Category Archives: Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – What Is Happiness?

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Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord. —Psalm 144:15

A distraught, miserable man was looking for help and sought the counsel of a liberal minister. Looking at the unhappy condition of the man, the minister said, “Just forget about those things. Why don’t you go see that famous comedian who’s appearing at a local comedy club? I hear that he’s keeping everyone in stitches. Go listen to him, and you’ll forget how miserable you feel.”

After a moment of silence, the man said, “I am that comedian.”

What is happiness? I think the world’s version of it is quite different than the Bible’s version. The happiness of this world depends on circumstances. If you are in good health, the bills are paid, and things are going well, then according to the world’s philosophy, you are happy. But if someone cuts you off on the freeway, or if something else goes wrong, then suddenly you are unhappy. Your happiness hinges on what is happening at a given moment.

The Bible gives us a completely different view of this thing called happiness. According to Scripture, true happiness is never something that should be sought directly; it always results from seeking something else. When we are trying to be happy, when we are trying to be fulfilled, we rarely are. But when we forget about those things and get back to the very purpose for which God put us on earth, suddenly we find the wonderful byproduct of happiness popping up in our lives.

When we seek holiness, we will find happiness. When we seek righteousness, we will become happy people because our will is aligned with the will of God as we walk in harmony with Him. The rest of life will then find the proper balance.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Strength in Numbers

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Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. —Matthew 18:19–20

No question about it, when Christians get together and pray, things will happen. It is good to join forces with other believers. But let’s not misunderstand. It doesn’t mean that if two Christians agree to pray together that God will give them a Learjet, God will answer their prayers. What Jesus was saying is that if two people get their wills in alignment with the will of God, agree together in that area, and keep praying about it, then they will see results.

That is why we need to pray with our Christian friends. That is why we need to call up people and say, “Let’s pray about this together.” That is why Christians need to be involved in church. If you want to grow spiritually, then you must be a part of a congregation of believers. It isn’t optional. You need to become part of a group of believers, build friendships with them, and become a productive part of that body. If you aren’t involved in a church on a regular basis, then I would venture to say you that you are probably floundering spiritually.

Just as you must eat, drink, and breathe to live, you must read the Bible, pray, and be involved in a church to stay spiritually alive and vital. You never will outgrow these things. You will need them until your final day on this earth. And if you neglect these things, I guarantee that you will have a spiritual breakdown.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Waiting for Answers

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He said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.” —Daniel 10:12

An interesting story in the Old Testament book of Daniel offers us a rare, behind-the scenes look at what happens when we pray. The Bible tells us that Daniel was praying and that his prayer reached heaven. God heard Daniel’s prayer and dispatched an angel with a special message for Daniel. But the angel who was sent from heaven was held up for twenty-one days because he was engaged in spiritual warfare with a powerful demon spirit. As a result, God dispatched Michael the archangel. (You might say that Michael is a head honcho among angels.) Michael was sent, who overruled the demon power, and the answer eventually was brought to Daniel. But it took twenty-one days for the answer to get there.

Sometimes when God doesn’t answer our prayers as quickly as we would like Him to, we think that He is letting us down. We need to understand that delays aren’t necessarily denials.

When we pray and don’t see an answer as quickly as we would like, it may be a result of circumstances that we can’t see. There might even be a spiritual battle raging behind the scenes. Maybe you’ve been praying for someone to come to know the Lord. Maybe you’ve been asking God to heal you. Perhaps you’ve been asking the Lord to open doors of opportunity for you to serve Him. Don’t give up. Don’t be discouraged. Keep praying. Jesus said to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, and the door would be opened. So be persistent. And watch what God will do.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Just Pray

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I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. —1 Timothy 1:8

Three ministers were debating the best posture for prayer. One claimed the best way to pray is to always have your hands pressed together and pointing upward. The second insisted the best way to pray is on your knees, while the third was convinced the best way to pray is stretched out on the floor, flat on your face.

As they were debating, a repairman from the telephone company overheard their conversation while he was working in the next room. He walked in and said, “Excuse me, gentlemen. I don’t mean to interrupt, and I am certainly no theologian. But I have found that the most powerful prayer I have ever prayed was when I was dangling upside down from a power pole, suspended forty feet above the ground.”

