took the gospel to Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Asia. He was crucified upside down because he told his executioners that he wasn’t worthy of being crucified in the same manner as Jesus. Andrew spread the gospel through what is now Russia, Turkey, and Greece. He, too, was crucified. Thomas wasn’t present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples in John 20. And he doubted their story. But when Jesus appeared again, and Thomas saw Him, his doubts disappeared. He took the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection all the way to India. He died after being impaled by the spears of four soldiers. Philip spread the gospel in North Africa and Asia Minor. After he converted the wife of a Roman official, the official had him put to death. Matthew, the tax collector, traveled to Persia and Ethiopia to spread Jesus’ message. He was stabbed to death. Bartholomew accompanied Thomas to India and also shared the gospel in Armenia, Ethiopia, and Southern Arabia. He was crucified. James, the son of Alphaeus, shared the Good News of Christ throughout Syria. He was stoned and then clubbed to death. Simon took the gospel to Persia. He was put to death there when he refused to make a sacrifice to the sun god. Matthias was the man chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. He shared the gospel in Syria, where he was burned to death. John is believed to be the only disciple who died a natural death. He was exiled to the penal colony of Patmos. The apostle Paul traveled extensively to share the gospel. He was beheaded in Rome. The apostle John ended his Gospel with these words: “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25 NLT). Among the “many other things” was the impact Jesus had on a small group of ordinary people. He changed their lives forever. And, in turn, they changed the world in His name. As Jesus’ followers, we’re still called to change the world—one life at a time. We have Good News to share—the best news, in fact. If we’re faithful to our calling, we can impact lives for eternity. Reflection question: In what ways would you like to be bolder in sharing your faith with others? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’” (Acts 9:3–4 NLT) The story of Stephen’s stoning contains a curious footnote: “His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58 NLT). That would be Saul of Tarsus. After participating in the stoning of Stephen, Saul gained notoriety as a persecutor of Christians. Saul was proud of his Jewish heritage and zealous in his Jewish faith. When he saw the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, a dead revolutionary, challenging Jewish beliefs, he determined to put an end to their movement. Acts 8:3 says, “But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison” (NLT). Acts 9:1 says, “Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers” (NLT). This was a man fueled by religious extremism. Saul found his identity in his Jewish religion. He was rigid in his beliefs and unlikely to change. Until he encountered the risen Christ. While Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians, Jesus appeared to him, as explained in the passage above. Saul’s life was never the same again. Temporarily blinded after his encounter, Saul was led to the home of Ananias, a believer who knew of Saul’s reputation and was understandably suspicious of him. But the Lord revealed to Ananias that He had important plans for Saul. Saul regained his sight, was filled by the Holy Spirit, and then baptized. As zealous as ever, he went straight to the local synagogue and proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God. The Jewish people who had been his former allies were confounded by the power of his teaching. As was the case with Ananias, the apostles and church leaders viewed Saul with skepticism. Eventually he won them over with the power of his testimony, his teaching, and his zeal to share the Good News. Saul embarked on three major missionary journeys that took him to Gentile regions throughout the land. Perhaps to give himself more credibility in those places, he started using his Roman name, Paul. He was imprisoned, stoned, and beaten for preaching the truth of Christ. But he never wavered. He considered it an honor to suffer for the Lord’s sake. He was beheaded in Rome around AD 66. But not before God had used him to change the world. The life of Saul/Paul is a testimony to the power of Jesus’ resurrection. The risen Christ can transform any life. He offers forgiveness and healing. He gives us new purpose, new meaning, and new hope. Through the Holy Spirit, He guides us, comforts us, convicts us when we do wrong, and challenges us to maximize our God-given gifts. Jesus lets us start again. Reflection question: How has Jesus transformed your life or the lives of people you know? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8 NLT) In the months following Jesus’ ascension, the church grew at an amazing rate. Jesus’ followers, emboldened by His resurrection, spread the Good News near and far. And people responded. Acts 2:41 tells us that after Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, “those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all” (NLT). The church was also trying a radical experiment in community living. “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. . . . There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need” (Acts 4:32, 34–35 NLT). “But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food” (Acts 6:1 NLT). Jesus’ apostles had neither the time nor the training to deal with such matters. Their solution was to delegate the responsibilities to “seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3 NLT). The first person on their list was “Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit)” (verse 5 NLT). One day a group of Jewish men started a debate with Stephen, but quickly realized they were overmatched. Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with His wisdom. The men got their revenge by persuading others to lie about Stephen and accuse him of slandering the temple and the law of Moses. Stephen was taken to the Jewish high council to answer the charges. Instead, Stephen launched into an epic sermon. He traced Israel’s relationship with God, starting with Abraham, who left his homeland for the land God promised him. God also promised Abraham that his descendants would fill the land but would also be oppressed as slaves in a foreign land for four hundred years. Stephen recounted how God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision and how He blessed Abraham’s descendants: Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs of Israel. He explained how Joseph’s captivity in Egypt led to the slavery of the Jewish people for four hundred years. He also explained how Moses not only led them out of slavery but also prophesied the coming of the Messiah. Stephen ended his sermon by making the connection between their ancestors’ rejection of Moses and the prophets and the Jewish leaders’ rejection—and murder—of Jesus. Stephen spoke God’s truth boldly. He was prepared to sacrifice His life for His Savior. Acts 7:57–58 tells us that the Jewish leaders were so infuriated that they dragged Stephen out of the city and stoned him. Stephen became the first recorded Christian martyr. There’s a powerful lesson in his story for all believers. We may never be called to give our lives for Christ, but we should be prepared to sacrifice our comfort, security, pride, relationships, plans, priorities, and anything else we hold dear for His sake. Reflection question: Why is sacrifice an important part of our walk with Christ? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35 NLT) The New Testament mentions two followers of Jesus named Philip. The first was one of the twelve disciples, the men Jesus handpicked to follow Him. The second was known as Philip the Evangelist. Many Bible scholars believe that Philip the Evangelist was one of the seventy-two men Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. According to Acts 6:5, Philip the evangelist was one of the original seven deacons in the church at Jerusalem. According to Acts 21:8–9, Paul and Luke stayed at his house for several days when they visited Jerusalem. But the story for which Philip is best known is found in Acts 8. Philip had left Jerusalem to become an evangelist in the city of Samaria, which was located about thirty miles north of Jerusalem. “Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city” (verses 6–8 NLT). Energized and emboldened by Jesus’ resurrection, Philip fearlessly spread the gospel to people who were hungry for the Good News. One day he received very specific instructions from an angel of the Lord. It seems that an important government official from Ethiopia had traveled to Jerusalem to worship. The official was reading aloud from the book of Isaiah in his carriage on his journey back to Ethiopia but was having difficulty making sense of the text. The angel instructed Philip, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza” (verse 26 NLT)—the road the Ethiopian official was traveling. Philip didn’t question why he was being sent to the middle of nowhere. Incredible things had been happening since Jesus’ resurrection, and he probably saw the assignment as an opportunity to be part of yet another one. He was right. “Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ “The man replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?’ And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him” (verses 30–31 NLT). The passage he was reading was Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus being led like a sheep to the slaughter. The official wanted to know who the passage was talking about. He practically invited Philip to share the Good News with him. Philip didn’t need to be told twice. The Ethiopian official was so moved by the gospel message that he asked Philip to baptize him. And then, according to church tradition, he carried the Good News of Christ back to his homeland and started a church there so that countless other lives would be transformed. The Christian faith gained an important foothold in its global spread. All because one man was bold enough to respond to God’s call. If you find yourself in the right place at the right time to share your faith or answer someone’s questions about the Bible, it’s because God put you there, just as He did with Philip. Seize the moment. Be bold. Even a single encounter can change a life—and more. Reflection question: Who might be waiting for you to help them understand the message of the Bible? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NLT) A short time after the miracle at Pentecost, Peter and John went to the temple in Jerusalem for an afternoon prayer service. They were approached by a man who had been a paraplegic since birth. The man was well-known to temple-goers because every day he was carried to the temple gate, where he begged for money. Newly filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter and John opted for something much, much better. Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk” (Acts 3:6 NLT). The man was instantly healed—and filled with joyous gratitude. “Walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with” Peter and John (Acts 3:8 NLT). People recognized him as the (formerly) lame beggar and gathered around, absolutely astounded by his healing. Peter saw a faith-sharing opportunity and addressed the crowd. That’s right, the man who, only a short time earlier, had been too afraid to identify himself as Jesus’ disciple was now speaking boldly to the temple crowd. That’s the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Peter pulled no punches in explaining where the power for the man’s healing had come from. Jesus—whom the people in the crowd had rejected and demanded be crucified—had been raised from the dead. Faith in Him is what caused the man to be healed. Peter helped the people see that Jesus had fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah. He urged them to repent of their sins and receive God’s forgiveness. About two thousand of them did just that. (Compare the figure in Acts 2:41 with the one in Acts 4:4.) The Jewish religious leaders quickly put an end to the preaching and arrested Peter and John. The next day, the two disciples were brought before “the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law” (Acts 4:5 NLT)—the same people who had overseen Jesus’ trials two months earlier. “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” they asked. (verse 7 NLT). That’s a risky question to ask two men filled with the Holy Spirit. “Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.… There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (verses 10, 12 NLT). Peter and John knew full well that the Jewish officials could have them killed. In fact, they had been hiding from these very men when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection. But they had been empowered by the One who conquered death. So they spoke the truth boldly and left the consequences in the Lord’s hands. The Lord doesn’t shield His followers from the repercussions of being bold for His sake. But He stays with us through the challenges, the discomfort, and the consequences. He gives strength, wisdom, and perspective. And He rewards our faithfulness in ways we can’t imagine. Reflection question: What would boldness in sharing the Good News of Christ look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” (Acts 2:41 NLT) Jesus’ followers experienced a profound change after His resurrection. Jesus had conquered sin and death forever. He had already won the war against humankind’s two greatest enemies. So His followers were emboldened to fight the battles against those who opposed Jesus’ work. They literally had nothing to fear any longer. We can see the evidence of their newfound boldness in the events that took place during the celebration of Pentecost at the temple in Jerusalem about ten days after Jesus returned to Heaven. Pentecost (which is also known as Shavuot) is a major Jewish festival. In the first century AD, people traveled from foreign lands to celebrate it at the Jerusalem temple, the center of Jewish worship. Jesus’ followers were also in Jerusalem at the time. About 120 of them had continued to meet since Jesus’ departure. According to Acts 2:1–4, a roaring wind suddenly swept through their meeting place. Small flames appeared and rested on each of them. The Holy Spirit filled them, and they began to speak in languages they didn’t know. A large crowd rushed in to investigate the commotion. Foreign visitors to the city were stunned to hear stories about the wonderful things God had done being spoken in their native languages by uneducated Galileans. Peter seized the moment. The disciple who, just a short time earlier, had been too scared even to identify himself with Jesus, boldly stepped forward and explained that the people were witnessing the fulfillment of a prophecy God had made hundreds of years earlier, as recorded in Joel 2:28–32. God had promised to pour out His Spirit on all people, and now the Spirit had arrived. Peter then launched into an impromptu sermon. He reminded people of the miracles Jesus had performed. He pointed to those miracles, as well as to Jesus’ death and resurrection, to show them that Jesus had carried out God’s plan of salvation. Peter quoted the prophetic words King David wrote about Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth. And then he identified Jesus as the long-promised Lord and Messiah. Peter urged the people to repent and be baptized so that they, too, would be filled with the Holy Spirit. His words had a powerful impact. Acts 2:42 says that about three thousand people believed in Jesus that day. With one bold push, Peter and the others started the snowball rolling downhill. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they established the church and began to fulfill the Great Commission—to make disciples of all nations. The world would never be the same. The same Holy Spirit who gave wisdom, strength, and boldness to Peter and the others fills everyone who believes in Jesus today. His power is always available to us. He equips us to step out of our comfort zone, to reach across the invisible lines that separate us from others, and to boldly share the Good News of Jesus. Reflection question: What specifically can the Holy Spirit equip you to do? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.