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
—
<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. 

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 <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.

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

Daily Devotions From Greg Laurie

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

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1–2 NLT)

Our nation needs prayer. Our political views, among many other things, divide us, and we need to ask for God’s intervention, for His will to be done. We need to pray for a spiritual awakening to sweep over our country. We need to pray for the church. We need to pray for one another. We all need prayer. Prayer is powerful. Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us.

Notice that prayer is the first thing Paul recommended to Timothy: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1–2 NLT).

Prayer sets the proper tone for our country that is polarized by political views because it places things in God’s hands. When we pray, we acknowledge that God’s way is better than ours. We humble ourselves before Him and admit that we must rely on His wisdom and power. Prayer keeps us from placing too much faith in our leaders, our political policies, or ourselves.

Prayer is also the ideal tool for healing the divisions that occur during an election season. Emotions run high. Accusations fly. Grudges form. Unloving words are exchanged. Relationships are damaged. Prayer has the potential to undo that damage and unify people with opposing views. Prayer compels us to show genuine love and concern for “all people”—particularly those with whom we disagree. Notice that Paul makes no distinction about who we must pray for. We don’t get to choose the people we want God to bless. Our responsibility as believers is to intercede on behalf of others and give thanks for them. God wants us to recognize their value.

Paul’s instruction to Timothy, “Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority,” is as important today as it was in the first century. We live in a complex world. Political power must be used wisely. A decision that benefits one group could prove devastating to another. Our leaders desperately need our prayer. They desperately need the Lord’s guidance. Living “peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” is a goal worthy of striving for.

Prayer is essential because it’s the most powerful spiritual weapon in our arsenal. When a political election is over, the battle rages on. And it’s not a battle between Democrats and Republicans or between progressives and conservatives. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul warns, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (NLT).

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1–2 NLT)
Our nation needs prayer. Our political views, among many other things, divide us, and we need to ask for God’s intervention, for His will to be done. We need to pray for a spiritual awakening to sweep over our country. We need to pray for the church. We need to pray for one another. We all need prayer. Prayer is powerful. Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us.
Notice that prayer is the first thing Paul recommended to Timothy: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1–2 NLT).
Prayer sets the proper tone for our country that is polarized by political views because it places things in God’s hands. When we pray, we acknowledge that God’s way is better than ours. We humble ourselves before Him and admit that we must rely on His wisdom and power. Prayer keeps us from placing too much faith in our leaders, our political policies, or ourselves.
Prayer is also the ideal tool for healing the divisions that occur during an election season. Emotions run high. Accusations fly. Grudges form. Unloving words are exchanged. Relationships are damaged. Prayer has the potential to undo that damage and unify people with opposing views. Prayer compels us to show genuine love and concern for “all people”—particularly those with whom we disagree. Notice that Paul makes no distinction about who we must pray for. We don’t get to choose the people we want God to bless. Our responsibility as believers is to intercede on behalf of others and give thanks for them. God wants us to recognize their value.
Paul’s instruction to Timothy, “Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority,” is as important today as it was in the first century. We live in a complex world. Political power must be used wisely. A decision that benefits one group could prove devastating to another. Our leaders desperately need our prayer. They desperately need the Lord’s guidance. Living “peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” is a goal worthy of striving for.
Prayer is essential because it’s the most powerful spiritual weapon in our arsenal. When a political election is over, the battle rages on. And it’s not a battle between Democrats and Republicans or between progressives and conservatives. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul warns, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (NLT).
—
<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>

Prayer sets the proper tone for our country that is polarized by political views.

A Time to Pray | 1 Timothy 2:1–2

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

We need to pray. We need to pray for our nation. We need to pray for a revival in our nation. A revival is a spiritual awakening in which many people recognize and confess their sinfulness and turn to Jesus in repentance and receive forgiveness and salvation.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Lord gives His prescription for revival: “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (NLT). In the context of the passage, the prescription was given to the nation of Israel. In principle, it applies to any nation. It applies to the United States. It applies to Australia. It applies to New Zealand. It applies to China. It applies to Germany. And it applies to the other 190 or so countries in the world today.

