But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 'That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.' John 12:4–5

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But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 'That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.' John 12:4–5
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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

JOHN 12:4–5: But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 'That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.'

Extravagant Love | John 12:4–5

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1 NLT)

 

Psalm 91 is one of the most uplifting passages in all of Scripture, filled with promises like the one found in its first verse. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT).

But it’s worth noting that the blessings promised in Psalm 91 aren’t for just anyone. They are specifically given to believers, and not just to believers in general. These benefits are targeted toward believers who specifically meet the requirements found within the psalm. Psalm 91 is full of what we call conditional promises. In other words, God promises to do certain things for us, hinging on our doing certain things that are required.

Let’s look at the words of verse 1 again: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT). The word live, which also may be translated as dwell, means “quiet and resting, enduring and remaining with consistency.” It is very similar to the words remain and abide, which we see often in the New Testament. Jesus said, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NLT). That word remain means “to stay in a given place, to maintain unbroken fellowship and communion with another.”

Here’s what God is saying: “If you want to experience the promises of Psalm 91—My protection, My provision, and My blessing—you must dwell in the shelter of the Most High. You must remain in constant fellowship with Me. You must not allow the things of this world to put distance between us.”

Believers have a relationship with God because we’ve put our faith in Jesus Christ and have turned from our sin. But are we living in constant fellowship with God? Many believers aren’t. And they’re missing out on countless blessings as a consequence.

Psalm 91 also includes these promises: “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (verse 4 NLT).

“I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation” (verses 14–16 NLT). And that’s still only scratching the surface.

God is interested in a relationship with you—not just on Sundays but throughout the week. He wants you to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. He wants you to experience the blessings that come from an intimate relationship with Him.

 

Reflection question: What would constant fellowship with God 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;Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.&rdquo; (Psalm 91:1 NLT)
&nbsp;
Psalm 91 is one of the most uplifting passages in all of Scripture, filled with promises like the one found in its first verse. &ldquo;Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty&rdquo; (NLT).
But it&rsquo;s worth noting that the blessings promised in Psalm 91 aren&rsquo;t for just anyone. They are specifically given to believers, and not just to believers in general. These benefits are targeted toward believers who specifically meet the requirements found within the psalm. Psalm 91 is full of what we call conditional promises. In other words, God promises to do certain things for us, hinging on our doing certain things that are required.
Let&rsquo;s look at the words of verse 1 again: &ldquo;Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty&rdquo; (NLT). The word live, which also may be translated as dwell, means &ldquo;quiet and resting, enduring and remaining with consistency.&rdquo; It is very similar to the words remain and abide, which we see often in the New Testament. Jesus said, &ldquo;Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing&rdquo; (John 15:5 NLT). That word remain means &ldquo;to stay in a given place, to maintain unbroken fellowship and communion with another.&rdquo;
Here&rsquo;s what God is saying: &ldquo;If you want to experience the promises of Psalm 91&mdash;My protection, My provision, and My blessing&mdash;you must dwell in the shelter of the Most High. You must remain in constant fellowship with Me. You must not allow the things of this world to put distance between us.&rdquo;
Believers have a relationship with God because we&rsquo;ve put our faith in Jesus Christ and have turned from our sin. But are we living in constant fellowship with God? Many believers aren&rsquo;t. And they&rsquo;re missing out on countless blessings as a consequence.
Psalm 91 also includes these promises: &ldquo;He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection&rdquo; (verse 4 NLT).
&ldquo;I will rescue those who love me.&nbsp;I will protect those who trust in my name.&nbsp;When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.&nbsp;I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation&rdquo; (verses 14&ndash;16 NLT). And that&rsquo;s still only scratching the surface.
God is interested in a relationship with you&mdash;not just on Sundays but throughout the week. He wants you to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. He wants you to experience the blessings that come from an intimate relationship with Him.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What would constant fellowship with God 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>

The way to experience God’s full blessings is to live in constant fellowship with Him.

Live, Dwell, Remain, Abide | Psalm 91:1

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33 NLT)

 

A man was out driving in the country during a heavy rainstorm when he came across an old farmer who was surveying the ruins of his barn. The man pulled over and asked the farmer what happened.

“Roof fell in,” the farmer replied.

“What happened with it? Why did it fall in?” asked the stranger.

“It leaked so long, it just finally rotted through,” the farmer said.

“Why in the world didn’t you fix it before it rotted through?”

“Well, sir,” said the farmer, “I just never got around to it. When the weather was good, there wasn’t a need for it. And when it rained, it was just too wet to work on.”

Isn’t it amazing that when you want to do something, you somehow manage to find the time, no matter how busy you are? But when someone asks you to do something you don’t want to do, suddenly, there is just no room in the schedule.

This can happen when it comes to the Christian life as well. If we are serving God only when it’s convenient, then we’re settling for second best. Not only that, but we’re also keeping God at arm’s length. We’re settling for a less-than-best relationship with Him. If we make time for the things of God only until something better comes along, then we’re missing out on what God wants to do in our lives.

How much better it is to make time for the things of God—to put them above everything else. How much better it is to get your priorities right. Instead of making excuses, make time for the Lord. It’s not only the simple way to live, but it’s also the best way.

Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT). That’s an amazing promise. And it shows just how much God desires a personal relationship with us.

When we drift away from God, it’s because we start to believe that we need certain other things in our lives. Those things may include earthly success, wealth, possessions, hobbies, or habits. So, we pursue them with a passion. We convince ourselves that they will bring us joy, give us a sense of accomplishment or fulfillment, or fill whatever emptiness we have inside us.

And, like the farmer, we neglect the things that truly matter. And, also like the farmer, we run the risk of rot—spiritual rot.

God, in His mercy, says, “If you will prioritize your relationship with Me, if you will close the distance between us by putting Me first, I will help you see what you truly need. I’ll help you remove the rot and strengthen you inside.”

What an amazing offer! And it all begins with a priority shift.

 

Reflection question: What would seeking the Kingdom of God above all else 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;Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.&rdquo; (Matthew 6:33 NLT)
&nbsp;
A man was out driving in the country during a heavy rainstorm when he came across an old farmer who was surveying the ruins of his barn. The man pulled over and asked the farmer what happened.
&ldquo;Roof fell in,&rdquo; the farmer replied.
&ldquo;What happened with it? Why did it fall in?&rdquo; asked the stranger.
&ldquo;It leaked so long, it just finally rotted through,&rdquo; the farmer said.
&ldquo;Why in the world didn&rsquo;t you fix it before it rotted through?&rdquo;
&ldquo;Well, sir,&rdquo; said the farmer, &ldquo;I just never got around to it. When the weather was good, there wasn&rsquo;t a need for it. And when it rained, it was just too wet to work on.&rdquo;
Isn&rsquo;t it amazing that when you want to do something, you somehow manage to find the time, no matter how busy you are? But when someone asks you to do something you don&rsquo;t want to do, suddenly, there is just no room in the schedule.
This can happen when it comes to the Christian life as well. If we are serving God only when it&rsquo;s convenient, then we&rsquo;re settling for second best. Not only that, but we&rsquo;re also keeping God at arm&rsquo;s length. We&rsquo;re settling for a less-than-best relationship with Him. If we make time for the things of God only until something better comes along, then we&rsquo;re missing out on what God wants to do in our lives.
How much better it is to make time for the things of God&mdash;to put them above everything else. How much better it is to get your priorities right. Instead of making excuses, make time for the Lord. It&rsquo;s not only the simple way to live, but it&rsquo;s also the best way.
Jesus said, &ldquo;Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need&rdquo; (Matthew 6:33 NLT). That&rsquo;s an amazing promise. And it shows just how much God desires a personal relationship with us.
When we drift away from God, it&rsquo;s because we start to believe that we need certain other things in our lives. Those things may include earthly success, wealth, possessions, hobbies, or habits. So, we pursue them with a passion. We convince ourselves that they will bring us joy, give us a sense of accomplishment or fulfillment, or fill whatever emptiness we have inside us.
And, like the farmer, we neglect the things that truly matter. And, also like the farmer, we run the risk of rot&mdash;spiritual rot.
God, in His mercy, says, &ldquo;If you will prioritize your relationship with Me, if you will close the distance between us by putting Me first, I will help you see what you truly need. I&rsquo;ll help you remove the rot and strengthen you inside.&rdquo;
What an amazing offer! And it all begins with a priority shift.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What would seeking the Kingdom of God above all else 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>

Putting God first is the best way to make sure that everything else in your life finds its proper place.

God First | Matthew 6:33

“The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.” (Luke 8:14 NLT)

 

I’ve always been amazed by weeds. You can take a little flower, plant it in the perfect location, water it, and make sure that there are no pests to threaten it. You can do everything possible for that flower, and it will slowly grow. But then, in the same amount of time, a weed can spring up and choke out the flower.

The weed doesn’t suddenly burst out of the ground, grab the flower, and start shaking it. The process is gradual. First, the weed appears in the vicinity of the flower. The next day, the weed grows a little closer. And on it goes until the weed starts to wrap itself around the flower and choke out its growth.

That is what Jesus was describing in the parable of the sower when He said, “The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity” (Luke 8:14 NLT). The “cares and riches and pleasures of this life” are the weeds that choke our spiritual growth. As with the weeds in nature, the process doesn’t happen overnight; it happens over time.

Also, as with weeds in nature, the “cares and riches and pleasures of life” aren’t always immediately identifiable as weeds. In fact, the things that prevent the seed of God’s Word from maturing and producing fruit in our lives aren’t necessarily bad things in and of themselves. Some are good things that become the most important things and choke out the spiritual things. They also create distance between us and God.

The picture that Jesus paints in His parable is not one of someone who says they don’t want to pray, read the Bible, or go to church. Rather, it’s someone who thinks those are good things to do. But over time, they start losing interest, and the things of this world become more important to them than the things of the next world. That’s what chokes them out spiritually and causes them to feel distant from God.

It’s essential, then, that we examine our priorities frequently. Not our idealized priorities, the things we say are important to us, but our actual priorities, the things that get the lion’s share of our time, energy, and interest.

Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Luke 12:34 NLT). God wants you to treasure the things that are truly important. The things that will last for eternity. The things that bring genuine joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment. God wants your heart. If you give Him that, He will give more than you can possibly imagine in return.

 

Reflection question: How can you make sure that the things of this world don’t choke out the things of God 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;The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.&rdquo; (Luke 8:14 NLT)
&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve always been amazed by weeds. You can take a little flower, plant it in the perfect location, water it, and make sure that there are no pests to threaten it. You can do everything possible for that flower, and it will slowly grow. But then, in the same amount of time, a weed can spring up and choke out the flower.
The weed doesn&rsquo;t suddenly burst out of the ground, grab the flower, and start shaking it. The process is gradual. First, the weed appears in the vicinity of the flower. The next day, the weed grows a little closer. And on it goes until the weed starts to wrap itself around the flower and choke out its growth.
That is what Jesus was describing in the parable of the sower when He said, &ldquo;The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity&rdquo; (Luke 8:14 NLT). The &ldquo;cares and riches and pleasures of this life&rdquo; are the weeds that choke our spiritual growth. As with the weeds in nature, the process doesn&rsquo;t happen overnight; it happens over time.
Also, as with weeds in nature, the &ldquo;cares and riches and pleasures of life&rdquo; aren&rsquo;t always immediately identifiable as weeds. In fact, the things that prevent the seed of God&rsquo;s Word from maturing and producing fruit in our lives aren&rsquo;t necessarily bad things in and of themselves. Some are good things that become the most important things and choke out the spiritual things. They also create distance between us and God.
The picture that Jesus paints in His parable is not one of someone who says they don&rsquo;t want to pray, read the Bible, or go to church. Rather, it&rsquo;s someone who thinks those are good things to do. But over time, they start losing interest, and the things of this world become more important to them than the things of the next world. That&rsquo;s what chokes them out spiritually and causes them to feel distant from God.
It&rsquo;s essential, then, that we examine our priorities frequently. Not our idealized priorities, the things we say are important to us, but our actual priorities, the things that get the lion&rsquo;s share of our time, energy, and interest.
Jesus said, &ldquo;Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be&rdquo; (Luke 12:34 NLT). God wants you to treasure the things that are truly important. The things that will last for eternity. The things that bring genuine joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment. God wants your heart. If you give Him that, He will give more than you can possibly imagine in return.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: How can you make sure that the things of this world don&rsquo;t choke out the things of God 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>

The things of this world can strangle our Christian growth if we’re not careful.

Extravagant Love | John 12:4–5

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