When we look at instances of prayer in the Bible, we discover that any posture will do. People prayed while standing, lifting their hands, sitting, lying down, kneeling, lifting their eyes, bowing, and pounding their chest.

We also see that any place will do. People prayed during battle, in a cave, in a closet, in a garden, on a mountainside, by a river, in the sea, in the street, in a home, in bed, in prison, in the wilderness, and in the belly of a great fish. So any place will do.

Last, we find that any time will do. People prayed early in the morning, in the mid-morning, in the evening, three times a day, before meals, after meals, at bedtime, and at midnight. Both day and night are good times for prayer. Isn’t that great to know? You can pray anytime, anyplace, and in any posture. So just pray.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Great Thing About Prayer

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Never stop praying. —1 Thessalonians 5:17

I clearly remember when I was a new Christian and first began to pray. I had never prayed in my life. I wasn’t aware that I could know God in such a way as to call on Him and listen to Him. I also remember the first time I prayed with a group of other Christians. I was so nervous. With every word, I was convinced I was bombing in my prayer. My heart was pounding and my throat was dry.

Sometimes we think we don’t know how to pray properly because we’re not sure how to phrase certain things. We wonder if we should use some special kind of language or pray in a certain posture. But these aren’t the main issues at all. Far from it! The most important thing is our hearts. The great thing about prayer is that God looks primarily at our hearts. Even if our prayers aren’t perfectly structured, even if they aren’t eloquent, if they come from a heart that is directed toward God, then they are pleasing to Him.

God keeps up with all the latest terminology, so don’t worry about that. He knows what you are saying. He knows what you are thinking. The main thing is to start praying. Just start where you are and speak to God straight from your heart.

Luke 18:1 tells us that Jesus told his disciples a story “to show that they should always pray and never give up” (NLT). So spend time in prayer. You can pray at home. You can pray while you’re stuck in traffic.

We read in the Bible that people of all ages from different walks of life prayed every day, always, in any posture, and under all circumstances. God can hear prayer at any time in any place.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Ask for Help

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Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. —Luke 11:10

The Bible tells the story of Simon Peter, who was out walking on the water with Jesus. When the impossibility of the situation began to dawn on him, however, his faith faltered. He cried out, “Lord, save me!”

How easily Jesus could have said, “Where is your faith, Peter? You made your bed; now lie on it. Try swimming.” But the Bible says, “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him” (Matthew 14:31). Immediately. I like that.

When you begin to sink and cry out, “Lord, save me!” He will immediately reach out. But you must cry out for His help. That is hard for some of us to do.

As a kid, I spent a lot of time at the beach. When I was out bodysurfing one day, a big set of waves started coming in. So, I did what I was supposed to do: I swam toward the waves and went under them. When I looked up, there was another set. I swam under those too. One set after another came. The people on the beach were looking like little ants. Suddenly, I felt exhausted — with no strength left and nothing to hold onto. In that moment, I knew I was in trouble.

I realized I had two choices. I could cry, “Help!” and the lifeguard would come running with his life preserver. When we got to shore, my friends would laugh, and I would never live it down. Or, I could drown with dignity.

I cried out! A lot of us don’t want to admit our need. We don’t want to cry out to God. We want to maintain our dignity. But every day of my life, I need the best God has to offer. And you do too.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Bring Your Flowers Now!

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She will always be remembered for this deed. The story of what she has done will be told throughout the whole world, wherever the Good News is preached. —Matthew 26:13

My granddaughter Stella loves to pick flowers. She will come to me and, with a smile on her beautiful face, will say, “These are for you, Papa!” It always warms my heart. There is a story in the Bible of a woman named Mary who understood what Jesus meant when He said He was going to die. Though it somehow did not seem to penetrate the minds of His own handpicked disciples who had spent their every waking hour with Him for three years, Mary understood.

