And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 

—2 Timothy 4:8

Scripture:

2 Timothy 4:8 

It isn’t enough to start well in the race of life; we need to finish well. It isn’t enough to run fast; we need to run fast and long. This is a long-distance run, and the goal is to make it across the finish line.

As the apostle Paul neared the end of his race, he wrote to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT).

The Bible is filled with the stories of so many who had tremendous potential but crashed and burned in the spiritual race.

There was King Saul, who had incredible potential, yet he disobeyed God repeatedly. He allowed pride into his life, which gave way to the paranoia and jealousy that ultimately consumed him. He essentially wrote his own epitaph when he said, “I have been a fool and very, very wrong” (1 Samuel 26:21 NLT).

Then there was Samson, with his incredible ability to vanquish his enemies. On one occasion, he killed a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. Yet he went down in flames. Because he played around with sin, sin ultimately played around with him, culminating in his own death.

Gideon had such humble beginnings, yet God mightily used him to conquer his enemies. But as his life came to an end, he lowered his standards and fell into immorality and pride.

These people started well, but they didn’t finish well. They ran fast in the beginning, but they didn’t get across the finish line as they should have.

Paul wanted to be in the company of those who finished the race, men like Caleb and Joshua in the Old Testament who finished well.

Hebrews 12 tells us, “Therefore, 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. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (verses 1–2 NLT).

We’re running this race not for applause, not for notoriety, but for the Lord. We run this race so that we can hear Jesus say to us on that final day, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Looking to Jesus keeps us going, because we can get discouraged. People can let us down. They can disappoint us. That’s why we must keep our eyes on Jesus Christ.

In the ancient Greek games, a judge would stand at the finish line holding laurel leaves, the reward given to the victor in plain sight. As runners came around the last stretch, tired and exhausted, they could see the prize awaiting the winner. And no doubt a new burst of energy kicked in.

This is a long-distance run. So keep running. If you’ve been slowing down, it’s time to speed up. It’s time to move forward, because you are leaving a legacy.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 

—2 Corinthians 5:1

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:1 

When you’re getting ready to go somewhere, your destination determines your outlook. For instance, if you’re going on vacation to Hawaii, you can hardly wait to get there. But if you’re going to the dentist, you’re dreading it.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “The time of my death is near” (2 Timothy 4:6 NLT). Or, as the New King James Version renders it, “The time of my departure is at hand.”

Earlier Paul had written to the believers in Philippi, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. . . . I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live” (Philippians 1:21, 23–24 NLT).

Paul knew where he was going. He knew that he was going to Heaven. Granted, Paul had a marked advantage: he had already died, gone to Heaven, and returned to Earth. He wrote about the experience in 2 Corinthians 12, where he said he was “caught up to the third heaven” (verse 2) and saw things that were indescribable.

Many commentators believe this probably happened after Paul preached the gospel in Antioch. The Bible tells us, “They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe” (Acts 14:19–20 NLT).

We can imagine Paul in Heaven before His Lord, before the One who had called him on the road to Damascus, before the One who had pardoned him of every sin. But then Paul came back, and ever since, he was homesick for Heaven.

This reminds us that Heaven is not a place of unconscious oblivion; it’s a place of conscious existence. Death held no terror for the apostle Paul. He understood that it meant going and being with Christ. It was a beginning, not an ending. It was a promotion.

The word “departure” used by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:6 (NKJV) comes from an interesting Greek term that also could describe breaking camp.

After a few days of camping, most people are ready to break camp, go home, and enjoy the luxuries of a hot shower and clean clothes. They’re happy to break camp.

When death comes, the tent called the body is laid aside as the spirit moves into a more permanent residence. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5, “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands” (verse 1 NLT).

Does that sound depressing to you? Getting ready to break camp is good news if you’ve put your faith in Jesus Christ. It means that you’re going to a far better place. It means that you’re going to Heaven.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 

—2 Timothy 4:7

Scripture:

2 Timothy 4:7 

One day, we will give our final words. We may be aware they’re our last words, but then again, we may not have that luxury.

In 2 Timothy 4, the apostle Paul wrote his final words. His turbulent life was coming to an end, and he had truly made a difference.

An amazing series of events led to his being in the dungeon where he wrote his epistle to Timothy. It began when Paul wanted to go to Jerusalem and preach there. But a prophet named Agabus took the belt Paul had been wearing, wrapped it around his own arms and legs, and said, “So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles” (Acts 21:11 NLT).

When the believers heard this, they pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem. But Paul told them, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus” (verse 13 NLT).

Jim Elliot was a twentieth-century martyr who died in his endeavor to take the gospel to the Waorani tribe of Ecuador. Years earlier he wrote in his journal, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

In the same way, Paul gave his life completely to the Lord. He didn’t fear what others could do to him. Writing to the church in Corinth, he said, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NLT).

Paul went to Jerusalem and preached there, and sure enough, an angry mob wanted to kill him. The Romans arrested Paul and later transferred him to the Roman governor Felix.

Now, Paul could have talked his way out of this mess. Instead, the Bible tells us that Paul spoke to Felix about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. Then he challenged Felix to come to Christ. However, Felix procrastinated.

Ultimately Paul used his rights and privileges as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar. But on the way to Rome, a severe storm arose, and Paul and the others found themselves shipwrecked on an island. Even so, Paul’s time had not yet come.

This serves as a reminder that until God is done with us, nothing will stop us. It doesn’t mean that we should test God and do foolish things or unnecessarily risk our lives. But if we seek to stay in God’s will, then we don’t have to worry.

We all will leave a legacy. What will people remember about us? What will our family members say? What will we be known for? If you don’t like the course your life has taken, then it isn’t too late to change it.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. 

—Proverbs 27:6

Scripture:

Proverbs 27:6 

One trait of friendship with people and with God is that true friends will tell each other the truth. That’s a mark of friendship.

When you’re uncomfortable with someone, when you don’t know them that well, you don’t really want to say what you’re thinking. Maybe you just bought a new outfit that you’re not sure about. So, you say to your friend, “Hey, what do you think?”

Someone who doesn’t really care about you will say, “It looks great! Now let’s go!”

But a true friend will say, “Honestly, you look like a fool. You need to return that.”

The Bible says, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6 NLT).

An enemy will flatter you and tell you to your face that you’re great and that everything is wonderful. But behind your back, the same person will cut you down.

As Oscar Wilde said, “A true friend always stabs you in the front.”

True friends will say, “Because I love you, because I care about you, I must share this with you. I think you’re making a mistake. I don’t think you should do this.” Because your friends care about you, they will tell you the truth.

That is why we want to look for godly friends. You cannot control your environment at all times. You cannot always control who your neighbors will be or who your coworkers will be. But you can decide who your friends will be.

We must give serious consideration to the people we spend our free time with, the people we bare our hearts to. It’s important to look for others who love God and will encourage us spiritually.

The apostle Paul warned, “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT). You will be influenced by the people you hang around. And they will be influenced by you.

Paul also wrote, “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 NLT).

Look for friends who love the Lord. Look for people who will encourage you in your commitment to Christ. And if you’re presently engaged in a friendship, or even worse, in a romantic entanglement, that is dragging you down spiritually and is detrimental to your walk with God, then it’s time to sever it.

Look for people who will encourage you in the things of the Lord. And be a person who will encourage others in the things of the Lord as well.

Sadly, people will disappoint. People will let us down. But we have a friend who never will betray our confidence. We have a friend to whom we can bare our secrets and who also will declare His secrets to us. We have the ultimate friend in Jesus Christ.

Yes, He wants to be your God. Yes, He wants to be your Savior and Lord. But don’t forget that He also wants to be your friend.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

—John 3:16

Scripture:

John 3:16 

The story is told of a very wealthy man who shared a passion for art collecting with his son. Priceless works of art adorned the walls of their family estate. Then one day the young man left to serve his country. After a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His son had been killed in battle.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming holidays with sadness. The joy of the season had vanished with the death of his son. But on Christmas morning, a knock at the door awakened him. A soldier was standing at his door with a large package in his hands. He said, “I was a friend of your son’s. I was the one he was rescuing when he died.”

Then the soldier gave the father the package. It was a portrait of his son, which the soldier had painted. Though art critics never would have considered it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the father hung his son’s portrait over his fireplace, setting aside millions of dollars’ worth of art.

He spent that Christmas sitting in his chair, gazing at the priceless gift he had received. It became his most valued possession, eclipsing his interest in any other art in his collection. Six months later, the father died, and the art community waited with anticipation for the estate’s upcoming auction. Then it was announced that all the art would be auctioned on Christmas Day.

Collectors from around the world gathered to bid on the spectacular paintings. But the auction began with a painting that wasn’t on anyone’s list: the soldier’s portrait of the estate owner’s son. When the auctioneer asked for an opening bid, the room fell silent.

Then someone said, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s move on.”

The auctioneer replied, “We’ll have to sell this one first. Who will take the son?”

Finally, the man’s neighbor offered $50. “It’s all I have,” he said. “But I knew the boy, and I loved him. I would like to have it.”

The auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice, gone.”

Cheers filled the room, and then someone called out, “Now we can bid on the real treasures!”

But then the auctioneer made an announcement: the sale was over.

Everyone was stunned. “What do you mean it’s over?” someone asked. “We’re here to buy millions of dollars’ worth of art! What’s going on?”

“It’s very simple,” the auctioneer said. “According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son gets it all.”

The same is true this Christmas. Because of the Father’s love, whoever takes the Son gets it all. God demonstrated His love by giving us the most important gift of all: the gift of His Son.

That is why Jesus came. He came to give us life, to die for our sins, and to heal our broken hearts. He gives us hope beyond the grave and a purpose for life here on Earth.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. 

