Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. Zechariah 4:10

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Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. Zechariah 4:10
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<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/A1PWfZ8W">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you. 

*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God&rsquo;s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from&nbsp;<a href="https://harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/">Pastor Greg Laurie</a>, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.&nbsp;
*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Greg Laurie provides commentary on the day's Bible verse.

Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

ZECHARIAH 4:10: Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.

Every Effort Matters | Zechariah 4:10

“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)

 

Every now and then, it seems that my GPS has a mind of its own. I’ll be driving on the freeway, going to a destination where I’ve never been before, when suddenly my device tells me to turn right at the next off-ramp. It doesn’t make sense, but I turn right. Then it tells me to turn left, so I turn left. Then it takes me back to the freeway. What was that all about? It makes no sense at all.

The Lord gave the Israelites an amazing GPS system: a fire by night and a cloud by day. It was very simple. When the cloud moved, they moved. When the cloud stopped, they stopped. At night, when the fire moved, they moved. When the fire stopped, they stopped.

We might be tempted to think, “I wish I could have that kind of obvious guidance, because a lot of times I don’t know what I should do or where I should go.”

But as believers under the New Covenant, we have something better than a cloud or a fire. We have Christ Himself living in our hearts. Every one of us who believes in Jesus Christ has God residing within us. We don’t need a fire in the sky. We have the fire of the Holy Spirit in our life, giving us the power to do what God has called us to do.

As believers, we are not masters of our fate. We do not control our spiritual journey. The apostle Paul wrote, “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).

The Lord will lead us in the way that He wants us to go. Sometimes His will won’t make sense to us. Sometimes it may seem as though God is trying to ruin all our fun. But in time we will realize that God knew what He was doing all along.

Unlike the GPS maps on our devices, we can’t plug in our destination coordinates for this life. That’s because we have no idea where it will take us. That doesn’t stop us from trying, of course. We may try to plug in where we would like to end up. Or where we’re planning to end up. But as the old Yiddish expression goes, “Man plans, and God laughs.” Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) puts it this way: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

GPS devices aren’t always right, but God is. God’s way is always the right way.

 

Reflection question: How can you trust God’s way even when it doesn’t make sense to you? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

 

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

&ldquo;Don&rsquo;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.&rdquo; (1 Corinthians 6:19&ndash;20 NLT)
&nbsp;
Every now and then, it seems that my GPS has a mind of its own. I&rsquo;ll be driving on the freeway, going to a destination where I&rsquo;ve never been before, when suddenly my device tells me to turn right at the next off-ramp. It doesn&rsquo;t make sense, but I turn right. Then it tells me to turn left, so I turn left. Then it takes me back to the freeway. What was that all about? It makes no sense at all.
The Lord gave the Israelites an amazing GPS system: a fire by night and a cloud by day. It was very simple. When the cloud moved, they moved. When the cloud stopped, they stopped. At night, when the fire moved, they moved. When the fire stopped, they stopped.
We might be tempted to think, &ldquo;I wish I could have that kind of obvious guidance, because a lot of times I don&rsquo;t know what I should do or where I should go.&rdquo;
But as believers under the New Covenant, we have something better than a cloud or a fire. We have Christ Himself living in our hearts. Every one of us who believes in Jesus Christ has God residing within us. We don&rsquo;t need a fire in the sky. We have the fire of the Holy Spirit in our life, giving us the power to do what God has called us to do.
As believers, we are not masters of our fate. We do not control our spiritual journey. The apostle Paul wrote, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;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&rdquo; (1 Corinthians 6:19&ndash;20 NLT).
The Lord will lead us in the way that He wants us to go. Sometimes His will won&rsquo;t make sense to us. Sometimes it may seem as though God is trying to ruin all our fun. But in time we will realize that God knew what He was doing all along.
Unlike the GPS maps on our devices, we can&rsquo;t plug in our destination coordinates for this life. That&rsquo;s because we have no idea where it will take us. That doesn&rsquo;t stop us from trying, of course. We may try to plug in where we would like to end up. Or where we&rsquo;re planning to end up. But as the old Yiddish expression goes, &ldquo;Man plans, and God laughs.&rdquo; Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) puts it this way: &ldquo;Many are the plans in a person&rsquo;s heart, but it is the Lord&rsquo;s purpose that prevails.&rdquo;
GPS devices aren&rsquo;t always right, but God is. God&rsquo;s way is always the right way.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: How can you trust God&rsquo;s way even when it doesn&rsquo;t make sense to you?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."
&nbsp;
All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

God’s way is always the right way—and the best way.