More specifically, it applies to God’s people in those countries. Because that’s where revival begins. Would you like to see our land healed? Would you like to see our nation embrace Judeo-Christian principles? Would you like to see our country turn to the Lord? It can happen.

And it starts with humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God’s face, and turning from our wicked ways. Are there any wicked ways you need to turn from right now, even as a follower of Jesus Christ? We are told in 1 John 1:9 that “if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT). God is faithful to forgive.

God calls believers to infiltrate our culture. In Matthew 5, He instructs us to be salt and light to the people around us. To share the gospel. Our country needs to hear the gospel—and it needs to see the gospel in action.

Jesus’ words “You are the light of the world” in Matthew 5:14 could also be translated as “You and you alone are the light of the world.” He emphasizes the fact that we are His representatives. We are the ones unbelievers look to, whether out of curiosity or suspicion. People watch us to see what it looks like to follow Christ.

Let me ask you a question: What if every Christian lived as you live? What if you were the sole representative of Jesus Christ on this earth? Would there be enough gospel in your life for people to believe? Enough saltiness to simulate in them a thirst? Enough light for them to find their way out of the darkness and put their faith in Jesus Christ?

I hope so because this is the message we need to give to others. Remember, gospel means “good news.” Our culture is saturated with fake news or news driven by an agenda. People are hungry for good news. They’re hungry for the truth.

The gospel can satisfy that hunger. And when it does, revival begins. First in the lives of individuals and then throughout the land. That’s how a nation is restored.

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)
We need to pray. We need to pray for our nation. We need to pray for a revival in our nation. A revival is a spiritual awakening in which many people recognize and confess their sinfulness and turn to Jesus in repentance and receive forgiveness and salvation.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Lord gives His prescription for revival: “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (NLT). In the context of the passage, the prescription was given to the nation of Israel. In principle, it applies to any nation. It applies to the United States. It applies to Australia. It applies to New Zealand. It applies to China. It applies to Germany. And it applies to the other 190 or so countries in the world today.
More specifically, it applies to God’s people in those countries. Because that’s where revival begins. Would you like to see our land healed? Would you like to see our nation embrace Judeo-Christian principles? Would you like to see our country turn to the Lord? It can happen.
And it starts with humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God’s face, and turning from our wicked ways. Are there any wicked ways you need to turn from right now, even as a follower of Jesus Christ? We are told in 1 John 1:9 that “if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT). God is faithful to forgive.
God calls believers to infiltrate our culture. In Matthew 5, He instructs us to be salt and light to the people around us. To share the gospel. Our country needs to hear the gospel—and it needs to see the gospel in action.
Jesus’ words “You are the light of the world” in Matthew 5:14 could also be translated as “You and you alone are the light of the world.” He emphasizes the fact that we are His representatives. We are the ones unbelievers look to, whether out of curiosity or suspicion. People watch us to see what it looks like to follow Christ.
Let me ask you a question: What if every Christian lived as you live? What if you were the sole representative of Jesus Christ on this earth? Would there be enough gospel in your life for people to believe? Enough saltiness to simulate in them a thirst? Enough light for them to find their way out of the darkness and put their faith in Jesus Christ?
I hope so because this is the message we need to give to others. Remember, gospel means “good news.” Our culture is saturated with fake news or news driven by an agenda. People are hungry for good news. They’re hungry for the truth.
The gospel can satisfy that hunger. And when it does, revival begins. First in the lives of individuals and then throughout the land. That’s how a nation is restored.
—
<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>

Our country needs to hear the gospel and see it in action.

 A Healing in the Land | 2 Chronicles 7:14 

For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. (Psalm 22:28 NLT)

Political commentators would have you believe that something significant happens in the power structure of a nation following an election. If an incumbent is reelected, it solidifies that party’s hold on the reins of power. It’s seen as an endorsement of current policies and leadership tactics. If a challenger is elected, it’s seen as a mandate for sweeping change.

