So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 

—Ecclesiastes 2:2

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 2:2 

Shortly before his death at age thirty-three, comedian Chris Farley said in an interview, “I used to think that you could get to a level of success where the laws of the universe didn’t apply. But they do. It’s still life on life’s terms, not on movie-star terms. . . . Once I thought that if I just had enough in the bank, if I had enough fame, that it would be all right.”

But it wasn’t all right, was it? Farley overindulged himself and needlessly threw his life away. He may have been laughing on the outside, but apparently, he was crying on the inside.

Solomon, too, gave pleasure a try. He said, “ ‘Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the “good things” in life.’ But I found that this, too, was meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:1 NLT).

“No fear” is a popular slogan for T-shirts. The problem is that we’re not afraid of what we ought to be afraid of. We ought to fear God.

When the Bible tells us to fear God, it means that we should have reverence for God. We should honor God and respect Him. To fear God means to recognize that He is God Almighty and never take His offer of forgiveness for granted.

Maybe you’ve tried to play by the rules, but you’ve failed. You’ve tried to clean up your life and live by God’s commandments, but you’ve fallen short.

When I became a Christian, I was full of doubt. Even as I was praying to ask Jesus Christ to come into my life, I thought, “I’m the one person this is not going to work for. I’m not a Christian type of person.”

I thought certain kinds of people were predisposed to become Christians, the kind of people who were naturally upbeat and optimistic. I wasn’t one of them. But I qualified because I was a sinner.

That is the kind of person God is looking for. We have all sinned. We have all fallen short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23).

If that is the case, then who will get into Heaven? Without Jesus Christ, no one will. We can’t do it on our own. We can’t be flawless.

God knew that we would fall short. But He loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth. Jesus was more than a good man; He was the God-Man who went to the cross willingly, laid down His life, and shed His blood for us.

He paid the price of sin for us. He came to pay a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay.

That is why Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. It sounds radical, but it came from Jesus Himself. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT).

Jesus—and Jesus alone—is uniquely qualified to connect us with the Father in Heaven.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 

—Ecclesiastes 12:13

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 

As a pastor, I have talked to a lot of people who are facing death. And as I’ve listened to the regrets that people have, I have yet to meet anyone who said, “I regret that I became a Christian when I was eighteen.”

On the other hand, I’ve heard a lot of people say, “I regret that I didn’t do this sooner. I regret all the wasted years.”

Don’t let that happen to you.

After trying everything the world had to offer, King Solomon summed up his experience by saying, “Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 NLT).

Solomon was saying, “Listen to a seasoned pro. I know what I’m talking about here. If you leave God out of the picture, then your life will be empty, meaningless, and futile. But if you want to live a life that is full, a life of purpose, then here it is: fear God and obey His commands.”

That’s what will keep you on track with God’s plan for your life. Fear God and obey His commands.

However, a lot of us don’t like commands. We see them as restrictive. But if we want to live a life that is full, we must recognize there is structure, there are parameters, and there are absolutes.

It would be like someone saying, “I don’t like traffic laws. I’m not into stoplights. And I don’t like those dotted lines down the road. They really bug me. I’m going to drive wherever I want to drive and go wherever I want to go. I want my freedom.”

Instead, what they’ll get is the freedom to have an accident. They’d better stay in their lane and hope the other drivers do so as well. Those lanes and traffic laws are there for our protection. They exist so that we can go where we need to go.

We might look at the commandments of God and think they’re ruining our lives. But God didn’t give us His commands to make our lives miserable. Rather, they are walls and barriers of protection to keep evil out. That is what Solomon was saying. It’s for our own good.

Yes, the Bible does say that we shouldn’t do certain things. The Bible does tell us to stay away from particular things. But when it tells us not to do something, it also tells us to do something else instead.

For example, the Bible says, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life” (Ephesians 5:18 NLT). There is the don’t.

It goes on to say, “Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts” (verses 18–19 NLT). There is the do.

God’s plan is always better. Yes, He tells us what we should avoid. But it is for our own good.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind. 

—Ecclesiastes 1:14

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 1:14 

If anyone could ever say “Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt,” it was Solomon. He was the hedonist extraordinaire. He went after everything the world had to offer.

Solomon was highly educated, yet he went on unbelievable drinking binges. He was an architectural genius, building the most incredible structures. Yet he abandoned God in his search for meaning in life.

The irony is that Solomon knew better. He was raised in a godly home. His father was King David, and his mother was Bathsheba. While it’s true that David had a serious lapse of faith, it’s also true that he repented and got right with God.

The Bible describes David as “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14 NLT), and he did his best to raise Solomon, the future king, in the way of the Lord.

