"Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed." Acts 12:16

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"Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed." Acts 12:16
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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

ACTS 12:16: Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.

Meanwhile . . . | Acts 12:16

“So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.” (2 Corinthians 5:6–9 NLT)

 

What happens to us as believers when we die? We go straight into the presence of God. The apostle Paul wrote that when we are “away from these earthly bodies . . . then we will be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT). There’s no waiting period or shipping delays. The moment our time on earth ends, our time in God’s presence begins.

That’s why Paul wrote, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is 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 1:21–24 NLT). He wanted to continue his work on earth, but the thought of Heaven was irresistible.

When Stephen was being martyred for his faith, he was given a glimpse of glory, which he then described to the people who were putting him to death. “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, ‘Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!’” (Acts 7:55–56 NLT).

According to Acts 6:15, “Everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s” (NLT). Because Stephen was seeing the other side, his face radiated God’s glory.

When the great evangelist D. L. Moody was on his deathbed, his last words were, “Is this dying? Why, this is bliss. There is no valley. I have been within the gates. Earth is receding; Heaven is opening; God is calling; I must go.” After saying this, Moody soon breathed his last breath and passed into eternity.

It comforts me to think that when my son Christopher left this world, he was carried by angels into God’s presence. I believe that with all my heart. And I believe that’s true of all Christians when their lives on earth come to an end.

When we leave this world, we’ll be carried by angels into the presence of the Lord, where we’ll stay forever, filled with utter peace, fulfillment, joy, and awe. If we, too, could see how glorious Heaven is, I’m sure that it would change everything about how we view death.

Enjoy this life while you can but never lose sight of what lies beyond it.

 

Reflection question: What are you most excited about when it comes to Heaven? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. 

—

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 we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.&rdquo; (2 Corinthians 5:6&ndash;9 NLT)
&nbsp;
What happens to us as believers when we die? We go straight into the presence of God. The apostle Paul wrote that when we are &ldquo;away from these earthly bodies . . . then we will be at home with the Lord&rdquo; (2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT). There&rsquo;s no waiting period or shipping delays. The moment our time on earth ends, our time in God&rsquo;s presence begins.
That&rsquo;s why Paul wrote, &ldquo;For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don&rsquo;t know which is better. I&rsquo;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&rdquo; (Philippians 1:21&ndash;24 NLT). He wanted to continue his work on earth, but the thought of Heaven was irresistible.
When Stephen was being martyred for his faith, he was given a glimpse of glory, which he then described to the people who were putting him to death. &ldquo;But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God&rsquo;s right hand. And he told them, &lsquo;Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God&rsquo;s right hand!&rsquo;&rdquo; (Acts 7:55&ndash;56 NLT).
According to Acts 6:15, &ldquo;Everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel&rsquo;s&rdquo; (NLT). Because Stephen was seeing the other side, his face radiated God&rsquo;s glory.
When the great evangelist D. L. Moody was on his deathbed, his last words were, &ldquo;Is this dying? Why, this is bliss. There is no valley. I have been within the gates. Earth is receding; Heaven is opening; God is calling; I must go.&rdquo; After saying this, Moody soon breathed his last breath and passed into eternity.
It comforts me to think that when my son Christopher left this world, he was carried by angels into God&rsquo;s presence. I believe that with all my heart. And I believe that&rsquo;s true of all Christians when their lives on earth come to an end.
When we leave this world, we&rsquo;ll be carried by angels into the presence of the Lord, where we&rsquo;ll stay forever, filled with utter peace, fulfillment, joy, and awe. If we, too, could see how glorious Heaven is, I&rsquo;m sure that it would change everything about how we view death.
Enjoy this life while you can but never lose sight of what lies beyond it.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What are you most excited about when it comes to Heaven?&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>
The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! <a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-crusade-2026/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=SoCal2026">Stay updated on all important event details</a>.&nbsp;
&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>

When believers die, we go straight into the presence of God.

Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord | 2 Corinthians 5:6–9 

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’” (2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NLT) 

If you ask people to list the top priorities in their lives, you’ll probably get a lot of thoughtful and inspirational answers. But if you really want to know what their top priorities are, you have to look at their financial records. The way people use their money is one of the best indicators of where their priorities lie.

Jesus explained it this way: “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Luke 12:34 NLT). The reality is that we all invest in our passions. If you want to find out what people are truly passionate about, follow the money.

God certainly does. Not because He needs our money, but because everything we have ultimately comes from Him. Not only does He supply our needs, but He also expects us to be wise stewards of our resources, which are actually His resources.

The apostle Peter wrote, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).

The author of Proverbs wrote, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25 NLT).

The message is consistent throughout Scripture. We need to take what God has given us and be wise stewards of it, investing generously in the work of the kingdom of God. God will generously bless those who heed the message.

The apostlePaul wrote, “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully’” (2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NLT).

Some people may say, “I can’t afford to give.” Really? I can’t afford not to give. Giving isn’t just for rich people; it’s for all people. Everyone should invest in God’s kingdom. Here’s something to consider: If you’re having financial struggles, maybe one of the reasons is that you’re not honoring the Lord in your giving.

I’m not saying that if you give, God will make you rich. But there’s no denying that the Bible makes a connection between giving and receiving. Paul follows up his words in 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 with this statement: “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (verse 8 NLT).

Make God’s work your passion and then invest accordingly. See what happens in your life.

 

Reflection question: What would cheerful giving look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. 

—

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;Remember this&mdash;a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don&rsquo;t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. &lsquo;For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.&rsquo;&rdquo; (2 Corinthians 9:6&ndash;7 NLT)&nbsp;
If you ask people to list the top priorities in their lives, you&rsquo;ll probably get a lot of thoughtful and inspirational answers. But if you really want to know what their top priorities are, you have to look at their financial records. The way people use their money is one of the best indicators of where their priorities lie.
Jesus explained it this way: &ldquo;Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be&rdquo; (Luke 12:34 NLT). The reality is that we all invest in our passions. If you want to find out what people are truly passionate about, follow the money.
God certainly does. Not because He needs our money, but because everything we have ultimately comes from Him. Not only does He supply our needs, but He also expects us to be wise stewards of our resources, which are actually His resources.
The apostle Peter wrote, &ldquo;God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another&rdquo; (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).
The author of Proverbs wrote, &ldquo;The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed&rdquo; (Proverbs 11:25 NLT).
The message is consistent throughout Scripture. We need to take what God has given us and be wise stewards of it, investing generously in the work of the kingdom of God. God will generously bless those who heed the message.
The apostle Paul wrote, &ldquo;Remember this&mdash;a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don&rsquo;t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. &lsquo;For God loves a person who gives cheerfully&rsquo;&rdquo; (2 Corinthians 9:6&ndash;7 NLT).
Some people may say, &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t afford to give.&rdquo; Really? I can&rsquo;t afford not to give. Giving isn&rsquo;t just for rich people; it&rsquo;s for all people. Everyone should invest in God&rsquo;s kingdom. Here&rsquo;s something to consider: If you&rsquo;re having financial struggles, maybe one of the reasons is that you&rsquo;re not honoring the Lord in your giving.
I&rsquo;m not saying that if you give, God will make you rich. But there&rsquo;s no denying that the Bible makes a connection between giving and receiving. Paul follows up his words in 2 Corinthians 9:6&ndash;7 with this statement: &ldquo;And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others&rdquo; (verse 8 NLT).
Make God&rsquo;s work your passion and then invest accordingly. See what happens in your life.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What would cheerful giving 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>
The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! <a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-crusade-2026/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=SoCal2026">Stay updated on all important event details</a>.&nbsp;
&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 Cheerful Giver | 2 Corinthians 9:6–7

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:3–5 NLT)

 

In Luke 19, Jesus tells a parable about a nobleman who is called away to a distant empire. Before he leaves on his extended journey, he entrusts several of his servants with an amount of silver to invest while he’s gone. When he returns from his journey, the nobleman asks each servant to give an account of his investment and profit.

The first servant reports a profit of ten times the initial investment. The second servant reports a profit of five times the initial investment. “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant’” (verses 20–21 NLT).

The third servant showed no sense of regret and no sorrow over his lack of productivity. More tellingly, he blamed his boss for his shortcomings.

Many people today take the same approach to life. They look for scapegoats for their own shortcomings. They make excuses for their failure by saying, “I had bad teachers” or “I had bad bosses” or “I had bad parents.” And in many cases, they lay the blame at the feet of God Himself. They claim that He’s too harsh, too distant, too demanding, too mysterious, or too something else.
W. Tozer once said, “Nothing twists and deforms a soul more than a low or unworthy conception of God.” Our view of God affects everything we do in life. If we have a warped view of Him, it will alter the way we perceive the world and poison the way we respond to the events in our life.

I never had a dad growing up, but I have known my heavenly Father for quite a while now. And I can tell you this: He has always dealt with me in love and has never been inconsistent. I don’t always understand or agree with what my Father in Heaven does. But I submit to Him because I know that He’s looking out for my best interests.

How do I know? His Word leaves little room for doubt. The apostle Paul wrote, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3–5 NLT).

Our heavenly Father knows what’s ultimately best for us. We can and should trust Him with our lives.

 

Reflection question: What would trusting your heavenly Father look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. 

—

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;All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.&rdquo; (2 Corinthians 1:3&ndash;5 NLT)
&nbsp;
In Luke 19, Jesus tells a parable about a nobleman who is called away to a distant empire. Before he leaves on his extended journey, he entrusts several of his servants with an amount of silver to invest while he&rsquo;s gone. When he returns from his journey, the nobleman asks each servant to give an account of his investment and profit.
The first servant reports a profit of ten times the initial investment. The second servant reports a profit of five times the initial investment. &ldquo;But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, &lsquo;Master, I hid your money and kept it safe.&nbsp;I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn&rsquo;t yours and harvesting crops you didn&rsquo;t plant&rsquo;&rdquo; (verses 20&ndash;21 NLT).
The third servant showed no sense of regret and no sorrow over his lack of productivity. More tellingly, he blamed his boss for his shortcomings.
Many people today take the same approach to life. They look for scapegoats for their own shortcomings. They make excuses for their failure by saying, &ldquo;I had bad teachers&rdquo; or &ldquo;I had bad bosses&rdquo; or &ldquo;I had bad parents.&rdquo; And in many cases, they lay the blame at the feet of God Himself. They claim that He&rsquo;s too harsh, too distant, too demanding, too mysterious, or too something else.
<ol>
<li>W. Tozer once said, &ldquo;Nothing twists and deforms a soul more than a low or unworthy conception of God.&rdquo; Our view of God affects everything we do in life. If we have a warped view of Him, it will alter the way we perceive the world and poison the way we respond to the events in our life.</li>
</ol>
I never had a dad growing up, but I have known my heavenly Father for quite a while now. And I can tell you this: He has always dealt with me in love and has never been inconsistent. I don&rsquo;t always understand or agree with what my Father in Heaven does. But I submit to Him because I know that He&rsquo;s looking out for my best interests.
How do I know? His Word leaves little room for doubt. The apostle Paul wrote, &ldquo;All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ&rdquo; (2 Corinthians 1:3&ndash;5 NLT).
Our heavenly Father knows what&rsquo;s ultimately best for us. We can and should trust Him with our lives.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What would trusting your heavenly Father 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>
The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! <a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-crusade-2026/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=SoCal2026">Stay updated on all important event details</a>.&nbsp;
&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>

We must trust our heavenly Father because He knows what’s best for us.

Meanwhile . . . | Acts 12:16

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