—John 1:14

Scripture:

John 1:14 

When we revisit the Christmas story, the problem is that we can become so familiar with it that we become indifferent toward it. In time, new things become old things. And Christmas can become an old story for us.

But let’s not miss the entire point of Christmas.

The story doesn’t really start in Bethlehem; it starts long before, in another time and place. The time was eternity, and the place was Heaven. Before there was a planet called Earth, before there were Adam and Eve who ate forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and brought the curse of sin upon humanity, a decision was made in Heaven.

The decision was that God would have to become a man and die on our behalf.

John 1:14 says, “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” (NLT). And Revelation 13:8 describes Him as “the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made” (NLT).

God had His own timetable. Galatians 4:4–5 tells us, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (NLT).

That is what we celebrate at Christmas: that God sent His Son to this earth. Jesus was God in human form, Immanuel. It’s a magnificent story. From a literary standpoint alone, these words touch us deeply. But this is more than just great literature. This is the truth about how God came to Earth.

Specifically, Jesus came to a little village called Bethlehem. The Scriptures foretold His birth, saying, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf” (Micah 5:2 NLT).

Because Joseph and Mary were of the lineage of King David, they went back to David’s boyhood home. God moved human events to accomplish His purposes. He moved Caesar Augustus to declare a census, which brought Joseph and Mary from their hometown of Nazareth to the village of Bethlehem.

Things also were in place around the globe. At this point historically, all the nations of the world had been united under one system of imperial government. Rome had bludgeoned the world into submission, vanquishing its enemies.

With the absence of conflict, people concentrated on literature, philosophy, art, and religion. They were probing and searching. It was as though something was in the air—and it was. The time was just right. God was sending His Son.

Jesus came to bring us the meaning and purpose of life. In fact, He said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Medical science seeks to add years to our lives, but only Jesus Christ can add life to our years.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! 

—2 Corinthians 9:15

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 9:15 

Something that people often overlook when they think about the birth of Jesus is that the beautiful Child born in Bethlehem and placed in a manger was born to die. It’s hard for us to think about the fact that those soft baby hands would one day grow into the hands of a strong Man with spikes driven through them.

It’s hard for us to think about the fact that the little feet of the baby Jesus would one day be nailed to a cross of wood, and the little forehead of the Babe in the manger, so loved by His mother, would one day be crowned with thorns.

But know this: He came with a purpose. He didn’t come to this earth simply to show us how to live a good life and give us the greatest teachings that humanity has ever heard. Nor did He come merely to perform miracles and show us the truth about life. Jesus Christ did that and more. Yet He was born in Bethlehem with the express purpose of going to a cross and dying.

From the moment He arrived on Planet Earth, Jesus Christ lived in the shadow of the cross. He was born to die so that we might live.

The wise men had insight into His purpose when they brought the unusual gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They gave Him gold because the Child would be a King. They gave Him frankincense because they recognized that He would be our High Priest representing us to God. And they brought Him myrrh, which is used for embalming.

They recognized the King, the High Priest, would die for our sins. And He would give us the ultimate gift, which the Bible calls a “gift too wonderful for words” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT). Or, as the New King James Version renders it, “His indescribable gift.”

Have you ever received an indescribable gift? Probably not. You might be able to describe an unusual gift, or perhaps you saw it somewhere before. But this gift from God is indescribable. It is inexpressible. And it is eternal.

Let’s say that someone hands you a beautifully wrapped box and says, “Merry Christmas!” So, you reach out and take the gift, and then they say, “That will be $29.95.”

That isn’t a gift. That’s a sale.

However, God has offered us a gift, no strings attached. Although it is free to us, it was bought with the blood of Christ. It’s the gift of eternal life.

So, what do we need to do? We need to reach out and take the gift, receive it, enjoy it, and use it. God is offering us the forgiveness of all our sin. Don’t miss that. God is offering us the removal of our guilt.

If you’ve never asked Christ to come into your life, if you’ve never asked Him to forgive your sins, if you’ve tried to find fulfillment in things, relationships, or even in Christmas itself and always come up short, then it’s time to come to the God whom Christmas is all about.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 

—Matthew 2:9

Scripture:

Matthew 2:9 

As the years go by, it’s interesting to see what Christmas gifts have fallen in and out of fashion. For instance, the hottest gift of 1975 was the Sony Betamax. It recorded television programs and came with a whopping price tag of $2,300.

Another popular, less-expensive gift from the same year was the mood ring. It changed colors according to whatever mood you were in. And believe it or not, it was one of the hottest gifts of that time.

Also hitting the market in 1975 was the pet rock, which simply was a rock in a box. But it was one of the biggest gifts of the year, and 1.3 million of them were sold.

For Christmas in 1983, people stood in line for hours for the Cabbage Patch Kids doll. They were almost impossible to get.

The Bible tells us about gifts that mysterious messengers from the East brought to Jesus. They were called Magi, and in keeping with their office, they were schooled in astrology, astronomy, and mathematics.

Although the Magi brought three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—the Bible doesn’t say there were three wise men. And calling them the kings of the East isn’t accurate, either, as they were more like kingmakers, those who would influence the king.

They made the journey from the East and arrived in Jerusalem. There they had an audience with King Herod, and they inquired about this King of the Jews. And then they made their way to Bethlehem, following the star and looking for a newborn King.

They understood what their objective was. They realized what was more important than anything else—that it was a time for worship. And God invaded their world.

There is only one God who is worthy of our worship, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ whom we celebrate at Christmas. Whatever world you live in, whatever lifestyle you have chosen, and whatever belief system you have, Jesus Christ can invade it.

The Magi, or so-called wise men, were into astrology. They looked to the stars to chart their course and guide them into the future. So, God came to them in a way that they could understand: through a star that guided them out of the darkness and into the light.

They made their way to where the child Jesus was, and they brought their gifts to Him. This serves as a reminder that wherever we are and whomever we know, no one is beyond the reach of God.

Maybe you have children that you’ve raised in the way of the Lord, but they’ve grown up and have gone astray. Maybe you won’t even see them this Christmas. Or maybe you will, but you know there will be tension. You wonder how and when God will ever get hold of them. But know this: God always has His people in every place to reach the lost, no matter their background or what they believe.

God reached the Magi and brought them to faith. And He can reach your family, your children, and your friends as well.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 

—Matthew 2:10

Scripture:

Matthew 2:10 

Who were the wise men? In the original language, the term that Matthew used for wise men comes from the Greek word magi. Our English words magic and magicians have their roots in this word. Thus, the wise men who came searching for Jesus were into astronomy, astrology, and occult practices, including sorcery.

In the Medo-Persian and Babylonian Empires, so-called wise men were summoned during times of emergency. The king would call in the various occult experts who could supposedly interpret what was happening. This was the position that these men held.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they would have been the equivalent foreign dignitaries. They were men of great importance and highly educated.

However, the Bible doesn’t tell us there were three wise men or that they rode camels. It doesn’t even give us their names. What we do know is they were not present at the birth of Christ, because by this time, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary were in a house—not a stable.

Matthew 2:11 says, “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (NLT).

This event happened one to two years after the birth of Christ. There may have been six wise men, or there may have been nine. It doesn’t really matter. But they came and worshiped, and they brought their gifts to Jesus.

It seems strange that at this moment, these men seemed to have more spiritual insight than the religious leaders who had dedicated themselves to the Scriptures. Though the wise men were into occultism and astrology, it appears that deep down inside, they wanted to know the truth.

Therefore, God came to them in a way that they could understand. They were into stars, so God brought them a star that would lead them to the truth.

God clearly was not condoning astrology, occultism, and the rest of it, because Scripture clearly condemns these. But God came to them where they were and brought them to the truth. They left what they were doing and came to the true and living God.

Isn’t it wonderful how God reaches out to each of us as individuals? He manages to reach hardened gang members in their lives of violence and show them their need for Christ. But He also reaches successful business leaders and shows them their need for the Lord. And He reaches young children and shows them their need for Jesus too. He comes to each of us on an individual basis in a way that we can understand, and He unfolds His truth to us.

Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT).

If someone really wants to know God, they will find their way to Jesus. And if people don’t find their way to Jesus, do they really want to know God? God will reveal Himself to true seekers.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel. 

—Matthew 2:6

Scripture:

Matthew 26 

They were the theological experts of their day, the guardians of spiritual truth in Israel. Yet the religious leaders wouldn’t even bother to walk a few miles to Bethlehem to see whether the Messiah had indeed been born.

When King Herod heard from the wise men about a “newborn king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2 NLT), he summoned the chief priests and scribes and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem in Judea, . . . for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel’ ” (verses 5–6 NLT).

They knew the answer. In fact, from the text it almost appears as though they knew it right away. So why weren’t they looking for the Messiah in Bethlehem? They could have gone from Jerusalem to Bethlehem in a relatively short period of time.

Doesn’t it seem a little unusual that foreign dignitaries arrived from the East, claiming to have seen a star that led them to that very area, and the One they were seeking was called the “king of the Jews?”

Certainly that must have piqued the religious leaders’ curiosity and caused them to wonder. Yet they didn’t do anything. They simply told King Herod that Bethlehem was where the Messiah would be born.

At least Herod feared Jesus’ authority. But what about these men? They knew better. They knew the Scriptures, yet they did nothing in response. These men were indifferent and too busy with themselves to be concerned about Jesus.

In fact, when Jesus began His public ministry, the religious leaders were His principal adversaries. For all practical purposes, they were responsible for the execution of Jesus Christ. He was a threat to their religious world.

They sent Jesus to Pilate out of envy. They envied His authority. They resented the fact that people loved Him and hung on His every word. And they were jealous that He seemed to have a relationship with God that they lacked.

Jesus addressed this later, telling them, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me’ ” (Mark 7:6 NLT).

