“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.” (Psalm 119:1 NLT)

 

The psalmist wrote, “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord” (Psalm 119:1 NLT). That may come as quite a surprise to people who fail to see the connection between following instructions and joy.

Many unbelievers—and believers—have a hard time getting past the “Thou shalt nots” of God’s commandments. They see God as a cosmic killjoy whose primary interaction with humankind is to legislate through His Word the complete elimination of fun and excitement.

This isn’t just an accidental misunderstanding of our heavenly Father; it’s the result of a calculated strategy. Look at the serpent’s first words to Eve in the Garden of Eden: “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 NLT). He played on her FOMO—fear of missing out—before she was even aware that she had such a fear. The serpent caused her to see God’s command, His only command, as something ponderous and restrictive. And the stigma remains.

So, we need to make this clear: People who see the Bible and the Christian life as little more than a list of rules and regulations have not carefully examined Scripture. Yes, God tells us what to avoid. Yes, He warns us of things that are perilous to our spiritual health. At the same time, however, God tells us what to engage in. He reveals to us what will push the buttons of joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction that He installed in us.

For example, in 2 Timothy 2:22, the apostle Paul writes, “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts” (NLT). But then he follows it up with this: “Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (NLT). What an appealing invitation! What potential for life-changing growth, joy, and fulfillment!

Believers who merely try to avoid what is evil are missing the point. Loving God isn’t just about what not to do. It’s also about what to do. If you want to be a truly joyful and holy person, you not only should avoid what is wrong, but you should embrace and actively engage in what is right. That’s what walking with the Lord is about. It involves progression, moving forward, rather than sitting still.

In Paul’s first letter to the believers in Corinth, he writes, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love” (1 Corinthians 16:13–14 NLT). Each one of those things represents forward progress. Paul gives clear commands, and we apply them faithfully in the particular situations God places before us.

If we focus only on the “Thou shalt not” commandments of Scripture, we’ll miss those opportunities.

 

Reflection question: Which positive instructions in Scripture will you prioritize this week? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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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.

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&ldquo;Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.&rdquo; (Psalm 119:1 NLT)
&nbsp;
The psalmist wrote, &ldquo;Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord&rdquo; (Psalm 119:1 NLT). That may come as quite a surprise to people who fail to see the connection between following instructions and joy.
Many unbelievers&mdash;and believers&mdash;have a hard time getting past the &ldquo;Thou shalt nots&rdquo; of God&rsquo;s commandments. They see God as a cosmic killjoy whose primary interaction with humankind is to legislate through His Word the complete elimination of fun and excitement.
This isn&rsquo;t just an accidental misunderstanding of our heavenly Father; it&rsquo;s the result of a calculated strategy. Look at the serpent&rsquo;s first words to Eve in the Garden of Eden: &ldquo;Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?&rdquo; (Genesis 3:1 NLT). He played on her FOMO&mdash;fear of missing out&mdash;before she was even aware that she had such a fear. The serpent caused her to see God&rsquo;s command, His only command, as something ponderous and restrictive. And the stigma remains.
So, we need to make this clear: People who see the Bible and the Christian life as little more than a list of rules and regulations have not carefully examined Scripture. Yes, God tells us what to avoid. Yes, He warns us of things that are perilous to our spiritual health. At the same time, however, God tells us what to engage in. He reveals to us what will push the buttons of joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction that He installed in us.
For example, in 2 Timothy 2:22, the apostle Paul writes, &ldquo;Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts&rdquo; (NLT). But then he follows it up with this: &ldquo;Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts&rdquo; (NLT). What an appealing invitation! What potential for life-changing growth, joy, and fulfillment!
Believers who merely try to avoid what is evil are missing the point. Loving God isn&rsquo;t just about what not to do. It&rsquo;s also about what to do. If you want to be a truly joyful and holy person, you not only should avoid what is wrong, but you should embrace and actively engage in what is right. That&rsquo;s what walking with the Lord is about. It involves progression, moving forward, rather than sitting still.
In Paul&rsquo;s first letter to the believers in Corinth, he writes, &ldquo;Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love&rdquo; (1 Corinthians 16:13&ndash;14 NLT). Each one of those things represents forward progress. Paul gives clear commands, and we apply them faithfully in the particular situations God places before us.
If we focus only on the &ldquo;Thou shalt not&rdquo; commandments of Scripture, we&rsquo;ll miss those opportunities.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: Which positive instructions in Scripture will you prioritize this week?&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 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

God doesn’t just tell us what not to do; He also tells us what to do to find joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction.