“Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.” (Revelation 20:14 NLT)

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“Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.” (Revelation 20:14 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>

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

“Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.” (Revelation 20:14 NLT)

It’s No Joke | Revelation 20:14

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” (Matthew 5:13 NLT)

 

In the ancient world, salt was used as a preservative. It still is today—ham, corned beef, olives, pickles, and even anchovies are preserved in brine, a saltwater solution. The purpose of the salt is to stop the food from spoiling, to prevent its corruption.

Jesus referenced the crucial role that salt plays when He said to His followers, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless” (Matthew 5:13 NLT).

His point was that Christians should seek to be a preservative wherever we are. We should be active agents against corruption. For example, if you’re a parent, you can guide your children in what they see and interact with on social media. You can teach them Christian values and live as an example to them. If you’re the only Christian in your family, then you’re probably always the one who’s asked to give the blessing over the Thanksgiving meal. That’s good, because it means your family notices that you’re a Christian, that your life is different from theirs. So, seize the opportunity.

You also need to be salt in the place where you work. You can refuse to gossip about coworkers, you can do your work without grumbling, and you can be an encouragement to others. You may experience instances when your coworkers are gathered around, telling certain jokes. But when you walk in, everyone suddenly falls silent. Instead of being uncomfortable about such treatment, recognize it for the begrudging acknowledgment it is. Your coworkers know that you’re a representative of Jesus. You’re functioning as a preservative in that situation.

Or maybe you’re that one Christian student in your classroom. You need to stand up for Christian values. You can refuse to participate in harmful activities and tell your friends why. That’s what it means to be salt. No one ever said that being a Christian would make you popular. But it does make you salt. And though it may be hard at times, it’s a responsibility you need to embrace.

When we speak of the need for revival in our nation, we tend to think of it in grand, sweeping terms. In reality, revival is a big movement triggered by countless small acts. In that sense, it’s like the civil rights movement. Civil rights weren’t won in one dramatic moment. They were won by countless acts of resistance and courage.

Likewise, revival begins when individual believers take seriously their assigned roles as salt of the earth. Let the Holy Spirit help and guide you as you add a distinctive Christian flavor wherever you go.

 

Reflection question: How can you add a distinctive Christian flavor wherever you go? 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;You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.&rdquo; (Matthew 5:13 NLT)
&nbsp;
In the ancient world, salt was used as a preservative. It still is today&mdash;ham, corned beef, olives, pickles, and even anchovies are preserved in brine, a saltwater solution. The purpose of the salt is to stop the food from spoiling, to prevent its corruption.
Jesus referenced the crucial role that salt plays when He said to His followers, &ldquo;You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless&rdquo; (Matthew 5:13 NLT).
His point was that Christians should seek to be a preservative wherever we are. We should be active agents against corruption. For example, if you&rsquo;re a parent, you can guide your children in what they see and interact with on social media. You can teach them Christian values and live as an example to them. If you&rsquo;re the only Christian in your family, then you&rsquo;re probably always the one who&rsquo;s asked to give the blessing over the Thanksgiving meal. That&rsquo;s good, because it means your family notices that you&rsquo;re a Christian, that your life is different from theirs. So, seize the opportunity.
You also need to be salt in the place where you work. You can refuse to gossip about coworkers, you can do your work without grumbling, and you can be an encouragement to others. You may experience instances when your coworkers are gathered around, telling certain jokes. But when you walk in, everyone suddenly falls silent. Instead of being uncomfortable about such treatment, recognize it for the begrudging acknowledgment it is. Your coworkers know that you&rsquo;re a representative of Jesus. You&rsquo;re functioning as a preservative in that situation.
Or maybe you&rsquo;re that one Christian student in your classroom. You need to stand up for Christian values. You can refuse to participate in harmful activities and tell your friends why. That&rsquo;s what it means to be salt. No one ever said that being a Christian would make you popular. But it does make you salt. And though it may be hard at times, it&rsquo;s a responsibility you need to embrace.
When we speak of the need for revival in our nation, we tend to think of it in grand, sweeping terms. In reality, revival is a big movement triggered by countless small acts. In that sense, it&rsquo;s like the civil rights movement. Civil rights weren&rsquo;t won in one dramatic moment. They were won by countless acts of resistance and courage.
Likewise, revival begins when individual believers take seriously their assigned roles as salt of the earth. Let the Holy Spirit help and guide you as you add a distinctive Christian flavor wherever you go.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: How can you add a distinctive Christian flavor wherever you go?&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>

Jesus calls believers to be the salt of the earth, to add a distinctive Christian flavor wherever we go.