They were looking for a different kind of a Messiah. They were looking for someone who would support their religious system and their chosen way of living, someone who would cater to their whims and conform to their wishes.

There are a lot of people like this today. They want Jesus, but they want Him on their terms. They want the kind of Jesus whom they can control, the kind of Jesus who won’t challenge them.

The religious leaders knew God’s Word. Yet they did nothing to meet the living Savior. Don’t miss Christmas like these religious leaders did. Religion and ritual kept them from Jesus.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him 

—Matthew 2:2

Scripture:

Matthew 22 

History tells us that King Herod was a paranoid tyrant. Because of his paranoia, he had his wife and three sons executed because he thought they were trying to steal his throne. He also gave the order that the most distinguished citizens of Israel were to be arrested on the day of his death to guarantee there would be mourning in the nation upon his death.

Interestingly, Herod also liked to refer to himself as the king of the Jews. So when wise men arrived from the East and were asking about a child who had been born king of the Jews, it was the wrong thing to say to a man like Herod. The Bible tells us, “King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:3 NLT).

The word “disturbed” used here means “agitated,” “stirred up,” or “shaken up.” Herod was the king. He was the man in control. And whenever Herod was stressed out, everyone else was stressed out too.

By bitter experience, the people knew that if Herod sensed a potential coup or a threat to his power, he would start having people killed. Thus, he tried to have the so-called king of the Jews put to death. Matthew tells us that Herod “sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance” (verse 16 NLT).

There are a lot of people like Herod today. They won’t allow anyone or anything to interfere with their career, their lifestyle, their plans, or their ambitions. They don’t mind taking time off to commemorate the birth of Jesus, but that is the extent of it.

Jesus is all right, as long as He stays in the manger as a baby. But they don’t like the idea of Jesus dying on a cross for them and rising from the dead. They don’t like the idea of Jesus saying they need turn from their sins and put their faith in Him. Like Herod, they see Jesus as a threat.

A lot of people are okay with God—if He stays out of their lives. They want God assisting them, someone to call in case of an emergency. But that is the extent of their faith. They wrongly believe they make their own luck, are the captains of their own ships, and the masters of their own destinies.

The reality is they are none of those things. A nonbeliever, according to the Bible, is under the control of someone else, and that someone is known as Satan (see 2 Timothy 2:25–26).

Eventually we must start thinking for ourselves. We must recognize that nothing this world has to offer us will fill the void in our lives that was created to be filled by God Himself. No experience, no possession, and no accomplishment will fill it. Not even religion or morality will fill it. What we need is Jesus.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 

—Romans 12:1

Scripture:

Romans 12:1 

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, how inappropriate it would be for us to come to Him empty-handed. But what do we give to God? What does God want from us?

What He wants is us. That is the gift we can give to God as we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can give Him ourselves.

Writing to the Christians in Rome, Paul said, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” (Romans 12:1 NLT).

The Message renders the same verse this way: “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.”

Bring your life to God. Bring your time to God and your future to God.

Maybe this is a tough Christmas for you. What will be a joyful time for many others might be a very difficult time for you. Yet as followers of Jesus Christ, here’s what we need to remember: We don’t give thanks to the Lord because we always feel good. Rather, we “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).

God is good. A Savior has been born. And He already has given us the ultimate gift. So, we should come along with the shepherds and wise men and worship.

Everyone worships. The question is, who or what are we worshipping? If we’re bowing at the altar of Christmas, then we’ll be sorely disappointed, because Christmas cannot deliver on its promises. There’s the hype and the buildup and the anticipation. But Christmas can’t deliver. It can’t bring us inner peace, much less peace on Earth. It can’t bring fulfillment and joy. Christmas always will let us down.

At its worst, Christmas is a crass, commercial, empty, exhausting, and very expensive ritual that drags on endlessly for months. And then the bills come due.

At its best, Christmas is a promise of things to come. It’s a glimpse of what is still in our future. The beauty, the worshipful music, the love, the warmth, the gathering of family and friends—all this is promised to us in a life to come. Yes, we get a glimpse of it now. But more is coming later.

What we need this year is not the promise of Christmas. We need the promise of Christ. We need the Messiah, not merriment. We need God, not goodwill. We need His presence, not just presents. Anything or anyone else will fall short of this.

If you worship a god of your own making, then it will disappoint you. But if you worship the true and living God, He never will.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” 

—Luke 9:58

Scripture:

Luke 9:58 

The reception that the world gave Mary and Joseph before Christ was born is typical of the reception it gave Jesus when He was here on this earth. Jesus Himself said, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head” (Luke 9:58 NLT).

We’ve romanticized the story of Jesus’ birth in our Nativity scenes, with Mary, Joseph, and the baby in a stable full of adoring animals. Meanwhile, the shepherds and wise men look on as a bright star shines in the distance and angels fly overhead.

But the reality is that the birth of Jesus was cold, unsanitary, and difficult. He was wrapped not in satin but in cheap rags. That doesn’t diminish the story. Rather, it enhances it to show the humiliation that Christ went through to enter this world of ours.