Shortly before his death, David gave these words of wisdom to Solomon: “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT).

Essentially David was saying, “Son, you can’t live off your dad’s faith. You must get your own. You need to know the God of your father. Serve Him with an undivided heart and a willing mind, not because you have to, but because you want to. Don’t allow your heart to be divided. Set your heart completely on God.”

Initially Solomon followed his father’s advice. In fact, he did quite well in the beginning. But after a while, Solomon allowed his heart to be divided. He tried to walk with God yet dabble in sin and compromise his values. And it was only a matter of time until Solomon began to backslide and fall away.

Then one day Solomon basically said, “Forget it. I’m going to go for it.” He abandoned God, and the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes is the account of what he learned in this backslidden state.

A phrase Solomon repeatedly used in Ecclesiastes was “under the sun.” He was talking about horizontal living. It is life this side of Heaven, life without God.

Solomon also used the word “meaningless” (NLT). For example, in Ecclesiastes 1:14 he wrote, “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind” (NLT).

Solomon the searcher was telling us there is nothing on this earth that will satisfy us completely.

That doesn’t mean it’s wrong to love life or have possessions. In fact, no one appreciates life more than the child of God does. And the Bible tells us that God “richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17 NLT).

Solomon set out to experience what most people only dream of. And in the end, it turned out to be a nightmare.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see. 

—Daniel 1:12–13

Scripture:

Daniel 1:12–13 

What was the real temptation for Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? They had refused the food and wine from King Nebuchadnezzar’s table and had chosen water and vegetables instead. But it wasn’t just a matter of the food. And it wasn’t because they liked only vegetables and water. Rather, they were taking a stand on principle.

The real temptation was this: eating the king’s food was the way to climb the corporate ladder in Babylon. It was like refusing the boss’s invitation to lunch. Why would they say no? For whatever reason, they did. It was important enough for them to take a stand on the matter. They wouldn’t make this compromise. And by doing so, they didn’t advance as quickly as they could have.

In the same way, we can struggle with the temptation to compromise. It might be the temptation to lie on a résumé to get a job or the temptation to embellish ourselves so that people will like us more. Or, it might be the temptation to cut corners on a job to make more money, even though it’s unsafe. It could be the temptation to go a little further with a girlfriend or boyfriend in the hope of gaining their love.

We all face the temptation to compromise.

However, it’s the little things that ultimately lead to the big things. It’s the gray areas that ultimately lead to the black-and-white areas. That’s why we must look at things carefully and ask, “Is this a good or a bad thing for me? Is this a compromise before the Lord?”

When we come to those gray areas of life and wonder whether something is acceptable to God, it’s a good idea to ask ourselves four questions: (1) Does it build me up spiritually? (2) Does it bring me under its power? (3) Do I have an uneasy conscience about it? (4) Could it cause someone to stumble?

Here’s the wrong question to ask: Can I do this and still be a Christian? The Bible says, “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).

Character is not made in a crisis; it is only exhibited. It may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones. Do you have that character? Or, are you compromising in your life as a Christian?

Are you doing what is right, even in the little things? Because if you don’t deal with compromise in the little things, it will lead to the big things. That’s why it’s a good time at the beginning of the year to have some resolution—not a bunch of silly resolutions that you make and can’t keep.

Resolution is purpose, commitment, and dedication to doing the right thing. Because if you compromise now, you will regret it later.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 

—Daniel 1:15

Scripture:

Daniel 1:15 

In ancient Israel, the people had a penchant for idolatry. They turned to false gods again and again. So, God raised up prophets to warn them. But they ignored God’s warnings.

As a result, God’s judgment came. He allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to conquer the southern kingdom of Judah and carry the people away captive to Babylon. Interestingly, idol worship was rampant in Babylon. In effect God was saying, “You want idols? You’ve got idols.”

King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to find the brightest and best of the young men from among the captives, so he ordered his chief of staff to bring them into his court and school them in the ways of Babylon. In doing so, the king could use them to influence other Jews.

In some ways, it would have been a great honor for them to receive a summons to the palace. But in another way, it meant exposure to great temptation. In the end, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah became a part of the king’s court.

This essentially changed their world overnight. King Nebuchadnezzar ripped them away from their families and friends and placed them in an environment that was hostile to their faith. It is not unlike people who grow up in Christian homes and suddenly realize they’re in a hostile work or school environment. They discover they’re among people who have no interest whatsoever in the things of God.

Not only did the environment change for these four young men, but the king changed their names as well. Daniel’s name, for instance, meant “God is my judge.” But his new name, Belteshazzar, was attached to a false god, Bel.

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah received the names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, which also were connected to Babylonian gods.

Although the king could change their names, he could not change their hearts.

These four young men faced heavy-duty temptation. They had the finest education at the most prestigious school, not to mention access to the most delicious food and wine in the world.

King Nebuchadnezzar also immersed them in a system of false gods and idol worship. But he didn’t consider the fact that they had character. He thought they would cave in and do what everyone else did. But they were young men of principle.

Here’s what the Bible tells us about Daniel: “But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods” (Daniel 1:8 NLT).

We don’t know exactly why Daniel refused to eat from the king’s table. It may have been because the foods were offered to false gods. But for Daniel, it was a matter of principle. He didn’t want to do anything that would hinder his fellowship with God.

Daniel and his friends could have compromised very easily. Instead, they made a stand. And by standing their ground in a seemingly small area, it enabled them to stand their ground in a much larger area later in life.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 

—Galatians 6:8

Scripture:

Galatians 6:8 

When we think of Daniel in the Bible, the story of the lions’ den usually comes to mind (see Daniel 6). It certainly was a heroic moment in the life of this great man of God.

And when we think of Daniel’s friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—our minds go to the story of the fiery furnace (see Daniel 3).

These four men were resolute in character. And the foundation for that kind of character and the kind of stand they took was laid early in their lives. As young men, they made resolutions they were able to keep when they were older.

It’s like building a house. The most important time is not when you paint the walls and decorate it. The most important time is when you lay the foundation that will support everything else that is to come.

In life, the most important time is at the beginning when the foundation is being laid. It’s there, in the time of our youth, that we set our course. We develop our habits and form our attitudes. We make decisions that affect us for the rest of our lives, such as our choice of career and whom we will marry. We sow seeds that we will reap in the years ahead.

Let’s say that early in life you got into the habit of regular prayer and Bible study. You got into the habit of regular church attendance and faithfully giving to the Lord, as well as other spiritual disciplines that you still practice to this day.

You decide the evening of your life by the morning of it. You decide the end of your life by the beginning. The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand you will make tomorrow. It isn’t some mystical thing that you have nothing to say about.

You decide what principles you will live by and what road you will take, because every day you make decisions as to whether you will sow to the flesh or sow to the Spirit.

The Bible tells us to lay the foundation properly when we’re young. And that is what Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel did.

Youth is a relative term. If you’re fifty, someone who is fifteen might think of you as old. But to someone who is ninety, you’re rather young. Everyone will be a year older next year. And we’re making decisions today, in January, that will play out by next Christmas.

The Bible says, “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:8 NLT).

It isn’t necessarily a bad thing to have habits. It’s only bad if they’re bad habits. But it’s a good thing if they’re good habits.

Maybe you’ve come through a fiery trial in the past year, or maybe you will have a fiery trial in the coming year. But know this: Jesus will walk with you through it. You will not be alone.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. 

—Job 23:10

Scripture:

Job 23:10 

One of the top New Year’s resolutions that people make every year, no matter what year it is, is to lose weight. Other resolutions include getting in better shape physically, getting more organized, reading more good books, and spending more time with family and friends.

But how about resolving to have a stronger spiritual commitment? Yes, we need goals. We need objectives. We need things to aim for in life. But we also need to be growing as Christians and deepening our walk with the Lord.

Here are the words of the apostle Paul after he had walked with God for years: “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13–14 NLT).

We must realize that we have a long way to go spiritually. We are but works in progress, and we have so far to go. If the apostle Paul saw that about himself, then certainly we need to see that about ourselves, because Paul truly was a man of God.

We also must realize that we cannot live in the past. We cannot be controlled by past mistakes or live in past victories. If you messed up last year, learn from it and don’t do it again. Make changes in your behavior, in your habits, and in your choices that will prevent you from going down that road again.

At the same time, don’t live in past victories. If God did something wonderful in your life last year, be thankful for that. But remember that a new year is before you with many new opportunities. Therefore, press on toward what God has for you.

Runners recognize there is pain involved in running a race, especially if you’re running a marathon. You start off with a burst of energy, then you get a bit numb, then it becomes painful, and after a while, it becomes difficult to put one foot in front of the other.

This is also true of the Christian life. It’s a walk of faith. It’s a battle. There are challenges, difficulties, and obstacles that we will face. Yet Paul was saying, “I’m straining to move forward.”

Paul wasn’t addressing his words to a group of spiritually elite Christians. They are given for every follower of Jesus Christ. God calls every one of us to press on.

Maybe you went through something difficult last year. Or, maybe you will go through something difficult in the coming year. But know this: Jesus will be with you through it.

He said, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT). He also has promised, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT). You are not running this race alone.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

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