Category Archives: Greg Laurie

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Greg Laurie – Living with Purpose              

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When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. —Acts 11:23

If you were asked to complete the sentence “My purpose of life is . . .” what would you say? As Christians, I know we would quickly say, “God.” But let’s be honest and not just say what we think is the right thing to say. What really is your purpose in life?

To put it another way, where do you channel most of your energy? What do you think about the most? What is the most significant thing to you in life?

Some people, if they answered honestly, would say, “My purpose in life is to have fun.” Someone else might say, “My purpose in life is to experience pleasure.” Another might say, “My purpose in life is to be successful.” Another might say, “My purpose in life is to make money.”

The book of Acts tells us that when Barnabas came to Antioch, he exhorted the believers there “that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:23). And Paul said, “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]” (Philippians 3:10, amp). Paul knew where he was going. And if you don’t know where you are going, then you won’t know whether you get there. Paul was essentially saying, “My purpose in life is to know Him. Yes, there are other things that I do, but my primary purpose is to intimately, deeply, and personally know God.”

Is that your purpose in life right now?

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

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Greg Laurie – What Friends Are For          

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Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. —2 Timothy 2:22

One morning after one of our services at Harvest Christian Fellowship, a young woman walked up and asked if I would pray for her about a relationship she was in.

“What kind of a relationship is it?” I asked.

“It’s a relationship with a guy.”

“Let me ask you a question. Is this guy that you are in a relationship with a Christian?”

“Well,” she said, “I . . . think he is. Actually, I’m not really sure if he is or not.”

I said, “You know what? I am not going to pray that God will heal your relationship. I am going to pray that God will give you the courage to terminate the relationship. That is what needs to happen. Here you are in church, and you are struggling and having a hard time with a guy who doesn’t walk with the Lord.”

As we talked further, it was apparent that this was exactly what was happening. The relationship was dragging her down spiritually.

Many times we will pray for the Lord to fix something, and He will say, “You are in a place you don’t belong. You are hanging out with people you don’t belong with. This is bringing about many of your problems.”

In 2 Timothy 2:22 we read, “Pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (NLT). Are you enjoying the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts? Or, are you hanging around with people who are dragging you down spiritually?

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

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Greg Laurie – Standing Strong     

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Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. —1 Corinthians 16:13

There will come times in all of our lives when we will be tested in our faith. There will be times when what we believe will be challenged. There will be temptations to do the wrong thing.

We might ask ourselves, Will I be able to stand strong spiritually when this happens? That is entirely up to you. It isn’t up to God. It is up to you. God wants you to stand, but He will not force you to stand. He will give you all the resources you need. He will give you the power to resist. He will even give you a way out. But you have to cooperate. There are some things only God can do. And there are some things only you can do.

Only God can forgive sin. But only you can fall into sin. Only God can give you the power to change your life. But you need to be willing to have your life changed. You need to cooperate with Him. He is not going to force you to resist what is evil. You have to be willing to resist it on your own, then take hold of the resources that He gives you. You decide today whether or not you will fall tomorrow. The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand you make tomorrow.

When you are building a house, the most important time is not when you lay carpet or paint; it’s when you lay the foundation. If you don’t do that well, then all of your decorative additions will be for nothing. You have to get the foundation right.

Therefore, you determine today what kind of situation you will be in tomorrow.

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

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Greg Laurie – Be of Good Courage   

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The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” —Acts 23:11

Even the most committed believer has those times when fear and worry can kick in. Anxiety can overtake us. Maybe we are concerned about our future. Maybe we are discouraged or afraid. If that is the case, you might be surprised to know that even the great apostle Paul experienced emotions like this.

Paul had gone to Jerusalem, and the next thing he knew, he was locked up in a cold, damp, dark prison cell. All of this happened as a result of his bold proclamation of the gospel. Acts 23:11 tells us, “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul.’ ”

That phrase be of good cheer could be better translated “be of good courage.” Whenever we read in Scripture that an angel of the Lord appeared and said, “Fear not,” it was usually because someone was afraid. So I conclude that when the Lord himself stood by Paul and said, “Be of good courage,” the apostle needed that special word of encouragement at that particular moment.

Sometimes it seems as though God is the only one standing by us. But if everyone else had forsaken Paul, Jesus was company enough. If all the others despised him, the smile of Jesus was approval enough. Though his circumstances were less than ideal, I am sure he knew it was better to be in that jail with the Lord than to be anywhere else without Him.

Jesus is there in your prison as well, whatever and wherever that prison may be. And He knows what you are going through.

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

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Greg Laurie – Healthy Fear  

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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. —Psalm 111:10

We all know what it is like to be gripped by fear. We all know what the sensation is like to have a shiver run down our spines, our mouths go dry, and our hair stand on end.

Fear has a close buddy known as worry, and the two often work in tandem. We can get caught up playing the what-if game: What if this happens? What if that happens? In fact, modern medical research has proved that worry can actually break down our resistance to disease—and even shorten our lives. Charles Mayo, founder of the famed Mayo Clinic, said that while he never knew anyone who died of overwork, he knew many who died of worry.

Far too often we are afraid of the wrong things in life, but we aren’t afraid of the right things—or perhaps I should say the right One. We don’t fear God. Yet the Bible tells us the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

But what does that mean? First, let me tell you what it doesn’t mean. To fear God doesn’t mean cowering in terror before Him. Rather, the fear of God has been properly defined as a wholesome dread of displeasing Him. So if I have sinned, it is not the fear of what God will do to me but the fear of what I have done to Him. That is what it is to fear the Lord.

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear Him, you fear nothing else. On the other hand, if you don’t fear God, then you fear everything else.

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

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Greg Laurie – Characterized by Joy   

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The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.—Romans 14:17

Today if you were to sum up your life, what truths would you want to emphasize to your family and friends? What regrets would you have?

In Acts 20, we find the final words of Paul to the elders of the church he had started in Ephesus. Here in this chapter, he was delivering his final charge to them. As he looked back on his life, he said, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (verse 24).

There is one word from this verse I want to bring to your attention: joy. Paul was saying, “I am looking back on my life and on what I have done here. One word seems to sum it up well: joy” This word could be translated to say “exceedingly happy.” This was a man who had a firsthand experience of suffering, hardship, and adversity. But in the midst of it all, he also experienced the joy of Christ bubbling up within him like an artesian well.

The fact of the matter is that the happy life is the holy life—the life that is lived for God. Joy is an operative word in the life of the Christian. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). And Jesus not only promises us life beyond the grave, but a dimension of life on this earth that is worth living.

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

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Greg Laurie – Excited Expectancy    

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Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. —James 5:7

The early rains in Israel usually would come in late October or early November. The farmer would anxiously await these because they would soften the hard-baked soil for plowing. The latter rains would come in late April or May. These were essential to the maturing of the crops. If the farmer were to rush out and harvest his crops before their time, he would destroy them. So he had to wait.

As today’s opening verse demonstrates, James knew that patience also was an important factor in awaiting the Lord’s return. No crop appears overnight. Like farmers, we need to be patient and recognize that it takes time for growth to happen in our lives. However, the word patience does not speak of a passive resignation but of an expectant waiting for the Lord. This is not a casual, nonchalant approach. Rather, it is an excited expectancy, a readiness.

Some believers don’t live this way. They just passively bide their time. But the Bible tells us we should be actively preparing as we await the return of Christ: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand” (Romans 13:11-12).

Let’s be sure we are living in a holy manner—and with expectant optimism and joy—as we patiently wait for Christ’s return.

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

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Greg Laurie – Divinely Redirected       

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The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:7

God sometimes will use different ways to show us when we are out of His will. One is by giving us His peace when we are in His will and removing it when we are outside of it. The Bible tells us, “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15 NLT). Another translation says, “And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state]” (AMP).

Umpires aren’t always the most popular people at baseball games because not everyone agrees with the calls they make. The umpire is there to say, “Safe!” and “Out!” The peace of God can act as a spiritual umpire. Perhaps you can think of certain situations, such as a party you went to, a relationship you were involved in, or a place you were going, and suddenly there was a lack of peace, almost like spiritual agitation deep inside. That might have been God saying no.

Another way the Lord sometimes directs us is by closing a door. By that I mean, there are situations in our lives when circumstances just don’t work. Maybe you set out on a big trip, only to get three flat tires. You were trying to do a certain thing when something went wrong, rendering your plan impossible.

Sometimes God can even redirect us through sickness. It has stopped me on a few occasions. However it is that the Lord may direct you, remember that it may be in a different way than you wanted to go. But God has His will. And God has His timing.

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

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Greg Laurie – Heavenly Dispatches        

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When they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. —Acts 16:6

I find it somewhat comforting that at times in his life, even the great apostle Paul could be moving in the wrong direction to the point that the Lord had to redirect him. After his first missionary journey, Paul was concerned for the churches that were left behind in the area known as Asia Minor. He wanted to revisit them and check on their progress. But there was one small problem: God had a different plan. Paul made every attempt to go to Asia Minor, but he was forbidden by the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been determined to do a certain thing? Maybe you were determined to undertake a certain project or marry a certain person or pursue a certain career, but God redirected you.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wake up every morning with a little heavenly dispatch at our door with the itinerary for the day? Wouldn’t it be great if He could just map out our entire day, telling us what challenges we would face so we could be prepared and ready and know everything that was about to happen?

But the Lord has never led me in such a way. I have never received a heavenly dispatch. Rather, I have found that divine guidance often comes as a result of taking steps of faith. And God not only has His will, but He also has His timing for each and every situation. The Bible tells us, “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Therefore, we want to make sure we are in the will of God and are moving according to the timing of God.

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

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Greg Laurie – All for His Glory      

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Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. —1 Corinthians 10:31

One of my all-time favorite movies is Chariots of Fire, the story of Eric Liddell, a heroic, committed Christian from Scotland who competed in the 1924 Paris Olympiad, winning a gold and bronze medal in the 400-meter and 200-meter races, respectively.

During one scene in the movie, Eric’s sister Jenny, also a committed Christian, was upset that her brother was competing. She thought he was wasting his time and reminded Eric that God made him for Himself.

Eric told her, “Jenny, you’ve got to understand. I believe that God made me for a purpose — for China. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” As the story unfolds, he glorifies God because of the stand that he makes at the Olympics.

Whatever we do, we should seek to glorify God, whether it is academics, sports, business, or something else. We should do it in such a way as to bring glory to the God who made us. As 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

You can serve God and glorify Him in whatever He has called you to do. Everyone has abilities that have been given to him or her by God. So you can glorify Him as a construction worker. You can glorify Him in the medical field. You can glorify Him in professional sports. You can glorify Him in graphic design. Whatever it is that you do, you can bring glory to Him.

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

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Greg Laurie – Our Great Physician           

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When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” —Mark 2:17

It’s worth noting that every person Jesus had conversations or contact with was in a different situation, and He dealt with each one differently. This is because He recognized that even though we all share many of the same problems and basic needs, every man, woman, and child is a unique individual, with unique needs.

In His encounters with people, Jesus was like a physician. He basically said, “I want to let you know that I didn’t come to bring the righteous to repentance, but I came to bring sinners because those who are whole don’t need a physician.”

I think the hard thing about being a doctor must be seeing people, for the most part, only when they are sick! They usually don’t have their patients stop by and say, “Hey, Doc, I’m feeling good, and I just wanted to tell you that. Want to go to lunch?” You don’t usually call your doctor when you’re feeling at the top of your game. You call when you are feeling sick, and your doctor will have you come in to his or her office, examine you, and apply the specific remedy to the area of need.

Jesus is the Great Physician. He came to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, give sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. He already has determined your precise areas of need, whatever they may be, and He will minister to you as an individual.

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

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Greg Laurie – Free from Fear

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You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. —Psalm 91:5–6

History tells of a courageous Christian who was standing before one of the Roman emperors who was persecuting the church. The emperor was demanding that Christians abandon their faith, deny the Lord, and declare Caesar as Lord. But this Christian refused. So the emperor threatened, “Give up Christ, or I will banish you.”

The Christian said, “You can’t banish me from Christ, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ ”

The emperor said, “I will confiscate all your property.”

The believer replied, “My treasures are laid up in heaven. You can’t touch them.” The emperor said, “I will kill you.”

The Christian said, “I have been dead to the world in Christ for forty years. My life is hid with Christ in God. You can’t touch it.”

The emperor then turned to the rest of his court and said, “What can you do with such a fanatic?”

That so-called fanatic knew something about God’s protection. And that is something we all should know about in these frightening times in which we are living. There are so many things we can be afraid of, from getting on a plane to becoming a victim of violent crime to being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.

It is great to know that God promises, “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you” (Psalm 91:7). It isn’t over until it’s over. Until that time, we can go out with boldness, knowing that God is in control of our lives.

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

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Greg Laurie – The Secret Place    

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He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. —Psalm 91:1

When you were a child, did you ever have a hiding place — a place you would run to when you were afraid or wanted to be alone? God wants to be your hiding place. The good news is that you can retreat to this hiding place wherever you are. When you are tied up in bumper-to-bumper traffic, you can retreat there. When you are having a conflict at work and don’t know what to say or how to deal with it, you can immediately retreat into that secret place of the Most High as you live in fellowship and communion with God.

It is not only dwelling there, but it is living under the shadow of the Almighty. Have you ever tried to walk in someone’s shadow? It can be done, but you have to stay really close. That is exactly the picture here in Psalm 91:1. God is saying, “I want you to be so close that you are actually in My very shadow.” If you do that, it will give you the courage to face life.

Remember the story of the great prophet Elijah, who boldly stormed into the court of wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and declared that it would not rain, except at his word? Where did he get the courage to pull off something like that? Though Elijah was in the court of powerful monarchs, he recognized that at the same time, he was in the presence of an even more powerful Monarch. He was dwelling in the secret place of the Most High.

If you kneel before God, you can stand before any man. Are you walking in this fellowship with Him?

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

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Greg Laurie – While We Wait   

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I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. —John 9:4

As we look at how dark our culture is today, we wonder if we can ever really make a difference. It seems so overwhelming. It seems as though darkness is spreading and light is receding. It is like the time Isaiah described when he said, “What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).

To illustrate that very point, I could cite movies that are popular right now. We celebrate that which the Bible says is wrong and offensive to God, and we laugh at that which the Bible holds forth as standards we should live by. The good news is that the same Holy Spirit who set the early church in motion can use us if we are willing.

It’s interesting to note that in the first century, the question on the disciples’ minds was, “Is the end of the world near?” That same question is on the minds of many today. What Jesus essentially said to His disciples was, “This isn’t the time for that. My purpose is to rule and reign in the hearts of people. Don’t be so concerned about when I am going to do that. Rather, be concerned about what you should be doing while you wait.”

The same principle holds true for us. Don’t worry about when. He will return when the time is right. What we should be committing ourselves to, what we should be interested in, is what we are supposed to be doing as we await the Lord’s return.

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

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Greg Laurie – All Things       

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It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. —Psalm 119:71

Did you know that everything you have experienced up to this point in your life can be used for good? That isn’t to say you haven’t experienced hardship. That isn’t to say bad things haven’t happened to you. But it is to say that God can work them out for good.

That includes the experiences of your childhood, whether good or bad. That includes your parents, whoever they may be. That includes your education, your present employment, or your lack of it. He will work all things together for good.

I went through hardship as a kid. I came from a home that was broken many, many times over, a home of alcoholism. I wouldn’t wish my childhood on anyone. But God used it to make me the person that I am.

In the same way, God has used what you have gone through to make you the person that you are. So let it be worked together for good, and accept God’s promise to you: “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). The phrase work together also could be translated “working together.” In other words, it isn’t over yet!

Maybe you are going through a process right now in which God is working things together for good. You don’t see it yet. But you are a work in progress. Be patient. You have God’s word on it: He will work all things together for good to those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose. God is ultimately working all things for good — not just the good things, but all things.

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

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Greg Laurie – God’s Word on It  

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We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. —Romans 8:28

Without a doubt, Romans 8:28 is one of the greatest verses in the Bible. It is one that is claimed quite often by believers, especially during times of hardship. And so it should be.

But let’s make sure we meet the criteria of the text: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (emphasis added). Do you love God? Are you the called according to His purpose? Romans 8:28 does not apply to you if this isn’t true of you.

There are times in our lives when things seem to be falling apart, when they don’t make any sense. Some people will say, “It is the fickle finger of fate.” Or, “Que sera, sera. Whatever will be will be. The future’s not ours to see.”

True, the future is not ours to see. But the Christian can be confident that God is in control and has a master plan for his or her life. We can know that we serve a sovereign God who is good. As I have often said, we may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.

The word used here for good does not necessarily mean that the event in and of itself is good, but that its long-term effect will be useful and helpful. It is hard for us to imagine certain things working for good. The Bible isn’t saying tragedy is good. Rather, it is saying that God can take a horrible thing and make good come as a result of it.

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

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Greg Laurie – God’s Safety Net  

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All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.—Romans 3:23

Visitors to San Francisco can’t help but be amazed at that architectural wonder called the Golden Gate Bridge. During its initial phases of construction, a number of workers lost their grip and fell to their deaths in the San Francisco Bay. Needless to say, this slowed down the construction process quite dramatically. The builders were trying to think of a way to remedy this, so they did something that had never been done before. A giant net was installed under the construction area. The workers knew that if they did fall, the net would catch them. It wouldn’t be a pleasant experience, but they would live to tell about it. The result was they could work without the fear of dying. They were able to move quickly and finish the project.

Did you know that God has put a safety net under you? By that I mean, when you slip, when you fall, when you make a mistake, it doesn’t mean that your name has been blotted out of the Book of Life and that you are now persona non grata with God. Because He came into your heart, forgave you, and committed Himself to you, He now protects you, sealed you, and justified you as a result of that commitment.

The fact is that we as Christians will sin and fall short. The Scriptures, as well as our own experiences in life, tell us this is true. According to 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” This is not an excuse for ungodly living. Nor is it a license for sin. It is a simple acknowledgement of reality.

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

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Greg Laurie – The Ultimate Family Reunion

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I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. —1 Thessalonians 4:13

Have you ever had a significant reunion with a member of your family? Maybe it was someone you thought you would never see again or someone you had been separated from for many years.

But then again, maybe there is someone who was taken from you quickly and unexpectedly. There are things you wish you had said to that person, regrets that you now have. There is something to learn from that. If there is anyone in your life you need to say something to, say it now while you can. Tell that person you love him or her. Let that person know what he or she means to you. Do something to communicate with them because you never know when their time may come. Then again, you never know when your time may come, either.

The good news is there will be a family reunion for every child of God, a day when we will see those believers who have died and are in heaven.

When his young child died, David said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). That is the hope of every Christian. Our friends and loved ones can’t come to us, but we will go to them someday.

You can join them one day in the great reunion when the Lord comes for His church, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17: “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

It will be the ultimate family reunion.

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

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Greg Laurie – More Like God       

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The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” —Exodus 34:6–7

An unforgiving Christian is a contradiction in terms, an oxymoron. To say you are a follower of Jesus Christ and yet harbor unforgiveness in your heart is simply wrong.

Jesus touched on the issue of forgiveness time after time. It was a theme of so many of His parables, it was part of His prayers, and He hammered on this issue again and again in the private talks He had with His disciples.

You are never more like God than when you forgive. Alexander Pope wrote, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” We reflect the nature of God in such a dramatic way when we are willing to forgive. If you really want to be like the Lord, then you need to be a forgiving person because He is a forgiving God.

Exodus 34 gives us this description of God, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (verses 6-7). Therefore, if we want to be like Him, we should do the same.

Jesus taught us to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12), but He also taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (verse 10). What is going on in heaven? The worship of God, the exaltation of Christ, and the granting of forgiveness. Therefore, we should be worshiping God. We should be exalting Jesus Christ. And we should be forgiving one another.

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

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Greg Laurie – Set a Prisoner Free   

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As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. —Genesis 50:20

The word oops is not in God’s vocabulary.

Isn’t that great to know? God is in control. We, on the other hand, can’t control everything that happens in our lives, even though we try. But there is one thing we can do, and that is forgive. We can forgive those who have wronged us. We can forgive those who have taken advantage of us. We can for-give those who have slandered us and made fun of us. We can forgive those who have betrayed us.

You may think they don’t deserve it. But remember, you have been forgiven. Therefore, you should be forgiving. Of course, you aren’t going to feel like it at times. You may see him or her and feel your blood begin to boil. That is when you need to say, “As an act of faith, as a step of obedience to Jesus Christ, I forgive this person.”

I has been said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” You should not only forgive to help that person, but you also need to forgive for your own mental and spiritual health. Just let it go. Put it into the hands of God and determine not to be tormented by it one day longer.

Is there someone you need to forgive today? Are you harboring a grudge toward someone? Forgive. Forgive whoever it is that has hurt you. As Ephesians 4:32 tells us, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

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