These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. 

—1 Corinthians 10:6–7

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:6–7 

Everyone has a god. Even atheists have something they believe in. That god may be themselves. It may be a possession. Or, it may be a career. But everyone has something they live for, something that gets them up in the morning, drives them on, and gives their lives a sense of meaning.

The question is, who or what do you believe in?

The Lord wants to rule and reign in our hearts. And He wants everything else in our lives to be a distant second to Him. He wants our primary passion, excitement, and purpose to be a love for Him.

The apostle Paul said, “To me, living means living for Christ” (Philippians 1:21 NLT). That should be the motto of every Christian. It’s something that we all should be able to say.

An idol is anything or anyone that takes the place of God in our lives. It’s anything that would begin to crowd our relationship with God and become more important to us than God Himself.

Writing to the church in Corinth, Paul referred to a specific instance in the lives of the Israelites when they worshipped the golden calf. He wrote, “These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did” (1 Corinthians 10:6–7 NLT).

The children of Israel had seen God work in dramatic ways. They saw God deliver them from the land of Egypt with a number of miracles that He performed on their behalf. He turned the Nile River to blood, sent plagues of lice and frogs, and even killed the Egyptians’ firstborn sons.

Then, when they began their journey, God opened the Red Sea for them, and they crossed on dry ground. Afterward it closed behind them, drowning the Egyptian army in the process. In addition, the Lord provided a miraculous navigation system: a huge cloud guided them during the day, and a fire in the sky directed them at night.

And every morning when they walked outside their tents, a breakfast of manna was waiting for them, supplied by the Creator Himself. But despite all these miracles, the people turned their backs on God and engaged in full-blown idolatry.

The problem was their faith was shallow. Thus, they were fickle. And from the moment that Moses left their midst to meet with God on Mount Sinai, it was only a matter of time until they started looking for something to take his place. So the plan for the golden calf was devised, and the Bible tells us about the horrible results.

Certainly, miracles and supernatural phenomena do not guarantee a mature faith that will resist the temptations in our paths. Sooner or later, we must take personal responsibility for our actions and our sins and call them what they are.

Let’s guard ourselves from the subtle trap of idolatry. Let’s not allow anyone or anything to take precedence over Jesus Christ in our hearts.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. 

—Genesis 22:1

Scripture:

Genesis 22:1 

In their later years, God blessed Abraham and Sarah with a child, Isaac, whose name means “laughter.”

Isaac was a physical representation of everything sacred to Abraham’s heart, the covenants that God made. He was the physical link to the coming Messiah. And Abraham watched this little child grow into a young boy and then into a strong young man.

We don’t know for certain, but perhaps Isaac began to fill the spot that Abraham had previously reserved for God, because the Bible tells us that God tested Abraham.

God said to him, “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you” (Genesis 22:2 NLT).

Even then, Abraham had his priorities right. He was willing to give up Isaac to the Lord, believing that, if necessary, He would resurrect him from the dead. Of course, we know the rest of the story. At the last moment, God spared Isaac.

And Abraham passed the test.

In his book The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer commented, “To the wondering patriarch [God] now says in effect, ‘It’s all right, Abraham. I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there.’ ”

Could it be that someone has become an idol in your life? Is there someone who is more precious to you than God Himself?

It isn’t that God would take this individual away as much as He wants to rule and reign in your heart.

The Bible gives us God’s reflection about how the people of Israel once pursued Him. God said, “I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness” (Jeremiah 2:2 NLT).

In other words, “Remember how it was when we were still in the honeymoon phase, in the early days?”

He continues, “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” (verse 13 NLT).

Their first mistake was withdrawing from Him, the fountain of living waters, the One who could satisfy their deepest needs. And then it was only a matter of time until they found broken cisterns, wells dug in the rocks that couldn’t hold water.

Let’s heed the warning of Scripture to believers living in the last days. Let’s refuse to allow anyone or anything to become idols in our hearts. The best antidote to idolatry is a passionate love relationship with Jesus Christ. When He is the Lord of our lives and we’re cultivating fellowship with Him, we won’t run after other gods.

Any pursuit you go after that takes God’s place in your life won’t satisfy you. Let Him be your Lord. Let Him be your God.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 

—1 John 5:21

Scripture:

1 John 5:21 

We tend to imagine idol worship as lying prostrate before a carved image. And clearly that would be idolatry. But idolatry can take many forms. And no doubt it’s a problem that even believers living in the twenty-first century will face.

The Bible tells us that during the Tribulation, idol worship will be rampant. Revelation 9:20 says, “But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk!” (NLT).

Idols can be many things. But essentially an idol is anyone or anything that takes the place of God in our lives. A lot of things can qualify as an idol in our lives. And it is a true but terrifying fact that a person can attend church every week and still be a full-fledged idolater.

In the Ten Commandments, God tells us that we should have Him as our God and have no other gods before Him.

He said, “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods” (Exodus 20:4–5 NLT).

Jesus echoed this when He said, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37–38 NLT).

Essentially Jesus was saying that if you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, it will dramatically impact the way that you live.

If we love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds, then nothing else can take God’s place in our lives. We won’t be interested in another god any more than someone who just had a delicious dinner of filet mignon would be attracted to roadkill. Our hunger has been met. We’re satisfied.

But when we’re not cultivating a close relationship with God, then it is only a matter of time until someone or something takes His place.

When Moses left the Israelites to receive the commandments from God on Mount Sinai, the people went to Aaron and asked him to make them an idol, something physical to worship. The result was a calf made of gold.

But that wasn’t their first idol. Moses was. Because not long after he left their camp, they looked for something to take his place.

This can happen to us as well. We can allow something to crowd God out of our hearts. And when we look at the history of the Christian church, we’ll see that it was after people abandoned God as their first love that they turned to idols to take His place.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 

—2 Peter 2:20

Scripture:

2 Peter 2:20 

When we’re sharing the gospel with our friends and family, we must always remember to pray, because a spiritual battle is raging.

Once Satan has taken hold of a life, he does not want to let go. So when he sees people making advances toward Jesus Christ, he will do everything in his power to stop them. And he’s always on duty.

The Bible warns, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT).

In the parable of the sower, Jesus described the seed of God’s Word being scattered on the ground, which represented human hearts. He said, “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long” (Mark 4:15–17 NLT).

Sometimes people say they have become Christians, but in a month or two, they return to their old ways. They claim they “tried” Christianity but it didn’t work for them.

No, they never really found Christ. Because if they really knew Him, they wouldn’t go back to their former way of life. They went through the motions, but Christ never really became part of their lives.

It just may be that many of the people who claim to have been converted never have been converted at all. And often they end up worse than they were before.

Jesus said, “When a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe—until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings” (Luke 11:21–22 NLT).

The strong man Jesus was speaking of is Satan. He gets a foothold in a person’s life, and he wants to guard his investment. And all the religion and rituals in the world won’t drive out a demon power.

There is only one hope, and that is when “someone even stronger” comes in, according to Luke’s Gospel. That Someone, of course, is Jesus Christ. We need His help.

When people make a few moral changes, they start to feel better about themselves. They begin to trust in their own morality and the changes they’ve made. And in their smugness, they don’t think they need God. In essence, the devil has them right where he wants them. And in the end, he has a firmer foothold in their lives than he originally had.

The Bible says, “And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before” (2 Peter 2:20 NLT).

We must have Jesus Christ take residence in our hearts and lives, changing us from the inside out.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. 

—Matthew 23:28

Scripture:

Matthew 23:28 

During His public ministry, Jesus had no problem reaching society’s down-and-outers. But amazingly, He had an almost impossible time reaching religious and moral people who were under the delusion that outward rituals and good living made them acceptable to God.

The Pharisees were moralists to the extreme, so careful to keep what were, in their perception, even the smallest points of the law. But the result was a feeling of self-satisfaction. They believed that because of what they had done, they had obtained God’s approval.

They were so spiritually blind that when God in human form walked among them, they didn’t receive His message and even had Him put to death.

Jesus summarized it well when He said, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27–28 NLT).

In other words, we are missing it when we only concentrate on the outward. We must first take care of the inward.

This brings us to the primary call of the church today. Is it merely to try to stop the spread of corruption in our society? Is it merely to try to lobby for political candidates who reflect our values?

Even if we’re somewhat successful in passing some laws, even if we elect candidates who reflect our values, it still isn’t getting to the heart of the matter. That’s because when people truly find Jesus Christ, He changes their lifestyle.

Our clear mandate, given from the lips of Jesus Himself, is this: “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matthew 28:19–20 NLT).

If we allow other things to detract us from this one calling, then we’re missing it. Jesus said, “First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too” (Matthew 23:26 NLT). That is where we must focus our efforts.

By itself, morality leads to self-righteousness. It can even be a damning thing. That’s because people are better off being immoral and recognizing their need for God than being highly moral and thinking they have no need for Him.

Of course, how wonderful it would be if everyone in our country were moral and no one broke the law. How wonderful it would be if we all were kind and considerate people. That would make a nice society.

But sometimes we’re a little too preoccupied with the temporary and lose sight of the big picture. Morality apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ can be dangerous because it can blind us to the truth.

Morality won’t change our hearts. But if our hearts have been truly changed, then there will be a change in our actions and our lifestyle.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation. 

—Matthew 12:45

Scripture:

Matthew 12:45 

There are people who try to make changes in their lives, who try to do a spiritual or moral housecleaning. They know that things aren’t the way they ought to be, and they want to get things right.

But the irony is that some people, in their attempts to clean up their lives, end up in a worse state than where they began.

Jesus talked about how we can make lasting changes in our lives as we undertake a thorough housecleaning. He was speaking to the Pharisees, who were the religious, moral, and outwardly upright people of the day. Yet Jesus had warned this group about committing the unpardonable sin, which was blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

He said this because they had attributed the works of God that He was doing to the devil. Specifically, they accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the devil. So He warned them of going too far and actually blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

He was saying that knowledge brings responsibility.

Jesus went on to explain, “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation” (Matthew 12:43–45 NLT).

Jesus was referring to demonic powers in this passage. Demons are both real and powerful. And in this passage, it appears that the person who once was possessed by this unclean spirit had a housecleaning. Things were put in order to some degree. It would appear the person had made some kind of moral change.

To understand this in context, we must remember that Jesus was speaking to moral, religious people who didn’t really know God. Jesus was comparing the human life and heart to a house. And He was saying that morality won’t save us. Religion won’t save us.

Jesus was giving us a picture of those who make moral changes in their lives but don’t get to the root of their problem, which is the absence of God in their lives. The sins they commit are but symptoms of a deeper problem: the lack of Jesus Christ living inside them.

People will make changes in their lives for many reasons. Sometimes when they face a crisis, they begin to evaluate their priorities and take stock of their lives. They determine what needs to change.

But often the same people end up going back to their old ways. Why? Because the house is swept and put in order, but it’s still empty.

We must not lose sight of the basic truth that morality, in itself, will not bring a right relationship with God. Morality never will bring spirituality. But true spirituality always will bring morality.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. 

—Matthew 12:42

Scripture:

Matthew 12:42 

Have you ever thought that if you could do a miracle, then your non-Christian friends would believe?

If that is what it would take, then God would do it.

The religious leaders asked Jesus for a miraculous sign, but He told them, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:39–40 NLT).

At the same time Jesus refused a sign, He promised a sign. He refused the sign they wanted, which would have had no effect on them. But He promised the only sign that could truly impact and change them.

Jesus was telling them, “Someone greater than Jonah is here. And I’m offering forgiveness.”

While Jonah came preaching God’s judgment, Jesus came preaching God’s mercy and grace. Jonah was disobedient, but Jesus was obedient. Jonah preached to one city, but Jesus came for the entire world.

Then Jesus continued, “The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen” (verse 42 NLT).

The queen of Sheba was not Jewish, but she came to Jerusalem seeking the wisdom of the great King Solomon. She made a grueling 1,200-mile journey to hear what he had to say, because she desperately wanted to hear truth.

In essence Jesus was saying, “You should know better than to ask for a sign. You should know what is true and what is right.”

We can’t help but draw a parallel to our own nation. We should know better. Our country was built on biblical precepts. The first book in our public school system was the Bible. Our laws were based on biblical principles. But today we can’t even post the Ten Commandments in a classroom.

As we see anarchy in the streets and violence spreading across our society, people are crying out for a return to family values.

But we need more than family values; we need the morality those values are based on. And then we need the spirituality that morality is based on. We can’t have morality without spirituality, because who determines what is moral and immoral? We must have a set of standards, and we find them in the pages of Scripture.

Jesus was saying to the religious leaders, “So you want a sign? Here it is. I’m going to die on the cross and rise from the dead. That is your sign.”

The sign our unbelieving friends and family need to know about is that Jesus died on the cross for them and rose from the dead. This is what we need to proclaim. It’s the greatest sign of all.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart 

—John 2:24–25

Scripture:

John 2:24–25 

At a casual reading, the response of Jesus seems almost harsh and unfair.

Chapter 12 of Matthew’s Gospel tells us that “one day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, ‘Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority’ ” (verse 38 NLT).

“Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign,” Jesus answered. “But the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights” (verses 39–40 NLT).

Here were some individuals who were asking for a miracle. Jesus had performed many miracles. After all, what was one more? Why didn’t He respond to their request? Because Jesus always looked at the motives behind what people said and did.

Jesus is far more interested in what’s going on in our hearts than what we are merely saying with our mouths.

And as Jesus looked into the hearts of these religious leaders, no doubt He saw the reason for their request.

Earlier in the chapter we read, “Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus” (verse 14 NLT). Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath, and that upset them. These religious leaders wanted to destroy Jesus.

They weren’t interested in a miracle. They weren’t interested in a sign. Instead, they were out to get Him. And Jesus recognized this.

It’s fascinating to note how Jesus dealt with different people. He never dealt with anyone in the same way. He would look behind the veneer of what was going on and see their hearts. And when a person was truly seeking and a miracle was in order, He did it.

Jesus performed numerous miracles for hurting, searching people such as blind Bartimaeus or the woman who had spent everything on doctors who couldn’t heal her. On the other hand, when people came with the wrong motives, He didn’t do a miracle for them. In fact, on some occasions He didn’t even reveal Himself to them.

For example, John 2:23 says, “Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.” But the passage goes on to say, “But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart” (verses 24–25 NLT).

These people who saw His miracles weren’t seeking Him with their whole hearts. They were merely excited about the phenomena. If they had been true seekers, then Jesus would have revealed Himself to them.

Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT). Jesus revealed Himself to true seekers. And He repelled those who were not.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 

—Luke 9:23

Scripture:

Luke 9:23 

We seem to have lost the meaning of the cross today. It has become a mere religious symbol, an icon shrouded in religiosity.

But in the first century when someone was carrying a cross through the streets, it meant only one thing: that person was going to die. So, when people heard Jesus say, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me,” they would have easily understood what He meant.

Sometimes we think of a cross to bear as a trying relationship, a health problem, a challenging job, or some other tough circumstance. Those may be difficulties in life. But they are not our crosses to bear.

The cross we must bear is the same for each of us. It speaks of dying to ourselves. And what that means, simply, is laying ourselves at the feet of Jesus and saying, “I want Your will more than my own.”

Of course, when we talk about bearing the cross and living a crucified life, it sounds morbid and unappealing because we have a false concept of what it means.

We think it means isolating ourselves in an ivory tower somewhere and never having fun, smiling, or laughing. That is how we imagine ourselves living the crucified life.

But is that what it really means?

Writing to the churches in Galatia, the apostle Paul said, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 NLT).

As Jesus said, if you want to find your life, then lose it (see Luke 9:24). Thus, when we live the crucified life, it isn’t a morbid, miserable experience. It doesn’t mean that we’ve ruined our lives when we start walking with God.

Rather, it’s when life begins to really happen, when life becomes full and meaningful. Because we want God’s will more than our own, we’ll have the abundant life that Jesus promised, (see John 10:10). We’re living life as it was meant to be lived. It is life to the fullest.

Samuel Rutherford, a seventeenth-century theologian, said, “The cross of Christ is the sweetest burden that ever I bore. It is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry me forward to my desired haven.”

And he was right. The cross of Christ is no burden because God’s will is better than our own.

Are you bearing the cross and following Jesus? For some, this could mean suffering persecution. For others, it could mean a major change of lifestyle. It could cost us friends. But we will live life as it was meant to be lived: in the perfect will of God.

So let’s commit ourselves to being disciples of Jesus Christ—not mere fair-weather followers, but true disciples.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 

—Romans 5:1

Scripture:

Romans 5:1 

In Matthew 10 we find one of the more controversial statements of Jesus: “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ ” (verses 34–36 NLT).

