"'We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work'" (John 9:4 NLT).

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"'We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work'" (John 9:4 NLT).
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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

"'We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work'"

While We Can | John 9:4

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT)

 

I heard a story about a couple who visited a jewelry store. As the jeweler showed them various crosses, the woman commented, “I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?”

That’s what many people want today: a cross without Jesus. They want a cross without any offense—one that will look cool with their outfits. But the hard truth is that if we could travel back in time and see the cross in its original context, we would realize that it was a bloody and vile symbol. It would have been the worst picture imaginable to see someone hanging on a cross.

The Romans chose crucifixion because it was meant to be a slow, torturous way to die. It was designed to humiliate a person. The crucifixions outside Roman cities served as warnings to anyone who would dare oppose the rule of Rome.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT). In other words, salvation and eternal life can be found only through Him. Many people today object to His words. They see John 14:6 as a statement of exclusivity and narrow-mindedness. But Jesus was simply explaining God’s plan of salvation.

Humankind’s decision to disobey God and pursue sin created an existential crisis with only one solution. To satisfy God’s perfect justice and wrath, a perfect sacrifice had to be offered in our place. Someone who had never sinned had to die in the place of everyone else who had. Only Jesus lived a sinless life. Only He had the power to conquer death. So, only He could save us.

If there had been any other way, do you think that God would have allowed His Son to suffer like that? If there had been any other way that we could have been forgiven, then God surely would have found it.

Jesus Himself prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 NLT). He was talking about the cross and the unimaginable suffering that lay ahead. But God did not take it away from Him because there was no other way.

If living a good, moral life could get us to Heaven, then Jesus never would have died for us. But He did die. He had to pay the price for our sin. At the cross, Jesus purchased the salvation of the world.

If you ever were tempted to doubt God’s love for you, even for a moment, then take a long, hard look at the cross. Nails did not hold Jesus to that cross; His love did.

 

Reflection question: How would you explain Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and God’s plan of salvation to an unbeliever? 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 message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.&rdquo; (1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT)
&nbsp;
I heard a story about a couple who visited a jewelry store. As the jeweler showed them various crosses, the woman commented, &ldquo;I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s what many people want today: a cross without Jesus. They want a cross without any offense&mdash;one that will look cool with their outfits. But the hard truth is that if we could travel back in time and see the cross in its original context, we would realize that it was a bloody and vile symbol. It would have been the worst picture imaginable to see someone hanging on a cross.
The Romans chose crucifixion because it was meant to be a slow, torturous way to die. It was designed to humiliate a person. The crucifixions outside Roman cities served as warnings to anyone who would dare oppose the rule of Rome.
Jesus said, &ldquo;I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me&rdquo; (John 14:6 NLT). In other words, salvation and eternal life can be found only through Him. Many people today object to His words. They see John 14:6 as a statement of exclusivity and narrow-mindedness. But Jesus was simply explaining God&rsquo;s plan of salvation.
Humankind&rsquo;s decision to disobey God and pursue sin created an existential crisis with only one solution. To satisfy God&rsquo;s perfect justice and wrath, a perfect sacrifice had to be offered in our place. Someone who had never sinned had to die in the place of everyone else who had. Only Jesus lived a sinless life. Only He had the power to conquer death. So, only He could save us.
If there had been any other way, do you think that God would have allowed His Son to suffer like that? If there had been any other way that we could have been forgiven, then God surely would have found it.
Jesus Himself prayed, &ldquo;My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine&rdquo; (Matthew 26:39 NLT). He was talking about the cross and the unimaginable suffering that lay ahead. But God did not take it away from Him because there was no other way.
If living a good, moral life could get us to Heaven, then Jesus never would have died for us. But He did die. He had to pay the price for our sin. At the cross, Jesus purchased the salvation of the world.
If you ever were tempted to doubt God&rsquo;s love for you, even for a moment, then take a long, hard look at the cross. Nails did not hold Jesus to that cross; His love did.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: How would you explain Jesus&rsquo; sacrifice on the cross and God&rsquo;s plan of salvation to an unbeliever?&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 sin made Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross necessary.

The Hard Truth About the Cross | 1 Corinthians 1:18

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

 

In her remarkable book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsie were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbrück, where they lived in barracks that were plagued by fleas. Fleas were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies. One day Betsie told Corrie they needed to give thanks for the fleas.

Corrie thought Betsie had gone too far. She couldn’t imagine thanking God for fleas. But Betsie insisted, reminding her sister that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances” (NLT). Still, Corrie didn’t want to thank God for the fleas. But as it turned out, Corrie and Betsie were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. They found out later that because of the fleas, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, the women were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they had the freedom to minister to numerous women. So, God can use even fleas.

If the Bible said, “Be thankful in some circumstances,” I would say, “No problem there!” But it says, “Be thankful in all circumstances.” And that’s not an easy thing to do. Yet it’s necessary because “this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It’s also beneficial.

Our attitude does, in fact, impact our circumstances. Being thankful won’t change events that have occurred, and it won’t prevent trials and suffering from coming our way. But when we lead with a spirit of thankfulness and joy, we change our relationship to our circumstances. We see them in a different light. We see them in the context of the big picture of God’s faithfulness.

This isn’t simply a matter of choosing to be a “glass half full” person or to “always look on the bright side of life.” It’s a matter of choosing to see God at work in our lives, no matter how bad our circumstances get. It’s a matter of wrapping ourselves in His presence when life threatens to overwhelm us. It’s a matter of staying in constant contact with Him during trials and never losing sight of the awesome privilege of being able to do so.

Maintaining a spirit of thankfulness will not only impact our lives, but it will also impact the lives of others in our orbit. Nothing speaks louder about the life-changing potential of the Christian faith than a believer who remains faithful and thankful when things go bad.

First Thessalonians 5:18 doesn’t say we should be thankful for all circumstances, but rather in all circumstances. There are many things that happen that I’m not glad about. But I am glad that, despite the tragedies, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround my life.

 

Reflection question: What would being thankful in all circumstances 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;Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God&rsquo;s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.&rdquo; (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)
&nbsp;
In her remarkable book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsie were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbr&uuml;ck, where they lived in barracks that were plagued by fleas. Fleas were everywhere&mdash;in their hair and on their bodies. One day Betsie told Corrie they needed to give thanks for the fleas.
Corrie thought Betsie had gone too far. She couldn&rsquo;t imagine thanking God for fleas. But Betsie insisted, reminding her sister that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, &ldquo;Be thankful in all circumstances&rdquo; (NLT). Still, Corrie didn&rsquo;t want to thank God for the fleas. But as it turned out, Corrie and Betsie were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. They found out later that because of the fleas, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, the women were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they had the freedom to minister to numerous women. So, God can use even fleas.
If the Bible said, &ldquo;Be thankful in some circumstances,&rdquo; I would say, &ldquo;No problem there!&rdquo; But it says, &ldquo;Be thankful in all circumstances.&rdquo; And that&rsquo;s not an easy thing to do. Yet it&rsquo;s necessary because &ldquo;this is God&rsquo;s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s also beneficial.
Our attitude does, in fact, impact our circumstances. Being thankful won&rsquo;t change events that have occurred, and it won&rsquo;t prevent trials and suffering from coming our way. But when we lead with a spirit of thankfulness and joy, we change our relationship to our circumstances. We see them in a different light. We see them in the context of the big picture of God&rsquo;s faithfulness.
This isn&rsquo;t simply a matter of choosing to be a &ldquo;glass half full&rdquo; person or to &ldquo;always look on the bright side of life.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s a matter of choosing to see God at work in our lives, no matter how bad our circumstances get. It&rsquo;s a matter of wrapping ourselves in His presence when life threatens to overwhelm us. It&rsquo;s a matter of staying in constant contact with Him during trials and never losing sight of the awesome privilege of being able to do so.
Maintaining a spirit of thankfulness will not only impact our lives, but it will also impact the lives of others in our orbit. Nothing speaks louder about the life-changing potential of the Christian faith than a believer who remains faithful and thankful when things go bad.
First Thessalonians 5:18 doesn&rsquo;t say we should be thankful for all circumstances, but rather in all circumstances. There are many things that happen that I&rsquo;m not glad about. But I am glad that, despite the tragedies, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround my life.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What would being thankful in all circumstances 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>

Learning to be thankful in all circumstances will change your life.

The Hard Truth About Thankfulness | 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” (Luke 14:33 NLT)

 

It has been said, “There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”

This statement reminds me of the account in Matthew 19 of the rich young man who came to Jesus seeking answers. Here was a man who, of all men, should have been content and fulfilled. He had great influence and affluence. Yet despite all his accomplishments, there was something missing in his life. He asked, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (verse 16 NLT).

“‘Why ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments’” (verse 17 NLT). Jesus was not implying that by keeping the Ten Commandments, a person would be saved. Rather, Jesus held the Ten Commandments up as a mirror to show this man his sin.

“‘I’ve obeyed all these commandments,’ the young man replied. ‘What else must I do?’” (verse 20 nlt).

I think Jesus probably smiled at this. He saw what this man was really all about. So, He took it up a notch and said, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (verse 21 NLT).

Verse 22 says, “But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (NLT).

Jesus knew the problem with this young man was that possessions had possessed his soul. But Jesus just as easily could have said something completely different to someone else. What is really holding someone back from Christ and from further spiritual progress can vary from person to person.

Jesus revealed the hard truth about discipleship in Luke 14:33: “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own” (NLT). Nothing should be more valuable, more precious, or more important to us than our relationship with Christ.

Jesus drives this point home further in Luke 14:26–27. “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple” (NLT). Nothing should ever be more important to us than our walk with Christ.

That’s why it’s a good idea to regularly come before Jesus and ask, “Lord, is there anything in my life that is getting in the way of my relationship with You?” We must be willing to do what the rich young man would not and sacrifice anything that gets in the way of our spiritual growth.

 

Reflection question: What do you think Jesus would say if you asked Him to show you anything that was getting in the way of your relationship with Him? 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 you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.&rdquo; (Luke 14:33 NLT)
&nbsp;
It has been said, &ldquo;There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.&rdquo;
This statement reminds me of the account in Matthew 19 of the rich young man who came to Jesus seeking answers. Here was a man who, of all men, should have been content and fulfilled. He had great influence and affluence. Yet despite all his accomplishments, there was something missing in his life. He asked, &ldquo;Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?&rdquo; (verse 16 NLT).
&ldquo;&lsquo;Why ask me about what is good?&rsquo; Jesus replied. &lsquo;There is only One who is good. But to answer your question&mdash;if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments&rsquo;&rdquo; (verse 17 NLT). Jesus was not implying that by keeping the Ten Commandments, a person would be saved. Rather, Jesus held the Ten Commandments up as a mirror to show this man his sin.
&ldquo;&lsquo;I&rsquo;ve obeyed all these commandments,&rsquo; the young man replied. &lsquo;What else must I do?&rsquo;&rdquo; (verse 20 nlt).
I think Jesus probably smiled at this. He saw what this man was really all about. So, He took it up a notch and said, &ldquo;If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me&rdquo; (verse 21 NLT).
Verse 22 says, &ldquo;But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions&rdquo; (NLT).
Jesus knew the problem with this young man was that possessions had possessed his soul. But Jesus just as easily could have said something completely different to someone else. What is really holding someone back from Christ and from further spiritual progress can vary from person to person.
Jesus revealed the hard truth about discipleship in Luke 14:33: &ldquo;So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own&rdquo; (NLT). Nothing should be more valuable, more precious, or more important to us than our relationship with Christ.
Jesus drives this point home further in Luke 14:26&ndash;27. &ldquo;If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else&mdash;your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters&mdash;yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple&rdquo; (NLT). Nothing should ever be more important to us than our walk with Christ.
That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s a good idea to regularly come before Jesus and ask, &ldquo;Lord, is there anything in my life that is getting in the way of my relationship with You?&rdquo; We must be willing to do what the rich young man would not and sacrifice anything that gets in the way of our spiritual growth.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What do you think Jesus would say if you asked Him to show you anything that was getting in the way of your relationship with Him?&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>

Believers must be willing to sacrifice anything that gets in the way of their spiritual growth.

While We Can | John 9:4

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