One night, Jesus and His friends were gathered at the house of Simon in Bethany. She listened as the Lord quietly spoke to the audience gathered. But with the intuition inherent in women, she saw and heard something else. She saw the lines etching His face and read aright the problems reflected in His eyes. An inner sense told her that the disciples were wrong in expecting a kingdom. The Master meant what He had said and said what He meant: He literally was going to Jerusalem to be crucified.

She couldn’t begin to grasp something so terrible but accepted it because He said it. She had to do something. She would not wait to give some floral tribute at His funeral. She would bring her flowers now! She would give the very best she possibly could.

So Mary took some very expensive perfume that was probably a family heirloom and poured it on the head of Jesus. Some were angry at her and criticized her for such a waste, as the street value of such a perfume was around $25,000. But in Mary’s mind, nothing was too good for Jesus, and she wanted to show her love to Him.

Jesus was impressed and even commended her for it. He said “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Matthew 26:13). Nothing is ever wasted if it is given with a right heart for God’s glory.

That’s a good thing to remember about people you love — people who have impacted you as a Christian. Don’t wait until their funeral to say it. Say it now. Bring your flowers now.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – An Appointment with God

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The Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” —Genesis 3:9

In addition to walking in harmony with God, Amos 3:3 provides another nuance of meaning. It also gives the idea of keeping an appointment. Did you know that you have an appointment with God? You do. It is there, written in eternity. In fact, God wants to meet with you on a regular basis.

I wonder just how many times each day that God wants to speak to us, but He can’t get a word in edgewise. The Lord might say, “I have wanted to talk to you for a long time, but you are too busy. This morning I wanted to talk to you, but you didn’t have any time for Me. You read the newspapers and watched TV and talked on the phone. You never opened the Word. You never prayed. At lunch I tried to say something, but your prayer was so fast. Later I tried to talk with you. You have been so busy. You have an appointment with Me. Why don’t you keep it?”

Remember how Adam had an appointment with God every day in the Garden of Eden? He would hear the voice of the Lord in the Garden in the cool of the evening. One day Adam missed that appointment because of sin. God said to Adam, “Where are you?”

I wonder if the Lord would say that to some of us each day: “Where are you? Where were you? I have been looking for you. I wanted to speak to you. I want you to walk with Me, and I want to walk with you.”

Just imagine, the Creator of the universe wants to spend time with you! Is there any appointment that is worth keeping more than this one?

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Going His Way?

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Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? —Amos 3:3

I have a German shepherd that was a former guide dog for the blind. Because he had slight hip dysplasia, he was put up for adoption. When we got him, he was perfectly trained. We could take him anywhere. He was happy to sit next to us. Another dog would walk by and he couldn’t care less.

Then I got a hold of him. I would unleash him and let him run around in the park. Day by day he started getting worse. The next thing you know, he was lunging at dogs and taking off after cats and rabbits and squirrels.

I called the people we got him from and asked what went wrong. They told me I couldn’t let him do all that “dog stuff.” I couldn’t let him stop and sniff where he wanted to sniff. I couldn’t let him chase rabbits. They gave me a little muzzlelike device to put on him. Gaining control of his muzzle meant he would obey, because it would hurt to pull away. When I took the device off him, he was in sync with me again.

We can be like that with God sometimes. We are running around and being crazy, doing what we want to do. So the Lord has to pull us back into line because He wants us to walk with Him.

To walk with God means that I must get into harmony with Him. I must go the direction that God wants me to go.

How about you? Are you walking with God today? Or are you pulling against Him, trying to do things your own way? If so, then it’s time to stop, ask God’s forgiveness, and get in sync with Him once again.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Dealing with Distraction

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I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. —1 Corinthians 9:26

In first-century track competitions, each runner would be assigned to a lane on the track. Each was expected to stay in his assigned lane. In the same way, as you and I run the race of life, our competition is not with other believers. Rather, our competition is with our enemies, who are the world, the flesh, and the Devil. The goal is not to outrun someone else. The goal is to outrun those wicked influences that could bring us down.

You might justify your slow pace by pointing to other people still running behind you. True. But there are probably some people ahead of you too. You aren’t to concern yourself with who is behind you or who is ahead of you. You are to run the race before you. God has not called you to run someone else’s race. We are each called to run our own race.

An incident from the life of Peter illustrates this truth. After Peter had been restored to the Lord following His denial, Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Then the Lord proceeded to tell Peter how his life would end. As they were talking, Peter noticed another disciple, John, was walking behind them. Peter asked, “What about him, Lord?” (John 21:21, NLT).

Jesus said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, you follow me” (verse 22, NLT). A loose paraphrase would be, “Peter, My plans for John are none of your business. You just do what I’ve told you to do.”

I ask you today, are you just offering a half-hearted effort in the race of life? Or are you running the race to win?

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – In Focus

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Let us run with endurance . . . keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. —Hebrews 12:1 –2

When I was in high school, I went out for track and field. I was a fairly decent short-distance runner, but I was horrible at long-distance runs. What’s more, I hated to practice. But if I happened to see a pretty girl in the grandstands, I found new motivation for running my best.

As we run this race of life, we have a better motivation than I had in high school. We run for an audience of one: Jesus Christ. He is watching us. He is praying for us. In fact, the Bible tells us that He lives forever to intercede for us (see Hebrews 7:25, NLT).

This is what gave young Stephen courage when he stood before his accusers who were ready to put him to death. Full of the Holy Spirit, he was given a glimpse of Jesus in heaven and said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”(Acts 7:56 NLT). Seeing Jesus gave Stephen the ability to run the race and finish it.

Seeing Jesus also gave Simon Peter the ability to walk on water. As he kept the Lord in sight, He did the impossible.

It’s so important for us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Why? Because circumstances will disappoint and, at times, devastate us. People will let us down and will fall short of our expectations. Feelings will come and go. But Jesus always will be there to cheer us on.

He has run before you, He is the ultimate winner, and He will show you how to run. But you have to keep looking to Him.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – A Wing or a Weight?

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Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. —Hebrews 12:1

I heard about a great concert violinist who was asked about the secret to her great performances. She answered, “Planned neglect. Anything that would keep me from practicing and playing well must be neglected.”

I think that some of us could use some planned neglect in our lives because there is a lot more junk in them than we may realize. If you don’t believe me, then try moving from one house to another. Isn’t it amazing how much junk you have collected? The same is true in our lives. We take on things we don’t need. Periodically, we needed to jettison this excess weight and let it go.

When the race of life gets difficult, we like to blame circumstances, other people, or sometimes even God. But we need to remember that if we stumble or fall, it’s our own fault. The Bible says that God, by His divine power, “has given us everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3 NLT).

The Bible also tells us to lay aside the weight and the sin that hinders our progress (see Hebrews 12:1). Notice the distinction: we aren’t just to lay aside the sin; we also are to lay aside the weight. Earlier in this book, I suggested asking yourself this question: Is this preoccupation or activity in my life a wing or a weight? In other words, does it speed me on my way in this race I am running? Or is it a weight — something that slows me down?

David had the right idea when he prayed, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV).

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie –Shaped by Suffering

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That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —2 Corinthians 12:10

On a recent visit to North Carolina, I drove through a town named Mocksville. I should have been born there. Prior to becoming a Christian, I always loved to mock other people. So when I became a follower of Jesus, I was shocked to discover that I was the one being mocked. People were laughing at me because of my faith in Christ.

This is what happened to Paul, but in a far more intense way. Right after his conversion, he started preaching the gospel in Damascus. But he was so powerful and persuasive that the religious leaders wanted him dead.

The Christians found out and devised a plan to help Paul escape. They put him into a basket and lowered it over the city wall at night. Think of the irony! Just a short time before, he was Saul of Tarsus, the notorious persecutor of Christians. But then the hunter became the hunted. He was getting a taste of his own medicine.

His name change from Saul to Paul offers insight into the real transformation that took place. The first king of Israel was named Saul. In contrast, Paul means “little.” It would be like deliberately changing your name from Spike to Squirt. Obviously, God had changed Paul into a man of humility.

Sometimes we want God to take certain things out of our lives that cause us pain. We pray again and again for those things to be removed. But do we ever stop to think that God is using those things in our lives to transform us and make us more like Him?

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Part of the Family

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As we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. —Romans 12:4–5

Sometimes people treat churches like restaurants — with a consumer mentality. I want to go to this restaurant. Oh, we went there two weeks ago. Let’s go to this other one. . . . But the church is not a restaurant. The church is a family, and you need to be a part of the family.

You also need to engage. Maybe one of the reasons some people feel as though they aren’t getting enough out of church is because they attend intermittently and don’t commit themselves. But if they would settle in and become a part of what God is doing, it would change for them.

If you have been attending a church for more than a couple of years, then you ought to be involved in a ministry of some kind. You may not be called to preach, but there are lots of other things to do. There is something for everyone. The Bible tells us, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:5-6).

It’s fine to come and be served in the church. But there has to come a point when you start growing up and decide to start serving. And then you will find that everything changes for you.

So let’s stop thinking of the church as them and start thinking of the church as us. Be a part of the family. Take the gifts that God has given you, develop them, and use them for His glory. I suggest that church would completely change for us if we stop coming as spectators and instead join the team.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – A Change of Direction

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We must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies. —2 Corinthians 5:10

One morning as Alfred Nobel was reading the newspaper, he was shocked to find his name listed in the obituary column. It was a mistake, but nonetheless, there it was. He was stunned to see that he was primarily remembered as the man who invented dynamite. At that time in history, dynamite was used in great effect for warfare. It distressed Nobel to think that all he would be known for was inventing dynamite, something that was used to take the lives of others.

As a result of reading this mistaken obituary, Nobel decided to change the course of his life. He committed himself to world peace and established what we know today as the Nobel Peace Prize. When the name Alfred Nobel is mentioned today, dynamite is rarely the first thing that comes to mind. Rather, we think of the prize that bears his name. It’s all because Alfred Nobel decided to change the course his life was taking.

Another man, living centuries before, also changed the negative course his life was taking. His name was Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. Known as a relentless persecutor of the early church, he was determined to stop the spread of Christianity. But after a dramatic conversion on the Damascus Road, Paul devoted the rest of his life to preaching the gospel and building the church. Today we remember him as a missionary, church planter, and author of thirteen New Testament epistles.

If you were to somehow attend your own funeral and hang around during the time when people came to the microphone, what do you think they would say? For what would you be remembered? It isn’t too late to change your direction.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Little Messes

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He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.'” —Luke 19:45–46

My wife Cathe and I are polar opposites when it comes to cleaning. My approach could be summed up by the procrastinator’s motto: Never do today what you could put off until tomorrow. Cathe’s approach is to constantly clean and organize so that over time, little messes don’t become big ones. Obviously, her approach is the better one.

In Luke 19 we find the story of Jesus’ cleaning the house of God as He went into the temple and drove out the moneychangers. These temple merchants were taking advantage of people and keeping them from God, and this angered Jesus.

This is the second time in Scripture when Jesus cleansed the temple. In the gospel of John, we read that He used a whip to drive out the moneychangers. Little messes turn into big messes, so Jesus arrived to clean house again.

I believe there is a parallel to our own lives. When we come to Christ initially, we ask for His forgiveness and He pardons us of all our iniquities. In fact, we are told in 2 Corinthians

5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” What a wonderful thing it is to realize that God has forgiven us of all our sin.

But as a little time passes, sometimes some of those old sins can find their way back into our lives. And that so-called “little” sin begins to grow and becomes a problem.

Does your temple need cleansing? Are there some things in your life that shouldn’t be there right now? Are there some vices, some bad habits that have found their way back into your life? If so, deal with them now.

Don’t let little messes turn into big ones.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Call for Backup

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My brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. —Ephesians 6:10

Just as police officers call for backup when they sense that danger may be imminent, the first thing we must realize about spiritual battle is that in our own strength, we are no match for the Devil. I think a healthy respect of our adversary is in order for believers today. We don’t want to underestimate him, nor do we want to overestimate him. We want to accurately assess who he is and what his abilities are. We need to recognize that he is powerful, and we don’t want to take him on in our own strength.

When I hear some preachers on television or the radio calling the Devil silly little names, laughing at him, or making jokes about him, I remember what Jude 9 says: “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the Devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ ” Even the highranking archangel Michael didn’t dare to mock or condemn the Devil. He simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” There was a respect for the enemy.

The reason we need to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” is because Satan wants to remove us from that very resource! Why? Because it is our power base. He wants to separate us from God because the moment he gets us away from Him, we are open prey. For this reason, the Devil wants to put a wedge between God and us.

The only power that can effectively drive out Satan is the power of Jesus Christ. Be strong in the Lord. Stay close to Him. Don’t let anything come between you and God.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Through the Storm

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That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” —Mark 4:35

In the gospel of Mark, we find an interesting story in which Jesus invited the disciples, some of whom were seasoned fishermen, to join Him on a little boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. But on the way over, they encountered a sudden, violent storm.

Now the question would arise, did Jesus know that a storm was coming? The answer is yes. In fact, you might even say that it was a part of His curriculum that day. It was all part of teaching the disciples to believe what they claimed to believe.

We don’t want to make light of what these disciples were experiencing, because I’m sure this was a very harsh storm and a terrifying experience. Several on board had seen many storms on the Sea of Galilee, so it had to have been a most unusual storm for the disciples to be so gripped by fear. According to Mark’s gospel, the waves were breaking over the boat and filling it with water. The disciples were very afraid, but they didn’t have to be.

Before they left, Jesus had made a significant statement they apparently had forgotten about: “Let us go over to the other side.” And when God says, “Let us go over to the other side,” it means you will get to the other side. He didn’t say it would be smooth sailing. He didn’t say it would be an easy trip. But He did say, “Let us go over to the other side.”

Often we are gripped by fear and cease to think logically when we forget God’s Word to us. That is exactly what happened to the disciples. But Jesus was on board with them, and He was there to see them through.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – An Invitation to Rest

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The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. —Revelation 22:17

One December I was on my way to New York and had a connection through Chicago. It was very cold outside, and as I was walking through the airport terminal, I noticed a large advertisement. It featured a sunny, tropical beach with beautiful turquoise-blue water, white sand, and an empty beach chair. That picture was so alluring and so appealing because of where I was at that particular moment.

I think that photograph represented something all of us really want: rest, relaxation, and time off. Jesus has something to say to the person who is exhausted and worn out. He has something to say to people who have been chewed up and spit out by life — people who are frustrated, who are hurting. Here is His personal offer of rest to those who will respond: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT).

This passage gives us the Christian life in a nutshell. Here we see what it is to come to, to know, and to walk with Jesus Christ. This invitation stands today, but it won’t stay that way forever. What is the invitation? Jesus says, “Come to Me.”

That’s it? Yes, that’s it.

It’s so simple, yet so profound. And we see this same invitation echoed throughout Scripture. It all begins with coming to God . . . approaching Him . . . seeking Him . . . opening our hearts to Him. Never doubt it. He will respond.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Good in Guilt

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Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. —Romans 3:23–24

When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes stories, wanted to play a practical joke on twelve of his friends, he sent a note to each of them that simply read, “Flee at once. All is discovered.” Within twenty-four hours, all twelve friends had left the country. That’s what you call a guilty conscience.

If you ask me, I think we could use a little more guilt in our society. Guilt does serve a purpose. What good can possibly come from guilt? The same good that comes from that warning system in our bodies called pain. If you step on a piece of glass, your body sends a warning signal: “Stop! Don’t go any further!” In the same way, God has installed a warning system called guilt into our souls, and we experience it when we do something wrong. Just as pain tells us there is a physical problem that must be dealt with or the body will suffer, guilt tells us something is wrong spiritually and needs to be confronted and cleansed.

So you see, guilt isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The guilt feeling we experience is the symptom of the real problem, which is sin. All of the psychological counseling in the world can’t relieve a person of his or her guilt. We can pretend it is not there or try to find someone else to blame for our problems. But the only real and effective way to remove our guilt is to get to the root of the problem, which is sin.