Going the Right Way | 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

“Therefore, 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. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20 NLT)

 

As Christians, we need to not only seek to win people to Jesus Christ, but also help them get on their feet spiritually so that they can move on in their relationship with Him. We are called not just to convert but also to make disciples.

Jesus said, “Therefore, 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. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20 NLT).

Somewhere along the line, we have separated evangelism from discipleship. But God wants us to not only lead people to Christ but also to help them get on their feet spiritually.

I am so thankful that God brought a person like this to me. Shortly after my commitment to Christ, I didn’t know a lot of Christians. I wasn’t acclimating very well. I was in that awkward stage where I didn’t feel totally comfortable with Christians, but I didn’t want to hang out with my old friends either.

Then one day a guy named Mark came up to me and introduced himself. He brought me to church and introduced me to other Christians. He told me what to read and what it meant. I had so many questions, and he patiently explained things to me. He helped me make that transition. He made a difference in my life.

Every Christian can fill a similar role in the life of a new believer. That prospect may seem daunting to some people because they don’t feel equipped to disciple others. They convince themselves that it’s a job for “experts,” little realizing that they are the experts whom God has equipped to fulfill that responsibility.

Transparency is the key. You can introduce a new believer to the realities of the Christian life, as opposed to certain idealized (and unrealistic) portrayals of it. You can show a new believer the struggles, setbacks, and victories—big and small—that come from spending time in God’s Word, engaging in regular prayer, sharing your faith with others, and making daily choices that honor God.

Maybe God hasn’t called you to be a preacher or to lead worship, but you can be a friend to someone who has recently made a commitment to Christ. You can hang out with them. You can show them what a real Christian is like in the real world.

 

Reflection question: How can you help a new believer understand what it means to live for Christ? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

 

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

&ldquo;Therefore, 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. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.&rdquo; (Matthew 28:19&ndash;20 NLT)
&nbsp;
As Christians, we need to not only seek to win people to Jesus Christ, but also help them get on their feet spiritually so that they can move on in their relationship with Him. We are called not just to convert but also to make disciples.
Jesus said, &ldquo;Therefore, 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. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age&rdquo; (Matthew 28:19&ndash;20 NLT).
Somewhere along the line, we have separated evangelism from discipleship. But God wants us to not only lead people to Christ but also to help them get on their feet spiritually.
I am so thankful that God brought a person like this to me. Shortly after my commitment to Christ, I didn&rsquo;t know a lot of Christians. I wasn&rsquo;t acclimating very well. I was in that awkward stage where I didn&rsquo;t feel totally comfortable with Christians, but I didn&rsquo;t want to hang out with my old friends either.
Then one day a guy named Mark came up to me and introduced himself. He brought me to church and introduced me to other Christians. He told me what to read and what it meant. I had so many questions, and he patiently explained things to me. He helped me make that transition. He made a difference in my life.
Every Christian can fill a similar role in the life of a new believer. That prospect may seem daunting to some people because they don&rsquo;t feel equipped to disciple others. They convince themselves that it&rsquo;s a job for &ldquo;experts,&rdquo; little realizing that they are the experts whom God has equipped to fulfill that responsibility.
Transparency is the key. You can introduce a new believer to the realities of the Christian life, as opposed to certain idealized (and unrealistic) portrayals of it. You can show a new believer the struggles, setbacks, and victories&mdash;big and small&mdash;that come from spending time in God&rsquo;s Word, engaging in regular prayer, sharing your faith with others, and making daily choices that honor God.
Maybe God hasn&rsquo;t called you to be a preacher or to lead worship, but you can be a friend to someone who has recently made a commitment to Christ. You can hang out with them. You can show them what a real Christian is like in the real world.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: How can you help a new believer understand what it means to live for Christ?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."
&nbsp;
All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

Mature believers must help new believers understand how to live for Christ.

Taking the Next Step | Matthew 28:19–20 

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT)

 

Before I became a believer, one of the things that attracted me to the Christian faith was the way Christians loved each other.

I was raised in the 1960s, when the hippie and drug culture was coming on strong. We wore peace symbols and used words like groovy. We talked incessantly about love and peace. But it was a sham. There was no love or peace—at least, not as we envisioned it. It didn’t take me long to recognize the hypocrisy at the heart of the counterculture.