Salt of the Earth | Matthew 5:13

“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.” (Psalm 51:7–13 NLT)

 

As we look at the trouble and turmoil in our country now, it isn’t hard to see that the United States is reaping the results of years of disobedience to God and His Word. We’ve worked hard to remove God and His Word from our courtrooms, from our classrooms, and from society in general.

But our society’s troubles are all symptoms of a deeper problem. Simply put, it’s the effect of sin that we’re seeing. We’ve been so careful to arm ourselves against the enemy on the outside, yet we’ve forgotten the enemy on the inside. And we’ve missed one of the most important blessings of history.

Abraham Lincoln made this proclamation in 1863: “Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” Honest Abe was right. We are rotting from within.

How will we solve this problem? Politicians can’t do it for us. While they can offer some help, their efforts won’t get to the root of the problem. The only answer is a heaven-sent spiritual awakening. The only answer is a revival.

The words of the psalmist reflect the spirit necessary for a revival. “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you” (Psalm 51:7–13 NLT).

There will never be a spiritual awakening in this nation until we believe in the one and only true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Without this, there will never be moral change or a cure for our countless social ills.

This is the message God has entrusted to believers. This is the message we must deliver to the nation as we pray for and work toward revival.

 

Reflection question: What would it look like in your life to be restored to the joy of your salvation? 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;Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.&nbsp;Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me&mdash;now let me rejoice.&nbsp;Don&rsquo;t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.&nbsp;Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.&nbsp;Do not banish me from your presence, and don&rsquo;t take your Holy Spirit&nbsp;from me.&nbsp;Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.&nbsp;Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.&rdquo; (Psalm 51:7&ndash;13 NLT)
&nbsp;
As we look at the trouble and turmoil in our country now, it isn&rsquo;t hard to see that the United States is reaping the results of years of disobedience to God and His Word. We&rsquo;ve worked hard to remove God and His Word from our courtrooms, from our classrooms, and from society in general.
But our society&rsquo;s troubles are all symptoms of a deeper problem. Simply put, it&rsquo;s the effect of sin that we&rsquo;re seeing. We&rsquo;ve been so careful to arm ourselves against the enemy on the outside, yet we&rsquo;ve forgotten the enemy on the inside. And we&rsquo;ve missed one of the most important blessings of history.
Abraham Lincoln made this proclamation in 1863: &ldquo;Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.&rdquo; Honest Abe was right. We are rotting from within.
How will we solve this problem? Politicians can&rsquo;t do it for us. While they can offer some help, their efforts won&rsquo;t get to the root of the problem. The only answer is a heaven-sent spiritual awakening. The only answer is a revival.
The words of the psalmist reflect the spirit necessary for a revival. &ldquo;Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.&nbsp;Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me&mdash;now let me rejoice.&nbsp;Don&rsquo;t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.&nbsp;Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.&nbsp;Do not banish me from your presence, and don&rsquo;t take your Holy Spirit&nbsp;from me.&nbsp;Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.&nbsp;Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you&rdquo; (Psalm 51:7&ndash;13 NLT).
There will never be a spiritual awakening in this nation until we believe in the one and only true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Without this, there will never be moral change or a cure for our countless social ills.
This is the message God has entrusted to believers. This is the message we must deliver to the nation as we pray for and work toward revival.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What would it look like in your life to be restored to the joy of your salvation?&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>

Our nation needs to find its way back to God and His Word.

Healing from Within | Psalm 51:7–13

“So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.” (Acts 27:25 NLT)

 

Many Christians are tempted to believe the lie that when we’re in the will of God, everything will be smooth sailing. But often just the opposite is true. Doors slam in our faces. Obstacles appear in our paths. Storms arise that threaten to drive us off course.

That’s why we need to remember that we have a spiritual enemy who wants to stop us from doing what God wants us to do. And he will use any means at his disposal to accomplish his work, including causing us to doubt God’s goodness and protection.

