Category Archives: Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Ingratitude     

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Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. —Romans 1:21

A man who was nailing down a loose shingle on a roof lost his footing and began to slip. Working three stories above ground, he was terrified at the thought of falling to his death. He started shouting, “God, help me! I’m falling! Do something!” Just as he came to the edge of the roof, his belt loop caught on a nail and stopped him long enough to grab hold again.

He shouted, “It’s okay, God! I got caught on a nail.”

That is how we can be. We cry out to God. He answers our prayers. Then we say, “It’s okay, God! Everything seemed to work out.”

But do we ever stop and think that God might have worked through certain circumstances to come to our rescue? My point is, we need to put as much zeal in thanking God for what He has done as we put into pleading with God when we are in need.

I heard about a hospital chaplain who kept a record of some two thousand patients whom he had visited, all who seemed to be in a dying condition and showed signs of repentance. Among those restored to health, he felt that only two showed a marked change in their spiritual lives after their recovery. In other words, when these people thought they would die, they repented. But when they recovered, they forgot about God.

What would you think of a person who always wanted things from you but never offered a word of thanks in return? We can be that way with God, can’t we? Let’s remember to thank Him.

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

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Greg Laurie – By the Brook   

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The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. —1 Kings 17:6

When the Bible says that ravens brought Elijah food, it doesn’t mean they took his order, flew through the local fast food restaurant, and then delivered his meal. Ravens are scavengers. They brought little bits of meat and bread to Elijah. What’s more, the water in the brook from which he drank would have been somewhat polluted. It wasn’t an easy situation by any stretch.

How easily Elijah could have said, “Well, Lord, I don’t really want to be in this crummy little place, drinking river water. I kind of like being in front of people. I like the limelight.” But the Lord was preparing Elijah for something beyond his wildest dreams. Not long after this, Elijah would be standing on Mount Carmel in that great showdown with the false prophets (see 1 Kings 18:20-40).

Sometimes we don’t like where God has put us. We say, “Lord, I don’t like this situation. I don’t like where I am. I want to do something great for You. I want to make a difference in my world.” Maybe the Lord wants you to be effective right where you are. Maybe He wants you to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you and be faithful in the little things. Who knows what God has in store for you?

If God has you by some muddy little brook, so to speak, just hang in there. Be faithful, do what He has already told you, and wait on Him and on His timing. God will do something wonderful for you or with you. Just be available and open to do what He would have you to do.

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

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Greg Laurie – In Search of Ordinary People   

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People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. —1 Samuel 16:7

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Many times when we’re looking for some great superstar to come on the scene, God is developing someone in obscurity whom we haven’t ever heard of. We will say, “What if so-and-so became a Christian? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” And while we’re wondering if so-and-so ever will come around, God is grooming someone unknown to us.

Think of the time when a giant Philistine was taunting the armies of Israel. Everyone was paralyzed with fear. So whom did God select? He chose a shepherd boy who had been sent by his father to take food to his brothers on the front lines. He went out to face the giant with a few stones and a sling, and more importantly, faith in God. That was the person God used.

At another time in Israel’s history, when they were immobilized by fear because of their enemies, God found a man threshing wheat. His name was Gideon, and he was convinced that God had called up the wrong guy. But God selected him because he didn’t trust in his own ability. Gideon had to trust in God.

If you have faith in God, if you believe that God can use you, if you are willing to take a step of faith here and there, then God can do incredible things through you. One thing I have said many times over the years is that God is not looking for ability but availability. He can give you ability in time. But God is looking for someone to say, “I would like to make a difference where I am. Lord, I am available.” You just watch what God will do.

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

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Greg Laurie – Just Our Nature  

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Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. —James 1:14

We all know what it’s like to be tempted. But where does temptation come from? It does not come from God. James 1:13-14 says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” We play a key role in our own temptation.

It’s like the scorpion who wanted to cross a pond. Scorpions can’t swim, of course, so he needed a ride. He walked up to a rather unsuspecting turtle and said, “I was wondering if you might give me a lift across this little pond?”

The turtle said, “Are you joking? You will sting me, and we’ll both drown.”

The scorpion said, “My dear turtle, if I were to sting you, I would go down with you. Where would the logic be in that?”

As they made their way across the little pond, however, the scorpion pulled out his stinger and gave the turtle a mighty sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle turned to the scorpion and said, “There was no logic in stinging me. Why in the world did you do it?”

The scorpion replied, “It has nothing to do with logic. It’s just my nature.”

This is a good point. When we give in to temptation, it has nothing to do with logic. It’s just our nature. We like to say, “The Devil made me do it” or “Circumstances overwhelmed me” or “I couldn’t control myself.” But in reality, it’s just our sinful nature.

Let’s not give in to the enticement of our own desires. As the Scripture says, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14, NIV).

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

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Greg Laurie – Sowing and Reaping       

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He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. —Galatians 6:8

A successful building contractor called in one of his employees, a skilled carpenter, and told him that he was putting him in charge of the next house the company was building. He instructed the carpenter to order all of the materials and oversee the entire process from the ground up. The carpenter excitedly accepted his assignment. It was his first opportunity to actually oversee an entire building project. He studied the blueprints and checked every measurement.

Then he thought, If I’m really in charge, why can’t I cut a few corners, use less expensive materials, and put the extra money in my pocket? Who would know the difference? After we paint the place, no one would be able to tell.

The carpenter set about with his scheme. He used second-grade lumber and ordered inexpensive concrete for the foundation. He put in cheap wiring. He cut every corner he possibly could, but reported the use of higher-quality building materials.

When the home was completed, he asked his boss to come and see it. His boss looked it over and said, “This is incredible. You did a fantastic job. You have been such a good and faithful worker and have been so honest all of these years that I am showing my gratitude by giving you this house.”

We will reap what we sow. Just as we can’t plant weeds and reap flowers, we can’t sin and reap righteousness. There are reactions to our actions. Think about it: every day, we are either sowing to the Spirit or we are sowing to the flesh. What kind of seeds will you sow today?

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

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Greg Laurie – The Spiritual Battlefield    

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Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. —1 Corinthians 10:12

Someone once asked the great evangelist Charles Finney, “Do you really believe in a literal devil?”

Finney responded, “You try opposing him for a while, and you see if he’s literal or not.” If you want to find out if there is a literal devil, then start walking with Jesus Christ and seeking to be in the will of God. You will find just how real he is.

I think that many people, after they have decided to follow Christ, are surprised to find that the Christian life can be so difficult, so intense sometimes. It isn’t a life of ease, but one of conflict, warfare, and opposition. Our choice is simple: Will we be victorious? Or will we be victims on the spiritual battlefield?

It has been said that you can tell a lot about a man by who his enemies are. The same is true for us. We are no longer opposing God, but we now have a new, very powerful foe, and he is described in the Bible as the Devil. The Devil, of course, is not happy with the fact that he has lost one of his own. He is angry that you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ. Now you have become a potential threat to his kingdom as well.

The closer you stay to the Lord, the safer you are, because you stand in the work that Jesus did on the cross. Don’t try to engage the Devil in your own ability because he can chew you up and spit you out. But if you stand in the Lord and in His power and stay as close to Him as you can, then you will be safe.

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

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Greg Laurie – What’s Inside?       

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My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live. —Job 27:6

I heard the story of a pastor who boarded a bus one morning, paid his fare, and took his seat. A few minutes later, he realized that the driver had given him too much change. Some people might have put it in their pocket and said, “Lord, thank You for Your provision.” But this pastor knew that would be wrong. At the next stop, he walked to the front of the bus with the extra change and said to the driver, “Excuse me, sir, you gave me too much change, and I wanted to return it to you because obviously you made a mistake.”

The driver said, “Pastor, I didn’t make a mistake. I was at your church last night and heard you preach on honesty. I wanted to see if you practiced what you preached.”

Fortunately, he did.

People are watching you as a Christian, virtually scrutinizing your every move. You should know they aren’t hoping you will be a godly witness. They are hoping you will slip up so they will have something on which to conveniently hang their doubts and unbelief.

Humorist Will Rogers said, “So live that you wouldn’t mind selling your pet parrot to the town gossip.” That is the idea of integrity: having nothing in our lives to be ashamed of. This personal integrity is something we are developing on a daily basis with every thought we think and every action we take. We are either building up character or tearing it down.

What kind of character do you have? Who are you in private? For all practical purposes, that is the real you.

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

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Greg Laurie – Conditional Obedience

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They did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. —Jeremiah 7:24

My dog practices selective listening. When he doesn’t like what I am saying, he acts as though he doesn’t understand me. If he is in my room at bedtime and I tell him to leave, he looks at me as if to say, “What?” It’s as though his hearing is gone. On the other hand, he can be asleep behind closed doors, and if I go downstairs, open the cupboard, and pull out his leash, he suddenly has supersonic hearing. He is right there at my side. When he likes what I want him to do, my dog hears and obeys me. But when he doesn’t like what I want him to do, my dog doesn’t hear and doesn’t obey.

We can be the same with God. When God tells us to do something we like, we say, “Yes, Lord!” But when He tells us to stop doing something, we say, “God, I think you’re cutting out on me. There’s too much static. I’m not hearing you clearly.”

Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14). He didn’t say, “You are My friends if you do the things that you personally agree with.” God has told us in His Word how we are to live. It is not for us to pick and choose sections of the Bible that we like and toss the rest aside.

If God tells you to do something, He says it for good reason, and you need to obey Him. If God says not to do something, He also says it for good reason. Even if you don’t understand it, obey Him.

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

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Greg Laurie – The Master Arsonist  

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God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. —1 Thessalonians 4:3, NLT

When wildfires swept through Southern California one fall a few years ago, I noticed a photograph in the newspaper of an entire neighborhood that had been leveled by the fires. All that was left were the foundations. In the midst of all the burned, charred rubble stood one house that remained completely untouched, even by smoke. This gleaming white house stood in stark contrast to all of the ruin around it.

When asked why his house was left standing when all the others fell, the homeowner explained how he had taken great care to make his house flame-retardant. This included double-paned windows, thick stucco walls, sealed eaves, concrete tile, and abundant insulation. Firefighters said, “It made it clear to us that this would be a place to make a stand.” This man went the extra mile, and as a result, his house survived when the fires came.

Satan, a master arsonist, is causing massive devastation today. Our country is being devastated by the wildfires of immorality. It destroys homes. It devastates families. And if we aren’t careful, we could become its next victims.

The writer of Proverbs asked, “Can a man scoop a flame into his lap and not have his clothes catch on fire?” (6:27 NLT). The answer is no. Fire can burn out of control so easily.

If we as believers allow temptation to infiltrate our lives and allow our sinful natures to prevail, we could fall, as surely as a fire spreads by putting gasoline on it. But if we take practical steps to guard ourselves and to stay close to the Lord, then we don’t have to fall.

Let’s go the extra mile to protect our homes and our lives against the wildfires of immorality.

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

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Greg Laurie – Against All Odds    

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Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. —2 Chronicles 20:3–4

Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, faced a dilemma. His enemies greatly outnumbered him. To make matters worse, his enemies had joined forces with the other enemies of Israel and were coming to destroy him. One day, someone came to King Jehoshaphat and warned him that a gigantic army was headed his way, bent on his destruction. It was hopeless. There was no way that he could meet this army with what he had. He was going to be destroyed. What did Jehoshaphat do? The Bible says that he “set himself to seek the Lord.” He prayed, “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chronicles 20:12).

The Lord told Jehoshaphat, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. . . . Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).

Jehoshaphat and his army went out to meet their enemies, but they put the worship team out front. The Bible says that when they began to sing and praise the Lord, the enemy started fighting among themselves and destroyed each other.

Maybe you are facing what seems like an impossible situation right now. You may not be able to see a way out. But God can. Call on Him. Then stand still and see what He will do.

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

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Greg Laurie – Letting God Choose

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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, and 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 was 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 learning 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 often were better than what he chose for himself.

Have you ever said to the Lord, “Here is the way I think You ought to work. But not my will, but Yours, be done”?

Some might say, “I’m not saying that to God! If I say that, He will make me do something

I don’t want to.”

I believe a person who thinks that way has a warped concept of God, a misconception that

His will is always going to be something undesirable.

God may be saying no to something you have asked Him for because He wants to give you something far better than what you could ask or think. Don’t be afraid to let your Father choose for you.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – A Work in Progress             

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He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. —Ecclesiastes 3:11

I am an artist. I like to draw and design. Sometimes when I am sketching, someone will come along, look over my shoulder, and see only a certain shape or form.

“What’s it going to be?” the person asks. “Just wait.”

“I think you should do it this way. . . .”

“Just let me do it,” I say. “Why don’t you let me alone until I’m finished, and then I will gladly show it to you.”

Every artist loves to display his work. But when I am working on my art, I know it is a work in progress. When I’m done, then I am happy to show it to others.

You, too, are a work in progress. God is doing a work in your life. When it is done, He will show you. If it isn’t done yet, be patient. God sees the end from the beginning. We can’t see what it is, but God can. That is important to remember. As God told the exiled nation of Israel, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

For Israel, it meant they would be in Babylon for a while, but ultimately, God would get them out. What it means specifically for us on a day-to-day basis, time will tell. Whatever it is, it is good because God is in control of it.

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

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Greg Laurie – Prone to Wander   

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Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. —Ephesians 6:10

When he was little, my son 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 father, 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. The Devil is a powerful adversary, and we are no match for him in our own strength. We don’t want to venture out in this life in our own abilities and suffer spiritual defeat. I have a healthy respect for the Devil’s ability. For that reason, I want to stay as close to the Lord as possible. I want to be strong in Him.

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.

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

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Greg Laurie – At Every Turn     

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Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. —Ephesians 6:17

During the Korean War, a unit known as Baker Company was separated from the regiment, and enemy forces were advancing on them. For several hours, no word came from Baker Company. Finally, radio contact was made, and when asked for a report of their 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, a voice continued, “And this time, we’re not going to let them escape.”

It seems that way in the life of the believer. The Enemy is at every turn. Yet some Christians 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 in this war, they are either winning or losing.

In a battle, it’s always better to be an aggressor instead of a defender because the 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 the superior position. But if we 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. 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.

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

 

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Greg Laurie – Saved Soul, Wasted Life   

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No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 3:11

A poll was taken not long ago that asked Americans what they thought was their main purpose in life. The responses were interesting. You would think that some would maybe say, “To make a contribution to society” or “To have a meaningful life.” But what most people said was, “The main purpose of life is enjoyment and personal fulfillment.” It’s interesting to note that 50 percent of those polled identified themselves as born-again Christians.

According to the Bible, the purpose of life is not enjoyment and personal fulfillment. The Bible teaches that we are put on this earth to bring glory to God. We need to mark that well in our minds and hearts. Speaking in Isaiah 43:7, God said, “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Therefore, we are to glorify God in all that we do with our lives.

Are you using your resources and talents for His glory? Sometimes we think that God has given us this life to do with what we will. We will say, “Lord, this is mine. This is my week. Here is Your time on Sunday morning. The rest of it belongs to me.” Or, “Here is the plan for my life, Lord. Here is what I want to accomplish.” Or, “This is my money. Here is Your 10 percent, Lord. I give a waitress more, but 10 percent is all You get.”

The fact is that it’s possible to have a saved soul but a wasted life. If you were asked today, “What is the main purpose of life?” what would you say?

If you ask God that question and keep on asking Him every morning of your life, He will lead you into His purpose . . . which is the best place you could ever be.

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

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Greg Laurie – Is There a Catfish in Your Tank?

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Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. —1 John 3:13

I heard a story about some fish suppliers who were having problems shipping cod from the East Coast. By the time it reached the West, it was spoiled. They froze it, but by the time it arrived, it was mushy. So they decided to send it alive, but it arrived dead. They tried sending it alive again, but with one difference: they included a catfish in each tank. You see, catfish are the natural enemies of cod. By the time the cod arrived, they were alive and well because they had spent their trip fleeing the catfish.

Maybe God has put a catfish in your tank to keep you alive and well spiritually. It’s called persecution. Maybe there’s a person at work who always has eight hard questions for you every morning regarding spiritual things. Maybe it’s that neighbor who is giving you a hard time for your faith in Jesus. Maybe it’s a spouse or a family member who doesn’t believe. You are wondering why this is happening. It is like that catfish. That person is keeping you on your toes.

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you aren’t of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 16:19).

God will allow persecution in the life of the believer. If you’re experiencing persecution, here are two things to remember: First, persecution confirms that you are a child of God. Second, persecution causes you to cling more tightly to Jesus.

When you are suffering persecution for your faith, remember, this world isn’t your real home anyway. If you persevere with a steady, peaceful spirit, trusting in Jesus to help you, your welcome into heaven will be more glorious than you can imagine.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Returning to Our First Love

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Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works. —Revelation 2:5

When Jesus found a fatal flaw in the church at Ephesus — that they were leaving their first love — He also gave His prescription for renewal and revival. They are the three Rs of returning to our first love: remember, repent, and repeat.

First, you need to remember. This word could be translated, “Keep on remembering.” What should you remember? You should remember where you were when Jesus Christ first found you. You were separated from Him by sin and on your way to a certain judgment. But He graciously and lovingly reached out to you and forgave you. All of us were separated from God and facing judgment. The essential thing Christ did for you is the same that He did for every person.

The psalmist described it this way: “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — praise to our God” (Psalm 40:2-3). Every Christian can say this. That is what Christ did for us.

Second, you need to remember where you were at the highest point of your love for Jesus. When was that high point in your spiritual life? Was it a month ago? A year? Ten years? Or was it today? Could you say, “At this moment in my life, I believe I am as close to the Lord as I have ever been”? If you can say that, praise God. If not, remember when you were closest to the Lord, mark it in your mind, and make it your aim to return there once again.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Back to the Basics

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Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. —Revelation 2:5, NLT

I once knew a guy who was always in the best shape. I would run into him a couple of times a year, and he always made a point of reminding me that he was in much better shape than I was. He would tell me, “Feel my arm!”

“That’s hard.”

“That’s right!” he would say. But he was a stressed-out and very intense kind of guy. One day, I received the sad news that he had died of a heart attack. This guy had it all together on the outside. He was in great shape. But inside, his heart was in trouble.

You may have the greatest physique — bulging biceps and rippling abs. You may have incredible stamina and energy. But what good is all of that if you have heart disease? You might be able to flex your spiritual muscles in front of other people. You might say, “Look at my schedule! Look at all that I am doing for God. Look at what I have done. Listen to my accomplishments.” That’s good as far as it goes. But it falls short of revealing the whole picture.

When Jesus told the believers at Ephesus they had left their first love, He was getting to the heart of the matter, the root of success or failure in the Christian life. He was saying, “You are leaving this first love. You are neglecting these basic things.” That is when the Christian life becomes drudgery. That is when you start saying, “There are so many rules. There are so many restrictions. I want to live as I please. I want to be free.”

When you begin to think like this, you are leaving your first love.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Is the Honeymoon Over?

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Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. —Revelation 2:4

What is the first love that Jesus was speaking of in Revelation 2? It’s similar to the kind of love that two newlyweds experience. This is mentioned in Jeremiah 2, where God says, “I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown” (verse 2). God was saying to Israel, “I remember when we had that honeymoon type of relationship.” It was a close, intimate love.

This isn’t to say that two married people can and should have that feeling of butterflies in their stomachs forever. I remember that when I first met my wife, Cathe, I would experience a loss of appetite and would get sort of jittery around her. Today, I am more in love with Cathe than I have ever been, but I am not necessarily feeling those emotions that I felt when we first met.

In the same way, God isn’t saying that He expects us to walk around with a constant emotional buzz in our lives as a result of being His followers. But He is speaking of a love that doesn’t lose sight of the very things that brought it into being. When a husband and wife begin to take each other for granted, when their life begins to become a mere routine and the romance is dying, then you can know that marriage is in danger.

This can happen to us as believers. We can start taking God for granted. We can start taking church and our faith for granted. Sure, we’re still going through the motions, but have we left our first love?

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie –At the Right Time

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When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. —Galatians 4:4

By nature, I tend to be an impatient person. I’m one of those guys who, when the pizza comes, doesn’t wait for it to cool off. I start eating it immediately. Of course, I have burned the entire roof of my mouth that way. But I just can’t wait.

In this day and age when everything moves so fast, we don’t need to wait for much of anything anymore. How did we ever make it without microwave ovens? Yet even these seem slow to me now. At the grocery store, even if it’s necessary for me to leave a few things behind, I will try to get in the ten-items-or-less line. When I’m on the freeway, if one lane starts to move, even if it’s just slightly faster than my lane, I will move to the faster one. I don’t like to wait.

Yet the Lord tells us to be patient for His return. As we look at this world in which we live and the way our culture is changing, we may think, Lord, come on! Return! Look at the way things are going! But God has His own schedule. He won’t be late. He won’t be early. He will be right on time.

When He came the first time, it was according to His perfect plan. Galatians tells us, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son” (Galatians 4:4, NLT). I love that phrase: when the right time came. At the appointed hour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and was born in a manger in Bethlehem. And when the time is just right, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will return.