Having been raised in a broken home, I wanted love and peace, and I thought maybe the movements of the 1960s were where I needed to look. I tried to buy into their philosophies for a time, not because I was looking for a buzz or excitement, but because I was looking for meaning in life.

But nothing really resonated with me until I started meeting Christians. They had the love and peace I was searching for. They would get together for Bible studies on my high school campus, and I would watch them hug each other and say, “God bless you.”

I thought, “This can’t be real. They can’t really care about each other. There’s no way.” But as I kept watching them, it started bugging me. And then I thought, “What if they’re right and I’m wrong? What if the love is real and not an act? What if God really is living inside them? What if they have the truth? If that’s true, then I don’t have it, and I don’t have the answers. That means I need to hear what they have to say.”

Jesus understood that need and longing for genuine love. That’s why He told His followers, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NLT).

That love for one another doesn’t always come naturally. Nor should it. Nothing worthwhile is easy. They say politics makes strange bedfellows but so does the Christian faith. Jesus urged His followers to “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19 NLT). That involves bringing people together from all walks of life—people who are culturally, politically, socioeconomically, and temperamentally different from one another. In other words, people with little in common.

The apostle Paul wrote, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NLT). Yet the prejudices and misunderstandings that exist between these disparate groups don’t magically disappear when people come to Christ. Believers must work to change their thinking, to reach out to people who are different from them, to tear down walls and build bridges. To show love.

Can people see that kind of love in your life? When people of different ages, backgrounds, and cultures set aside differences and come together to worship in the name of Jesus Christ, it serves as a powerful testimony to a world that is more divided than ever.

 

Reflection question: What does love for other believers look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

 

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

&ldquo;Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.&rdquo; (John 13:35 NLT)
&nbsp;
Before I became a believer, one of the things that attracted me to the Christian faith was the way Christians loved each other.
I was raised in the 1960s, when the hippie and drug culture was coming on strong. We wore peace symbols and used words like groovy. We talked incessantly about love and peace. But it was a sham. There was no love or peace&mdash;at least, not as we envisioned it. It didn&rsquo;t take me long to recognize the hypocrisy at the heart of the counterculture.
Having been raised in a broken home, I wanted love and peace, and I thought maybe the movements of the 1960s were where I needed to look. I tried to buy into their philosophies for a time, not because I was looking for a buzz or excitement, but because I was looking for meaning in life.
But nothing really resonated with me until I started meeting Christians. They had the love and peace I was searching for. They would get together for Bible studies on my high school campus, and I would watch them hug each other and say, &ldquo;God bless you.&rdquo;
I thought, &ldquo;This can&rsquo;t be real. They can&rsquo;t really care about each other. There&rsquo;s no way.&rdquo; But as I kept watching them, it started bugging me. And then I thought, &ldquo;What if they&rsquo;re right and I&rsquo;m wrong? What if the love is real and not an act? What if God really is living inside them? What if they have the truth? If that&rsquo;s true, then I don&rsquo;t have it, and I don&rsquo;t have the answers. That means I need to hear what they have to say.&rdquo;
Jesus understood that need and longing for genuine love. That&rsquo;s why He told His followers, &ldquo;Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples&rdquo; (John 13:35 NLT).
That love for one another doesn&rsquo;t always come naturally. Nor should it. Nothing worthwhile is easy. They say politics makes strange bedfellows but so does the Christian faith. Jesus urged His followers to &ldquo;go and make disciples of all the nations&rdquo; (Matthew 28:19 NLT). That involves bringing people together from all walks of life&mdash;people who are culturally, politically, socioeconomically, and temperamentally different from one another. In other words, people with little in common.
The apostle Paul wrote, &ldquo;There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus&rdquo; (Galatians 3:28 NLT). Yet the prejudices and misunderstandings that exist between these disparate groups don&rsquo;t magically disappear when people come to Christ. Believers must work to change their thinking, to reach out to people who are different from them, to tear down walls and build bridges. To show love.
Can people see that kind of love in your life? When people of different ages, backgrounds, and cultures set aside differences and come together to worship in the name of Jesus Christ, it serves as a powerful testimony to a world that is more divided than ever.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What does love for other believers look like in your life?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."
&nbsp;
All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

One of the most powerful testimonies believers can offer is their love for one another.

Every Effort Matters | Zechariah 4:10

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