Either way, a sizable portion of the voting population will be unhappy with the result. Some will be extremely unhappy. And they’ll look for scapegoats. It’s very easy in our polarized society today, especially in an election year, to view anyone who disagrees with us as our mortal enemy. We cringe at the idea of their having power or influence in the world. But as believers, we should never think of someone who holds a different view from ours or someone who doesn’t have our faith as an enemy.

Those aren’t the battles we should be fighting. We don’t take our marching orders from party leaders or media personalities. And the truth is that, after an election, nothing really changes in the power structure of the country. Psalm 22:28 says, “For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations” (NLT). These words can’t be amended. Power always belongs to the Lord. He rules the nations. He rules our nation. That’s why we still have hope, no matter what the election results are.

It’s not unpatriotic to point out that every nation has a shelf life. The glory of Greece was eclipsed after 268 years. Rome lasted around nine centuries. The United States is 248 years old and counting. Only God knows how many more years this nation will exist. The days of every nation are numbered. Isaiah 40:15 says that “all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales” (NLT).

Revelation 15:3 says, “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations” (NLT). God is the true King of every nation, and He reigns for eternity. Unlike human leaders, He is sovereign. He will do what He pleases with whomever He chooses, whenever He wishes. Regardless of who wins an election, our responsibility as believers is to do God’s will and to trust Him. He doesn’t want political retribution. (And even if He did, He’s infinitely more capable of dishing it out than we are.)

Our sovereign God wants us to reach out to our so-called enemies. He wants us to be lights in their lives. He wants them to see Christ in us. He wants us to share the truth of the gospel with them. He wants us to truly care about their well-being—to embrace an attitude of humility and concern. He wants us to be ambassadors of His love. He wants us to help them experience His forgiveness and grace. He wants us to fill His kingdom with as many people as possible.

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. (Psalm 22:28 NLT)
Political commentators would have you believe that something significant happens in the power structure of a nation following an election. If an incumbent is reelected, it solidifies that party’s hold on the reins of power. It’s seen as an endorsement of current policies and leadership tactics. If a challenger is elected, it’s seen as a mandate for sweeping change.
Either way, a sizable portion of the voting population will be unhappy with the result. Some will be extremely unhappy. And they’ll look for scapegoats. It’s very easy in our polarized society today, especially in an election year, to view anyone who disagrees with us as our mortal enemy. We cringe at the idea of their having power or influence in the world. But as believers, we should never think of someone who holds a different view from ours or someone who doesn’t have our faith as an enemy.
Those aren’t the battles we should be fighting. We don’t take our marching orders from party leaders or media personalities. And the truth is that, after an election, nothing really changes in the power structure of the country. Psalm 22:28 says, “For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations” (NLT). These words can’t be amended. Power always belongs to the Lord. He rules the nations. He rules our nation. That’s why we still have hope, no matter what the election results are.
It’s not unpatriotic to point out that every nation has a shelf life. The glory of Greece was eclipsed after 268 years. Rome lasted around nine centuries. The United States is 248 years old and counting. Only God knows how many more years this nation will exist. The days of every nation are numbered. Isaiah 40:15 says that “all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales” (NLT).
Revelation 15:3 says, “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations” (NLT). God is the true King of every nation, and He reigns for eternity. Unlike human leaders, He is sovereign. He will do what He pleases with whomever He chooses, whenever He wishes. Regardless of who wins an election, our responsibility as believers is to do God’s will and to trust Him. He doesn’t want political retribution. (And even if He did, He’s infinitely more capable of dishing it out than we are.)
Our sovereign God wants us to reach out to our so-called enemies. He wants us to be lights in their lives. He wants them to see Christ in us. He wants us to share the truth of the gospel with them. He wants us to truly care about their well-being—to embrace an attitude of humility and concern. He wants us to be ambassadors of His love. He wants us to help them experience His forgiveness and grace. He wants us to fill His kingdom with as many people as possible.
—
<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>

 God is the true King of every nation, and He reigns for eternity.

Extravagant Love | John 12:4–5

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