This must have shocked His listeners. After all, on the night of Jesus’ birth, didn’t the angels appear to the shepherds and say, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NLT)? Is Jesus not the Prince of Peace? What is this about?

It all fits together when we see the big picture.

Yes, it is true that Jesus has ultimately come to bring peace. But before there can be peace, there must be the end of war. And in a war, someone has to win and someone has to lose.

Before we become Christians, we are in a war with God. We’re opposed to Him. But when we, by His grace, come to our senses and surrender ourselves to Jesus Christ, we have peace with God.

As Romans 5:1 tells us, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us” (NLT).

Where we once were divided from God, we now have peace with God.

Yet Jesus said He came “not to bring peace, but a sword.” And this is a double-edged sword. Though it’s true that it cuts, it also gives life.

What initially wounds ultimately heals, much like a surgeon with a scalpel. We don’t feel the pain of the surgeon’s scalpel until the anesthesia wears off. But when we realize our life was prolonged because of surgery, we recognize that what temporarily caused us pain ultimately extended our lives.

In the same way, Jesus comes with a sword. Yes, it brings temporary pain when we realize that we’re separated from God. But what temporarily causes pain ultimately brings eternal life.

The same is true when you’re seeking to live a godly life and it causes division in your family. Don’t lament. Instead, think of it this way: it’s better to temporarily offend someone who doesn’t know Jesus Christ with a convicting message of the gospel and see them ultimately come to faith than to never offend them in any way and see them go into a Christless eternity.

Now, we shouldn’t unnecessarily offend family members with our witness. Sometimes this happens, especially with believers who are very new in the faith. They lack something called tact, and they’re persecuted not because of their faith but because they’re obnoxious.

We must also remember that if we’re going to be true disciples, it may bring temporary division. It may even cause temporary pain. But ultimately it could bring the greatest harmony of all.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 

—Matthew 5:15

Scripture:

Matthew 5:15 

When you are living for Jesus Christ, your very presence sometimes will bother others because His light is shining out of you.

You may even try to hide it. But it shouldn’t be that way. Just let His light shine for people to see.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:14–15 NLT).

We’ve all heard the well-worn excuses and the so-called reasons as to why people don’t come to Christ. But here’s the reason that most people don’t come to Him. This, by the way, is according to Jesus Himself: “God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil” (John 3:19 NLT).

The reason people don’t believe is they don’t want their sin exposed. They don’t want to acknowledge their shortcomings. And the more godly a Christian is, the more obviously this will take place just by that believer’s great example.

Jesus went on to say, “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants” (verses 20–21 NLT).

Few things are harder to put up with than a good example. And when you live it, it really gets people’s attention.

Light not only exposes what the darkness hides, but light also shows the way out. And in the same way, the light that shines from us not only shows people their shortcomings and their sins, but it also shows them the way out. It shows them the way to Jesus Christ.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 

—Ephesians 5:15–16

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:15-16 

Why is it that the Christians of the first century were able to do so much damage, in a positive sense, in such a relatively short period of time?

And how is it that these first-century believers, without the tools, technology, and media that we utilize today, were still able to radically impact their culture?

The short answer is they followed and practiced a Christianity that isn’t known by many in the twenty-first century. When we read about Christianity in New Testament books like Acts, we might classify it as something that was radical, over the top, and perhaps a bit on the extreme side.

But for these first-century believers, it would have been nothing less than ordinary Christian living. It is not that their faith was so radical. Rather, it’s that our faith is wimpy. Our faith, many times, is anemic. It doesn’t measure up to the standards of the New Testament.

Christians should differ from non-Christians in every realm, not just the religious realm. We should differ from non-Christians not simply because we show up at church on the weekend or attend a midweek Bible study.

Rather, we should differ from non-Christians because we conduct our businesses differently, we treat our spouses differently, and we raise our children differently. Our values should be different from those of non-Christians. People need to see this in our lives, but all too often, it simply isn’t happening.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:15–16 NLT).

If we want to impact our world like the first-century believers did, then we have to get back to the principles they applied. It starts with the Christianity they practiced.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. 

—Isaiah 26:8

Scripture:

Isaiah 26:8 

Vance Havner wrote, “You can’t break the law of God. Nobody ever broke the law of God. You break yourself against the law of God.

He was right. We cannot break the law of God, but we will break ourselves against it.

How we need God’s commandments today, and how we need to follow them. We can either accept the truths of His commands or fight against them and reap the inevitable results. It’s our choice: we can do it the easy way or the hard way.

We can buck against God’s truths, say they don’t apply to us, and live the way that we want to live. Or, we can see God’s wisdom in giving us His commandments.

In the Old Testament we read about King Solomon, who went on a sinful binge. He rebelled against the truth he had learned from God and decided to sample just about everything the world had to offer.

And having almost unlimited resources, Solomon could build any building he wanted, have any woman his heart desired, and experience any pleasure he chose to experience. Yet after he did all the things that he wanted to do, he said that it was all emptiness, like chasing the wind.

He wrote, “Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT). Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, was saying, “Here’s what I’ve learned in life. Don’t fight against the laws of God. They were given to us for a reason.”

Someone might say, “Well, Solomon didn’t know what he was talking about. I’ll find out for myself.” You can go ahead and find out for yourself, of course, but it is much easier to do it God’s way.

In His commandments, God has given us the blueprint for a fulfilled life. He has given us the blueprint for happiness.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 LORD, how great is your mercy; let me be revived by following your regulations. 

—Psalm 119:156

Scripture:

Psalm 119:156 

As Christians, we are either progressing or regressing. We are either going forward or going backward. The moment we stop our forward momentum is the moment we begin our backward regression. It’s the moment we start going in the wrong direction spiritually.

Of course, we all have those times as believers when we stumble, when we trip up. There are times when we make the wrong decisions or think the wrong thoughts. When this happens, we need to repent, of course. But we also need revival and refreshment in our spiritual lives. And there’s refreshing power in the Word of God.

The psalmist David wrote, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7 NLT).

If we want to be growing Christians, then we need to be Bible-studying Christians. We want to build our lives on Christ and His Word.

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave this summary statement: “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock” (Matthew 7:24–25 NLT).

Every life will be tested. Every one of us will face storms as followers of Jesus. So, let’s make sure that we build on the right foundation, which is a relationship with Jesus Christ. But we must also study the Word of God. As we read, study, memorize, and dig into the Bible, it will refresh us spiritually.

Don’t build your Christian life on experience. Don’t build it on fickle emotions. Rather, build your life on Jesus Christ and God’s Word.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips. 

—Psalm 141:3

Scripture:

Psalm 140:3 

Have you ever noticed that God gave us one mouth and two ears? Perhaps it’s because He wants us to listen more and speak less. How often we will jump to conclusions and pass judgment in a situation.

Yet the Bible says, “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish” (Proverbs 18:13 NLT).

Sometimes we’ll hear a rumor and immediately conclude that it’s true. Instead, it would be better to say something like this: “I don’t know whether that necessarily would be true. What if it’s a complete lie? Let’s go ask that person about it.” You just might stop a rumor or put an end to gossip.

But how often we will pass a rumor on as though it were the truth. As a result, we can be guilty of slandering another person.

James 1:19 tells us, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (NLT).

David’s enemies lied about his character, and he wanted to be sure he didn’t make the same mistake they did. In Psalm 140 we read his laments over the lying tongues of others. But in the psalm that follows, we read how David recognized the danger of his own tongue.

He prayed, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NLT). That is something every one of us should pray daily.

David was essentially saying, “I can’t stop other people from lying about me, but I will not do it to them. I will not be guilty of it. But I need Your help, Lord. I can’t do this in my own strength.”

One little rumor, one little statement about someone that comes from our lips could inflict terrible damage. Don’t let that happen. Ask God to guard your lips.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips. 

—Psalm 140:3

Scripture:

Psalm 140:3 

If we were to list the ten worst sins that we could think of, how many of us would put gossip on the list? Yet when God identified seven of the things that He hates, He included, by implication, the sin of gossip or misusing our words.

In Proverbs 6 we read, “There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family” (verses 16–19 NLT).

At one time or another, we all have felt the bitter sting of gossip in our lives. Someone told a lie or passed along a story about us that simply wasn’t true.

The psalmist David lamented those who gossiped about him and lied about his character. It obviously was a source of great pain to him because he prayed, “O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips” (Psalm 140:1–3 NLT).