It symbolizes His entire life on Earth from the cradle to the cross. Jesus could have been born in the most elegant mansion on the ritziest boulevard in the Roman Empire. He could have had aristocratic parents. He could have had the finest clothes from the most exclusive shops. And He could have had legions of angels at His beck and call.

But He did not. Instead, He laid it all aside.

Think about it: Jesus was born in a cave. He borrowed food to feed a crowd. He borrowed a coin to illustrate a truth. And He rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey and celebrated Passover in a borrowed room. He even died on a borrowed cross that was meant for another: Barabbas. Then He was laid in a borrowed tomb that belonged to Joseph of Arimathea.

C.H. Spurgeon said that Jesus was “infinite, and an infant—eternal, and yet born of a woman . . . supporting the universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.”

Philippians 2:6–7 points out, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being” (NLT).

He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. Jesus Christ was deity in diapers.

Jesus was God in Heaven. Then He was God as an embryo, God as a baby, God as a man, God on the cross, and God rising again. He never ceased to be God. But He did lay aside some of the privileges of deity.

Philippians goes on to say, “When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (2:7–8 NLT).

Jesus humbled Himself and walked this earth and breathed our air and lived our life. And then He died our death. We have a God in Heaven who understands what it’s like to walk through this life. He literally felt our pain. And He went through all of this for us.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 

—Galatians 4:4–5

Scripture:

Galatians 4:4-5 

The birth of Jesus Christ divided human time. Rome had established control over much of the world at this point. The Pax Romana, a period of peace during the Roman Empire, was a time of brutal peace. The Romans cared most about two things: submission to Rome and a steady flow of wealth into Roman coffers.

But with the absence of war, many people were rediscovering art, literature, and philosophy, and they were asking questions. They were talking about human destiny and the meaning of life.

“When the right time came,” the Bible says, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4–5 NLT).

Caesar Augustus thought he was a powerful man, and he was, but he also was a pawn in the hand of God Almighty. That’s because history is His story. Thus, God moved Augustus to accomplish His purposes, reminding us that God is in control. He is sovereign over all nations and over all people.

The Bible says, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases” (Proverbs 21:1 NLT). God can move the heart of a king, queen, prime minister, president, senator, congressman, or CEO. God will accomplish His purposes.

Augustus thought that by ordering a census, he would have greater control over the world. But in the end, all he did was run an errand for God.

The Lord needed Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem because Scripture prophesied, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf” (Micah 5:2 NLT).

Joseph and Mary made the ninety-mile journey to Bethlehem for the census that Augustus decreed. We like to imagine scenes of Joseph and Mary silhouetted against a full moon on such a beautiful night. But the reality is that it was a very difficult and dangerous journey, especially for a woman in the ninth month of her pregnancy.

You would have hoped the hardships would have ended when they finally arrived in Bethlehem. But the Bible says, “There was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 NKJV). This doesn’t vilify the innkeeper (if there was indeed an innkeeper); it simply presents him for who he was: a man who was preoccupied and busy. You would have thought he could have found it in his heart to make room for a woman who was ready to give birth at any moment. But he sent Joseph and Mary to a barn, or more likely a cave, where the Savior of the world was born.

There are people today who are just like this innkeeper. They don’t have any time in their lives for God. But we had better make room for Him. As the Christmas hymn “Joy to the World” reminds us, “Let every heart prepare Him room.” Make time for Him today.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 

—Philippians 1:6

Scripture:

Philippians 1:6 

If you were involved in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, would you be tempted to brag about it a little? Mary easily could have gone to her friends and said, “Hey, have you checked out Isaiah 7:14 lately? You know, the part where it says, ‘The virgin will conceive a child’? Well, you’re looking at her!”

Mary, however, didn’t do anything of the kind. She was amazed, even flabbergasted, that God had chosen her to be the one to bear the Messiah.

But then she had a question, which was a logical one considering the circumstances: “But how can this happen? I am a virgin” (Luke 1:34 NLT).

Now, Mary was not doubting or questioning the angel Gabriel. This had more to do with methodology. And Gabriel answered her because it was a legitimate question. He said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God” (verse 35 NLT).

In the same way, sometimes we look at what God asks of us and wonder how we can possibly accomplish it. We think, “How can I live a godly life in this culture?” Or “How can I, as a single person, be sexually pure and wait for the right person that God will bring to me?” Or “How can I, as a married person, remain faithful to my spouse, honest in my work, and uncompromised in my principles?”

The answer that Gabriel gave to Mary applies to us as well: “For with God nothing will be impossible” (verse 37 NKJV).

God will complete the work He has begun in our lives.

The angel promised that the Holy Spirit would come upon Mary, and the Holy Spirit comes upon us as well. God will give us the power to do what He has called us to do.

Although Mary didn’t fully understand, she was obedient to God’s will for her life. In essence she said, “It’s a done deal, Lord.” She didn’t ask for a detailed explanation. She simply said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (verse 38 nlt).

Often we want to know God’s will before we submit to it. But if we want to know God’s will for our lives, we first need to surrender ourselves to Him. As Alan Redpath said, “The condition of an enlightened mind is a surrendered heart.”

The apostle Paul wrote, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” (Romans 12:1 NLT).

We want to know the perfect will of God. But God is saying, “Submit yourself to Me, and I will tell you. First, give yourself over to Me.” Mary did that. She submitted her will to God.

Have you surrendered your heart to Jesus Christ?

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 

—1 Corinthians 1:27

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:27 

There are a lot of misperceptions about Mary. On one hand, people place her on a pedestal. And on the other hand, she is ignored and misunderstood. But Mary was a godly person living in a godless place.

And she showed us that it’s possible for someone to live a godly life even while living in the midst of an ungodly environment. Mary lived in Nazareth, which, for the most part, was not a popular destination.

God could have chosen someone from Rome to bear the Messiah. After all, Rome was ruling most of the world at that time. God could have chosen someone from Jerusalem, the spiritual capital of the world. Or, God could have chosen someone from Athens, the intellectual and cultural capital of the world.

But God didn’t choose someone from any of these places. Instead, He chose a young woman who was living in Nazareth.

Roman soldiers overran Nazareth, an obscure place known for its wickedness. That is why Nathanael, when he heard that Jesus was from Nazareth, said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46 NLT).

Yet God chose Mary and this obscure place to accomplish His purpose. He chose an unknown teenager living in an unknown place to bring about the most known event in human history: the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It seems that God goes out of His way to choose the most unexpected people to accomplish His plans. The Bible is filled with examples of the most ordinary individuals being chosen by God to do the most extraordinary things.

Mary was genuinely humble. She was surprised when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, . . . for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David” (Luke 1:30–32 NLT).

When we think of certain men and women of the Bible, we see them in their greatness because of what God did. But remember, when God called David, he was a shepherd boy whose father didn’t even acknowledge him. Yet God instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint David as the next king of Israel.

When God chose Gideon, he was hiding from his enemies. And when God called Simon Peter, he was out catching fish. But the Lord raised him up to be one of the great apostles. And God chose Mary to bring about the arrival of the Messiah.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful” (1 Corinthians 1:26–27 NLT).

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 

—Luke 1:11

Scripture:

Luke 11:1 

C.S. Lewis said, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”

We live by time. God is outside of time. This doesn’t mean that God isn’t aware of time, because He is completely aware of every minute and second of our lives and everything that happens in them.

But He lives in the eternal realm. God’s interpretation of time is quite different from ours. He has His timing. And there are times in life when it appears as though God is late, that He is somehow disengaged and not paying attention.

Sometimes as we look at the way things are, we wonder whether God is aware of what the world is like. Why has Christ not come back? The implication is that God is somehow off schedule.

However, the Bible says of Christ’s return, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT).

Jesus Christ will come back to this earth at the appointed time that God has determined.

When Jesus came to Earth the first time, the people of Israel were tired of waiting. They felt it was time for the Messiah to arrive. These were difficult and dark days in Israel’s history. They were under the control of Rome and the tyrannical rule of the puppet king known as Herod. The fact is that 6 BC was a lousy time to live in Judea.

The people hadn’t heard from God for 400 years. Not a single prophet had said, “Thus saith the Lord. . . .” There hadn’t been any miracles or angelic appearances. Instead, there was a stony silence from Heaven.

The people were probing, searching, and wondering when things would change.

But there was a sense that something was in the air, that something was about to break. And indeed, it was. The moment was coming for the Messiah to arrive.

It all began with the aged priest Zechariah, who was in the temple bringing sacrifices on behalf of the people. The angel Gabriel appeared with the announcement that he would be the father of John the Baptist the forerunner of Jesus.

It was a day like any other day when the supernatural invaded the natural. It was the day that God chose to reveal to Zechariah that he was going to be the father of the forerunner of the Messiah. Zechariah was praying, and God heard him and answered his prayer.

The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT). No matter what you’re facing, no matter what kind of challenges you’re going through, you need to pray.

There may be things that we go through in life that don’t make sense. But one day we will know. Until then, we must trust God and surrender ourselves to Him.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

—Isaiah 9:6

Scripture:

Isaiah 9:6 

In Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet famously asked, “What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell just as sweet.”

That may be true for flowers. But for people, names make a difference.

In the Bible, names mean something. Parents often named their children in honor of events that took place at the time of their birth. Or, they named their children for their unique physical characteristics.

For example, the name of the first man, Adam, means “earth” because God formed him from the dust of the earth. Esau’s name means “hairy” because he was hairy. His twin brother, who hung on to Esau’s heel as he was born, was named Jacob, which means “heel catcher.”

One woman went into labor when she heard that her father-in-law and husband had died and the Philistines had captured the ark of the covenant. She named her child Ichabod, which means “Where is the glory?” (1 Samuel 4:21).

Yet the name that is above all names is the name of Jesus. The prophet Isaiah told us some important things about the name of the Messiah who was to come and also gave us some insights into the character of Jesus: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NLT).

Each name Isaiah used to describe Jesus portrays a different aspect of the work that God wants to do in our lives. “Wonderful Counselor” means that we no longer have to look to the cheap substitutes this world offers to bring us fulfillment because Jesus Christ makes life wonderful. The problems we face in life do not need to baffle us; we know that God will reveal His will to us because Christ is our Counselor.

“Mighty God” takes care of the demands of life that can overwhelm us. “Everlasting Father” means that because Christ came to Earth to die on the cross, pay for our sins, and rise from the dead, we have an everlasting Father who will be with us forever. “Prince of Peace” takes care of the disturbances of life. And how we need that peace in these frightening times.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. In one sense, it was that. But in another sense, Jesus never was technically born. In one sense, He was born as a human and died some thirty-three years later on a Roman cross. But in another sense, Jesus has neither a beginning nor an end.

Jesus is God. He is eternal. He is part of the Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

To us, Christmas represents the entrance of Jesus to Earth. For God, it meant the departure of His Son from Heaven. “A child is born to us.” That is Earth’s perspective. “A son is given to us.” That is Heaven’s perspective.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. 

—Proverbs 29:25

Scripture:

Proverbs 29:25 

Imagine the scene. Moses is descending from Mount Sinai, holding the commandments that God gave him. As he nears the Israelite camp, he sees the people dancing before a golden calf.

Outraged, he says to Aaron, “What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?” (Exodus 32:21 NLT).

Aaron’s excuse for the behavior of the people is so absurd that it should be permanently enshrined in the Excuse Hall of Fame.

He replied, “You yourself know how evil these people are. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!” (verses 22–24 NLT).

Aaron should have drawn the line when the people came to him and demanded something to worship. He should have told them, “You just worship God, and wait until Moses gets back.” Instead, he caved in.

Not only did Aaron go along with their plan, but he also facilitated it. He helped produce the problem.

Let’s remember that when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, He wanted Moses alone to go to Pharaoh. God promised to do miracles through Moses to confirm that He had sent him.

However, Moses offered a series of excuses as to why he wasn’t the one for the job. He also complained that he’d never been a gifted speaker. So God said, “Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say” (Exodus 4:16 NLT).

But while Moses was away, Aaron made a mess of things.

There are a lot of people like Aaron today. When they’re around committed Christians, they’re strong. But when they’re away from Christians, they blend into the woodwork.

The story of Aaron’s spiritual demise serves as a warning to the vacillating, compromising person who always wants to go along with public opinion and is more concerned with what people think than with what God thinks.

As we see in this story, the compromiser reaches no one.

Maybe you think the way to reach your nonbelieving friends is to do what they do and simply blend in. You conclude that in doing so, you will win them over and they will come to Christ.

The reality is that no one has ever been won to Christ that way. The way people come to Christ is through Christians living godly lives. They come to Christ when Christians practice what they preach. They come to Christ when Christians love them with compassion and share God’s Word with them.

Don’t be an Aaron. Be a Moses. Be the person who stands up for what is right, because one person can make a big difference.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the Lord on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.” 

—Exodus 32:30

Scripture:

Exodus 32:30 

It was a test for Moses. God told him that He was going to destroy the Israelites. And when we read Exodus 32, it would appear that Moses pleaded with God and brought Him around. But God was testing Moses. He wanted to see if Moses was learning anything.

Jesus sometimes tested His disciples. When the multitudes gathered and had nothing to eat, Jesus turned to Philip and said, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” (John 6:5 NLT). The Bible goes on to say that Jesus said this to test Philip.

Then there was the Syro-Phoenician woman. She came to Jesus and asked Him to touch her demon-possessed daughter. Being a non-Jew, she was coming to the Messiah of Israel and asking for His mercy.

But Jesus seemed almost flippant in His reply, saying, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs” (Mark 7:27 NLT).

The woman told Him, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates” (verse 28 NLT). So Jesus commended her and granted her request.

She passed His test. Jesus wasn’t turning her away; He was drawing her out. It was a test for her to rise to the occasion. And when she did, Jesus rewarded her for it.

Moses passed God’s test as well. He interceded for the people, saying, “Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people!” (Exodus 32:12 nlt).

God wants us to care about people who are separated from Him and intercede for them. He wants us to see them not as the enemy but as sheep without a shepherd—as people who need the Savior.

In fact, Moses cared so much about these people that he said, “But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!” (verse 32 NLT). Thankfully, no such thing is required. But it shows the heart of a true intercessor.

The apostle Paul said something similar when he wrote, “For my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them” (Romans 9:3 NLT).

That is the kind of heart that we need to have toward nonbelievers. That is standing in the gap. Speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, God said, “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30 NLT).

God is still looking for people to stand in the gap today to pray and proclaim His Word.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie