Category Archives: Greg Laurie

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Greg Laurie – Our Backup Plan

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Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

—Jude 1:21

When police officers are in trouble, what do they do? They call for backup. That is what believers need to do as well. When we are being hassled or tempted, we need to call for backup. We are to stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

James 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Notice it doesn’t say that we are to submit to God and carry on extended conversations with the Devil. We want to keep our distance from the enemy, being careful never to yield to his suggestions.

Disobedient and persistent waywardness provides the Enemy a foothold from which he can attack and influence the Christian. So flee temptation and don’t leave a forwarding address. Keep your distance from the things that could drag you down.

We must learn from the example of the Israelites who, in spite of their privileges and exposure to miracles, did not keep themselves in the love of God. As a result, they faced judgment.

We must learn from the example of the fallen angels who, even though they once worshiped God in heaven, they rebelled against Him and became demons in hell.

We must learn from the example of the people living in Sodom and Gomorrah who, in spite of the fact that they were exposed to the preaching and ministry of Abraham, Lot, and even Melchizedek, they rebelled against God.

These all failed to keep themselves in the love of God. So let’s make sure we are taking every step to do that.

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Greg Laurie – A Vision of Heaven  

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God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. —Revelation 21:4

Have you ever tried to explain something to someone and couldn’t quite find the words? Have you ever tried to describe something complex to a child? For God to describe heaven to us in a way we could understand would be like trying to describe the beauty of Hawaii to a three-month-old child. We’re not able to comprehend, in our finite human understanding, all the infinite glories of heaven.

In fact, the apostle Paul, who had the unique experience of dying and actually going to heaven, said that he heard things so astounding that they couldn’t be told (see 2 Corinthians 12:2-4). Paul was essentially saying that he couldn’t put his experience into words.

Heaven is beyond our comprehension. While there aren’t many verses in the Bible that tell us about it, Scripture does tell us a few things. It says that in heaven there will be no night. There will be no fear. There will be no suffering or death. All of the pain and disabilities that we face in this life will be gone in heaven.

But the glory of heaven is even more than having new bodies—and even more than the absence of darkness and sorrow and pain and death. The fact that Jesus Christ will be there is better than all the beauty and all the answers to all our questions.

Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar. (Isaiah 33:17, NIV)

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Heart Trouble

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Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. —John 14:1

Have you ever felt troubled in your heart—agitated, stressed out, or uncertain about tomorrow? Or to put it another way, have you ever driven on a freeway in Southern California?

There is a lot to be afraid of these days, isn’t there? Maybe something has happened to you recently that has turned your world upside down. Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering whether God really is aware of the problems you’re facing right now.

That is exactly how the disciples of Jesus felt. They were downhearted and discouraged. When they were all gathered in the Upper Room for the Passover feast, Jesus told them that one of them was going to betray Him. Then He identified Judas Iscariot as the betrayer. Not only that, but Jesus also said that Simon Peter would deny Him—not once, not twice, but three times. Peter! Could it really be? The whole world turned upside down for these men. And then, worst of all, Jesus began talking about leaving them, about being crucified. Can you blame them for wondering, What in the world is going on here?

Maybe you feel that way. Maybe there is uncertainty in your future. As you survey your fears and concerns today, take a few minutes to consider what Jesus said to His disciples and to us in that tense Upper Room: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). This verse could also be translated, “Let not your heart be agitated or disturbed or thrown into confusion.”

In other words, “Don’t let these things throw you! Put your full trust and faith in Me!” It was good advice for some deeply troubled believers two thousand years ago, and I can tell you right now with complete confidence that it’s the best counsel anyone will give you all day today.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Shallow Roots     

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He who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. —Matthew 13:20–21

Jesus spoke of people who hear the Word of God, but it never quite takes root. These people appear to be converted and even motivated. They seem to be living on an emotional high and even try to bring others to Christ. Yet they are a picture of soil embedded with rocks. The good seed of God’s Word breaks ground and shoots up, but no fruit ever appears. No real change ever results. Theirs was not a true encounter with God.

Why did they fall away? It’s possible they built their faith on the wrong foundation. Maybe they responded to the gospel because a friend of theirs did. But conversion is not a group effort; you have to make your own commitment to Jesus. Another possibility may be that unbelief set in, causing them to begin doubting God at their first emotional low. Or, they gave up at the first sign of persecution for the gospel’s sake.

If you are a true follower of Jesus, there will be hardships, times of trial, and seasons when you don’t feel as though God is near you. And there will be times when people give you a hard time for no other reason than the fact that you say you are a Christian. So don’t build your life on a friend’s example or approval. Don’t even build it on a church. Build it on Christ.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – To See Jesus  

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There were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” —John 12:20–21

I remember visiting a mental hospital years ago with a fellow pastor. We were visiting the patients and sharing the gospel. Back then, I wore very long hair and had a full beard. My pastor friend began talking with one patient and said, “Have you ever personally met Jesus Christ?”

“No,” the man replied, “But I’ve always wanted to.” Then he turned to me, shook my hand, and said, “Jesus, it’s good to meet you! I’ve heard so much about you.”

“I’m not Jesus!” I told him. “My name is Greg.”

Imagine what it would be like to actually reach out and shake hands with the real Jesus, to actually touch Him. The opening verses of today’s devotion tell us about some individuals from Greece who wanted an opportunity to do just that.

Instead of simply granting them an audience, however, Jesus used their request to illustrate a point: “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (verse 23-24).

Jesus was essentially saying, “Do you really want to see Me? Do you want to see God? You will see Me through My death. Soon, I will die on a cross for you and pay the price for your sins. Through My death, you can have life. You can see God, and you can know God.”

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Time Does Tell

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What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? —Mark 8:36–37

A while ago, I ran into a guy that I once hung out with in school. I hadn’t seen him in about twenty-five years. He had called to say that he was coming to hear me speak, so we arranged to meet beforehand.

As we talked, he told me he had been married twice and was presently divorced. Then he said, “I basically drank my marriages away.” He went on to explain that he had fallen prey to alcoholism and had never gotten free of it. It had ruined his life.

I told him, “You know, in the Bible, God says, ‘You will seek Me and find Me. . . .’ ”

“You can quote your book, and I’ll quote mine,” he said. “I’m in fellowship too—I’m in a twelve-step program.”

We used to hang out and party together, but although I left that lifestyle at age seventeen, he never did. As I look at the course his life has taken and the course my life has taken, it’s clear who really gave up the most.

There might be times as a Christian when you look at unbelievers and think, I don’t know. Maybe they’re having the good time, and I’m not. It might look as though they are having fun today, but there is a price for sin. You will reap what you sow.

If you live for Christ, if you determine to do things God’s way, you won’t regret it. You won’t find happiness or fulfillment through sex, drugs, or drinking. You won’t find it through relationships, success, possessions, or accomplishments. You will find happiness and fulfillment by walking in your Creator’s true purpose for your life: a living, dynamic relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – God of Knowledge

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Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed. —1 Samuel 2:3

If intellectualism alone were the major key to purpose and fulfillment, then our universities and college campuses would be bastions of peace and purpose. Yet as you walk around your typical secular university today, you will see the emptiness of academic pursuit without God. On these campuses you will often find the most bizarre and aberrant ideas circulating today.

Certainly the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom is a good one. Very few things this life offers are greater than the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, the pursuit of a good education. But if in that pursuit we leave God out, then it will indeed be an empty one.

The year before he died, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant physicist who was known as “the father of the atomic bomb,” said this about his life: “I am a complete failure!” In looking back on his achievements, he said they were meaningless. That sounds a lot like Solomon, who said, “But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11, NLT).

We celebrate our dramatic advances in science and technology, which have been breathtaking to say the least. But as Tom Brokaw once said, “It is not enough to wire the world if you short-circuit the soul.”

With global telecommunications, we truly have become a global village. Yet there is a sense of isolation and detachment, and all this technology almost seems to numb the soul a little bit more. It is the pursuit of knowledge without God.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – The Role of Faith

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He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. —Mark 6:5–6

There is no question that faith is a key element in effective prayer. On one occasion, Jesus could not do many miracles in a certain place because of the unbelief of the people there. That place was Nazareth, which happened to be His hometown. He had done miracles in other places, but not in Nazareth. And it was because of their unbelief.

Our faith does play a part in the work of God. Sadly, there has been a distortion of this truth by false teachers who say that we make things happen, that faith is a type of force we just need to use. In an effort to counter this extreme teaching, we may swing too far the other way and end up with no faith at all.

There is a place for having faith and believing the promises in God’s Word. When people ask me to pray for them to be healed, I do. But I always add, “Lord, if You have another purpose that we don’t know about, then not our will, but Yours, be done.” I think we need as much faith as we can muster when we come before God with our requests. But I appreciate the honesty of the man who said, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). I believe God will honor that.

When you pray, “Lord, this seems to be Your will from my understanding of Scripture. . . I believe, Lord, but help my unbelief. . . and if You have another plan, then just overrule it,” that is a proper way to bring something before the throne of God.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – The Problem with Self-Esteem   

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The second, like it, is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these. —Mark 12:30–31

When Scripture says, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” it is not saying, “First learn to love yourself, and then love your neighbor.” Rather, it is saying, “It is obvious you already love yourself. Love your neighbor in the same way.” It is this love of self, this obsession with self, that gets us into trouble. We don’t need a better self-image. We don’t need greater self-esteem. And we certainly don’t need more self-love.

But here is what we do need. Jesus said “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Notice that He did not say, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him esteem himself ” or “let him love himself.” Rather, Jesus said, “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” In the original language, the word deny means “to repudiate, to disdain, to disown, to forfeit, to totally disregard.” That is not an easy thing to do.

So in reality, the basic problem in our lives is not our spouse. It is not our boss. It is not our neighbors. It is not our upbringing. It is not low self-esteem. And it is not a poor self-image. It is the overt love of ourselves. Jesus said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:18-19).

So here is what it comes down to: the ultimate choice in life is between pleasing ourselves and pleasing God.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – When God Cried  

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When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. —John 11:33

At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus surveyed the scene. Mary, Martha, and the others were all weeping and mourning. And Jesus wept. Tears rolled down His cheeks.

Jesus wept tears of sympathy for Mary and Martha and for all of the sorrow caused by sin and death through all the long centuries of human existence. The Bible says that He was “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). When you have lost someone you love, He knows and understands the pain and hurt deep inside your soul. Maybe other people never will completely understand, but Jesus has wept with you.

His tears also were tears of sorrow for Lazarus. Those tears were for one who had known the bliss of heaven and now would have to return to a wicked earth where he would have to die all over again.

Jesus also wept tears for the unbelief of the people: “Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled” (John 11:33). Jesus was troubled. And He was angry.

The ravages of sin in the world He had created stirred deep emotions in His heart. His wonderful, original plan, His perfect creation, had been deeply marred by sin. Death was a part of the curse, and it angered Jesus to see the devastating effect sin had on humanity.

Some may wonder, Well, why doesn’t He do something about it? He has. He went to the cross of Calvary and died for our sins so that death doesn’t have to be the end. There is life beyond the grave for the Christian. There is something beyond . . . something we can look forward to.

And it’s all because He laid down His life to rescue us.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Temporary Unknowns   

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We see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. —1 Corinthians 13:12

The Bible tells us that one day, in heaven, we will know as we are known (see 1 Corinthians 13:12).

For the time being, I don’t have a complete knowledge of life beyond this life. The fact of the matter is, there’s so much about the person of God, His ways, and His dwelling place that I don’t know. But one day in a new body, I will see Him face-to-face, and all of my questions will be answered.

The apostle Paul had a remarkable experience in which he died and then was revived (see Acts 14:19-20). This wasn’t a near-death experience; Paul literally died. But he didn’t write a book about it or go on the talk show circuit. He basically said, “I was caught up into the third heaven and heard things that I can’t even describe to you, but it was paradise” (see 2 Corinthians 12:2). That’s all he would say.

It does appear, however, that we will recognize one another in heaven. After all, when Moses and Elijah met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples recognized them immediately. So you might ask, “How will I know you if I’m looking for you?” Well, look for the guy with the full head of brand-new hair. That will be me.

Yes, someday very soon we will be with the Lord. And though we don’t know a great deal about heaven now, we can be sure its reality will exceed our wildest dreams. We will see the Lord, and we will see one another. And all of the mysteries will be solved.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Life During Life       

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I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. —John 10:10

An interest in life on Mars seems to run in cycles. At this writing, our nation has a new exploration robot prowling around and digging little holes in the dirt near the Martian north pole.

A few years ago, I was even interviewed for an article about life on other planets. I said, “I don’t see anything in the Bible that would indicate there is life on other planets, but if there is, God created it.” They closed the article with another of my statements: “Maybe we shouldn’t be so worried about life on other planets and ask ourselves the question, ‘Is there life on Earth, and are we living it the way God wants us to?’ ”

We often wonder whether there is life after death. But is there life during life? That is a question we all should consider.

When I was seventeen, that was my question. I wasn’t so concerned with what happened beyond the grave at that age because I thought I would live a long, long time. My primary concern at that time was, “What’s life all about? What’s the purpose of life?” I knew in my heart there had to be more than what I’d experienced to that point. I was desperately searching for some kind of meaning in life. I just had to know.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to look very far because there was a group of very outspoken Christians on my high school campus. They practiced what they preached, and I was intrigued by them. So I began to watch them. I saw that they were experiencing a dimension of life that I had never known. Not long after that, I gave my life to Jesus and discovered the truth of Jesus’ great statement from John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” That’s what I had been searching for: life during life.

Ask the Lord to point you toward someone today who may be searching for that very thing.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Dare to be a Daniel

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Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. —Daniel 1:8

We serve a living God. And if we serve a living God, then it means we will take Him everywhere we go. It will affect everything we do. It will affect our relationships. It will affect our ethics. It will affect our work. It will affect our play. It will affect the way we think. It will affect the way we live. It will affect the way we vote. It will affect everything we do. Because if Jesus is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all.

The Bible tells us about a man who had this kind of faith in God in the midst of tremendous peer pressure. His name was Daniel, and the Bible also gives us an indication as to how he did it: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself . . .” (Daniel 1:8, emphasis added). The word to underline in your Bible is purposed. He purposed in his heart.

That is what we need a lot more of today. How we need men and women of conviction. We need men and women of purpose, people who will say, “This is right. I don’t care if it is popular. I have to do what is right.”

Be a man, be a woman, of purpose. Be a man, be a woman, of conviction. As Philip P. Bliss wrote in his classic hymn, “Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known.” Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. What have you purposed in your heart today?

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – With the End in Mind   

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You, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. —1 Timothy 6:11

Many of us will put ourselves into situations we don’t need to be in. We hang around with people that we don’t need to be hanging around with. We watch movies that we don’t need to be watching. We listen to music that we don’t need to be listening to. And it will affect us.

Granted, we cannot control every circumstance we will face in life. I would acknowledge that all of us end up in situations in which we think, I wish I hadn’t seen that. . . . I wish I hadn’t been exposed to that. But if we live in the real world, then we will see and hear things that we don’t want to. Unfortunately, it is part of life.

Some may say, “Oh, it doesn’t affect me. I can handle it.” But it does. As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” We will reap what we sow. It may not be dramatic. It may not be overt, initially. But it will have its effect.

It is a lot like sowing seeds. You don’t sow a few seeds today and have a forest tomorrow. You sow a few seeds today, and then down the road, you have some sprouts. A little bit later, you have plants. And in time, you will have your forest.

The seeds we are sowing today will be reaped eventually. And if we are sowing seeds of corruption, then we will reap the tragic results later. If we are sowing spiritual seeds by doing the right thing, then we will reap the blessed results of that as well. The seeds we are sowing today will be reaped in the years to come.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – The Man in Satan’s Grip  

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When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. —Isaiah 59:19

In Mark 5, the Bible tells us of a man who was possessed by demons, had superhuman strength, and was able to break chains with his bare hands. This dangerous and frightening man lived among the tombs and on the mountains.

But underneath this horrendous exterior was a tortured soul. It’s a picture of Satan’s ultimate goal. This is really what the Devil wants to do. He wants to destroy your life. Although it’s true that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life, it’s also true that Satan hates you and has a horrible plan for your life. The Devil knows his judgment is certain. He knows that Jesus is indeed coming again. For that reason, he’s pulling out all the stops, redoubling his efforts.

The good news is that although the Devil may be feverishly at work 24/7, God isn’t sleeping, either!

This story had a very happy ending. Jesus came into this poor, tormented man’s life and made him into an altogether different kind of a person. Jesus cast out the legion of demons, which went into a herd of pigs . . . and over a cliff into the sea. It was a dramatic transformation for this man.

Jesus can transform your life, too. Let Him lift up a standard against the Enemy in your life today.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – In Spite of Sickness   

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God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. —Revelation 21:4

God can work in spite of sickness. He still answers prayer and heals people today, and He still does miracles. In sickness and in hardships, He can work in a person’s life. Even if a person still has the sickness or problem, God can work in spite of it and give them a special strength. And no matter what happens to our physical bodies here on earth, we have the promise of heaven and ultimate healing in heaven. At that time, God says He will wipe away all our tears. There will be no more death, sorrows, crying, or pain (see Revelation 21:4).

What a glorious promise! There is more—so much more!—beyond this life on earth. Whatever our limitations, whatever our problems, God promises us that we will one day receive a new body that won’t have the shortcomings we experience today.

And God can also use sickness to bring a person to Himself, can’t He? I know of many people who have come to the Lord in the hospital or when facing death. Suddenly they reevaluate their lives. They wonder, What am I living for? What’s really important in my life? What’s going to happen to me when I die? And they begin to think about eternity.

As the psalmist said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word” (Psalm 119:67). God can work in spite of sickness, and He can work through sickness. Nothing is impossible for Him.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Worth Quoting  

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The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. —Hebrews 4:12

I have always felt that when I preach, especially at Harvest Crusades, I should generously quote Scripture because I believe there is authority in the Bible. There isn’t authority in the words of Greg Laurie, unless Greg Laurie is quoting the Bible. My authority comes from God’s Word. So I quote it.

People may not like what I’m saying. It may really bother them. But I have heard story after story of people who made a decision for Christ a week, even a month, after a crusade’s conclusion. I have even heard a few stories of those who were converted in the parking lot following a crusade. A seed was planted. Then it germinated and eventually became fruitful . . . even though it was a little later than we expected. God’s Word won’t return without accomplishing its purpose, so don’t be afraid to quote it.

As young Stephen was about to lose his life, the Devil could have whispered in his ear, “Look at you. You gave up your life up for nothing.” But a little seed had been planted. And unknown to Saul of Tarsus, it was about to bear fruit.

Here were two young men, both standing up for their convictions. One was very religious. One was genuinely spiritual. Stephen was humble, saved by the grace of God. Saul was self-righteous, proud of his works and deeds. Stephen was defending the gospel, while Saul was persecuting it. But Saul ultimately carried out Stephen’s task. He ended up taking his place and carrying the torch that Stephen once did.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Ready and Willing        

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Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” —Acts 8:30

Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?

That was the question the Ethiopian dignitary had for Philip (see Acts 8:34, NLT). It’s a good thing Philip knew the Bible because if he didn’t, he would have had to say, “I don’t know. Can I get back to you?” But this was an opportunity that had to be seized.

That is why the Bible reminds us time and time again to prepare ourselves for such opportunities. Paul wrote to Timothy, “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).

Philip had prepared himself for the opportunity that was waiting for him. And you must prepare yourself for the opportunity that might be waiting for you today, tomorrow, or the next day.

I have found that when I am sharing the gospel—whether it’s preaching or one on one—the most powerful tool I have is the Word of God. In speaking of His Word, God said,

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 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. (Isaiah

55:10-11, NLT)

I know that Greg Laurie’s word can accomplish zero sometimes. But God’s Word “always produces fruit” (verse 11). Let’s hide it in our hearts and minds. Then, like Philip, we’ll be ready for the opportunities God sends our way.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Without Question   

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An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” —Acts 8:26

Philip was used to leading others to Jesus because he was obedient. How easily Philip could have argued with the angel who gave him these instructions from the Lord: “Arise and go toward the south.” But why? Philip had been preaching in the city of Samaria, and revival was breaking out. And now God was sending him alone into the desert?

It helps to know a little about the geography, the lay of the land. The angel was telling him to travel about eighty miles from where he was. If you were to make the trip today, you would hop in your car and be there in a little over an hour. But Philip had to walk. And let me clue you in: eighty miles is quite a hike. It would have taken days for him to reach his destination—with no 7-Elevens or McDonald’s along the way.

Note that the Lord didn’t say, “There are people waiting to hear the gospel.” He simply said, “Go to the desert.”

How easily Philip could have said, “Excuse me, but the apostles and the other believers in Jerusalem are at least thirty miles closer. Couldn’t You call one of them? I’m busy here. I’m not the only Christian around. Couldn’t You call on someone else?” Yet we don’t read of Philip saying anything like that.

Sometimes God will tell us to do things that may not make sense at the moment. But who are we to question the wisdom of God? That is why Philip was a man whom God could call on. Philip recognized that God knew exactly what He was doing.

Do you recognize that too?

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Just Throw the Net              

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He brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” —Acts 16:30

Many of us are afraid, for one simple reason, to ask someone if they would like to give their life to Jesus Christ. We’re afraid the answer will be no. And it just may be. But there are those wonderful times when someone will surprise you and say, “Tell me more” or maybe even, “I want to give my life to Jesus Christ.”

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to be reunited with my father, Oscar Laurie, the man who adopted me. My mother had divorced him when I was a young boy, and that was the last time I had seen him. Years later, when I had an opportunity to preach on the East Coast, he invited our family to stay at his house for the weekend.

After dinner one night, his wife said, “Greg, tell me about how you came to put your faith in Jesus Christ.” As I shared my testimony and what Christ had done for me, my dad sat there listening with his hands folded. I thought, He’s not buying this at all. But later that night, he asked me to go walking with him the next morning.

As we walked out into the cold morning air, he said, “I was listening to what you said last night. I want to know what I need to do to give my life to Jesus Christ.” He made a commitment to Christ that day, and he faithfully served the Lord for the remaining fifteen years of his life.

Sometimes when you share your faith, you don’t think you’re getting through. But you never know. That is why we need to simply throw out the net, so to speak. We need to give people the opportunity.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013