Acts 27 tells the story of the apostle Paul’s voyage to Rome. Though he was a prisoner facing trial, he recognized that his circumstances would give him a momentous opportunity to share the gospel with several highly placed Roman officials. He reasonably could have expected smooth sailing all the way to his destination. After all, he was doing the Lord’s will even as his life hung in the balance.

But that’s not how this story goes. An incredible storm arose that caused the people on his ship to despair of their lives—but not Paul. It seems there was no obstacle big enough to stop the apostle. He always seemed to rise above his circumstances. His words to his sailing companions in Acts 27:25 summarize his mindset: “So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said” (NLT). As he went through the storm, he knew God had shown him what to do, and he would let nothing deter him from that course.

When a hard time hits, when a crisis hits, when a tragedy hits, often our first instinct is to look for a way out. We ask God for an airlift out of our problems.

But God wants us to learn in the midst of them. Romans 8:35 and 37 say, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (NIV). Notice the phrase “in all these things.” It isn’t saying we won’t face some of these things. But it says that inthem we are more than conquerors.

If you’re seeking to obey the Lord, expect opposition. Expect obstacles. Expect difficulties. But also expect God to see you through.

That applies on a national level as well. Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, once gave a speech in which he talked about “the man in the arena”—that is, a person, such as a national leader, who is heavily involved in doing what he believes is right, all the while enduring the attacks, criticism, and second-guessing of those who sit on the sidelines.

In an earlier devotion we talked about how electing believers into office facilitates revival in our nation. But we also need to stand by those leaders because our spiritual enemy will do his best to wear them down or neutralize them through continuous attacks.

They need our support.

 

Reflection question: How can you show real support for the Christian leaders of our nation? 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;So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.&rdquo; (Acts 27:25 NLT)
&nbsp;
Many Christians are tempted to believe the lie that when we&rsquo;re in the will of God, everything will be smooth sailing. But often just the opposite is true. Doors slam in our faces. Obstacles appear in our paths. Storms arise that threaten to drive us off course.
That&rsquo;s why we need to remember that we have a spiritual enemy who wants to stop us from doing what God wants us to do. And he will use any means at his disposal to accomplish his work, including causing us to doubt God&rsquo;s goodness and protection.
Acts 27 tells the story of the apostle Paul&rsquo;s voyage to Rome. Though he was a prisoner facing trial, he recognized that his circumstances would give him a momentous opportunity to share the gospel with several highly placed Roman officials. He reasonably could have expected smooth sailing all the way to his destination. After all, he was doing the Lord&rsquo;s will even as his life hung in the balance.
But that&rsquo;s not how this story goes. An incredible storm arose that caused the people on his ship to despair of their lives&mdash;but not Paul. It seems there was no obstacle big enough to stop the apostle. He always seemed to rise above his circumstances. His words to his sailing companions in Acts 27:25 summarize his mindset: &ldquo;So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said&rdquo; (NLT). As he went through the storm, he knew God had shown him what to do, and he would let nothing deter him from that course.
When a hard time hits, when a crisis hits, when a tragedy hits, often our first instinct is to look for a way out. We ask God for an airlift out of our problems.
But God wants us to learn in the midst of them. Romans 8:35 and 37 say, &ldquo;Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us&rdquo; (NIV). Notice the phrase &ldquo;in all these things.&rdquo; It isn&rsquo;t saying we won&rsquo;t face some of these things. But it says that in them we are more than conquerors.
If you&rsquo;re seeking to obey the Lord, expect opposition. Expect obstacles. Expect difficulties. But also expect God to see you through.
That applies on a national level as well. Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, once gave a speech in which he talked about &ldquo;the man in the arena&rdquo;&mdash;that is, a person, such as a national leader, who is heavily involved in doing what he believes is right, all the while enduring the attacks, criticism, and second-guessing of those who sit on the sidelines.
In an earlier devotion we talked about how electing believers into office facilitates revival in our nation. But we also need to stand by those leaders because our spiritual enemy will do his best to wear them down or neutralize them through continuous attacks.
They need our support.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: How can you show real support for the Christian leaders of our nation?&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>

If you’re seeking to obey the Lord, expect opposition, obstacles, and difficulties—but also expect God to see you through.

It’s No Joke | Revelation 20:14

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