We are living in a wicked, vicious time. It appears that people have an unhealthy appetite for gossip.

David was saying, “Deliver me from people like this, Lord.” That’s because he was facing a carefully planned campaign of slander and lies.

So, what did David do with this concern? We find the answer in Psalm 140:6: “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God!’ Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy!” (NLT).

David cast his burden on the Lord. Are you burdened today? Is someone or something troubling you? Cast it on the Lord.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. 

—Psalm 90:2

Scripture:

Psalm 90:2 

As Christians we can’t say, “I was really lucky today” or “I guess that was just dumb luck” or “Qué será, será, whatever will be, will be.”

For the child of God, there is no such thing as dumb luck. There is no qué será, será.

God has a plan—a design, a purpose, and a strategy—for the lives of His children. We may not see His plan, but God sees it. And He always has seen it.

Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God said, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, . . . and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8 NLT).

God’s thoughts toward us are different from ours. They are perfect. They are never haphazard. God hates sin, but He loves us “with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).

The next time the devil whispers in your ear that God’s designs for you are evil, remember the words of Jeremiah 29:11: “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’ ” (NLT).

We could translate the word “future” from this verse several ways, including “an expected end,” “things hoped for,” and “outcome.” God has a wonderful future in store for us.

Now, we may not know what God has in mind for us, but He knows. At the moment, our lives may not be going as we expected. They are not progressing according to our schedules. We might say, “God must have forgotten about me. He has abandoned me.”

No, God has a plan. We are works in progress. We are under construction. He isn’t finished yet. We only see the beginning, but God sees the end from the beginning. And one day it all will come into focus.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 

—Psalm 139:11–12

Scripture:

Psalm 139:11–12 

For a sweltering twenty-five hours in July, 1977, New York City experienced a power outage. Thousands of New Yorkers poured into the streets to loot and burn the city. Roving bands of men, women, and children pulled down steel grills and shutters from storefronts and shattered glass windows, hauling away everything they could carry.

Others started fires. First responders fought more than one thousand blazes, and false alarms served as decoys while people ravaged the city. Over the course of the blackout, looters plundered 1,600 stores.

Most of the people involved showed no regret, except for having been caught.

People sometimes assume that darkness covers everything and that God doesn’t see in the dark. Somehow they think when the lights are off, no one will see. But God sees. Darkness is like daytime to Him. Nothing escapes His attention. There are no secrets with Him.

A friend of mine has a pair of night vision binoculars. We went into his backyard one night when it was pitch-dark. But when I looked through his binoculars, I could see everything. It was amazing.

In the same way, God sees everything. And He knows everything, even in the darkness.

Darkness doesn’t separate us from God. David wrote in the psalms, “I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you” (Psalm 139:11–12 NLT). There is no escaping His presence.

God sees us and loves us. Romans 8:38 tells us, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (NLT).

Nothing will separate us from God. Isn’t that great to know? God is everywhere.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 

—Colossians 3:16

Scripture:

Colossians 3:16 

For seven years, American pilot Howard Rutledge was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. In his memoir, he wrote that on his first New Year’s Day of captivity, he made three resolutions that he repeated each year.

First, he would try never to be cold again. Second, he would try never to be hungry again. And third, he would never be without the Bible again.

He wanted the Bible ingrained in his mind and engraved on his heart.

It’s interesting how our priorities can change. That’s why Bible memorization is so important. We have only so much room in our minds. Just as computers have a specific amount of memory to hold information, we have only so much memory in the minds that God has given us.

So many of us know the latest gossip about Hollywood celebrities, or we can recite sports statistics or other interesting facts. But are we taking the time to fill our minds with the Word of God? When we get God’s Word into our minds, it will stay with us forever. And when we’re tempted, we’ll have it to recall and use.

For instance, when the devil temped Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus defended Himself again and again with the Scriptures. And the apostle Paul referred to God’s Word as “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17).

The psalmist wrote, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NLT). This is essentially saying that our hearts will be kept by God’s Word because we keep God’s Word in our hearts.

Let’s not waste our memory banks. Let’s fill them with important information. It’s great to carry the Bible in your pocket, backpack, or purse. It’s also great to have it on your phone. But the best place to carry the Bible is in your heart.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie