Keep a Sharp Sword

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. - Hebrews 4:12

Temptation is definitely going to come your way and mine. But when we know the Word of God, we can deflect the blows that come against us and strike out offensively.

For example, the devil will come to us when we have sinned and say, "You failed. There is no forgiveness for you."

So we pull our sword out of its sheath and say, "It is written in 1 John 1:9: 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' " Touché!

The devil says, "You are wrong. God condemns you."

So you strike back with your sword and say, "You are wrong, because Romans 8:1 says, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.' "

Then the devil says, "Now wait. You are going to fall again. I am going to take you down."

You can reply, "No. You are wrong. In John 10:28, Jesus said, 'And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.' " And you thrust your sword again.

This is why it is important for us to commit Scripture to memory and to keep our sword sharp.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

The Secret of Peace

Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." Hebrews 13:5

Contentment lies not in what is mine but in whose I am. When I come into a relationship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ, I understand whose I am and what I have. Envy causes one to look horizontally--at what others have--so we are never satisfied. We pursue the god of money, thinking of what it can buy us. Contentment invites us to look vertically--at God. When we look in his direction, we know that he is enough.

Contentment is the secret of inward peace. It recalls the bare truth that we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it, including our money. Life, in fact, is a journey from one moment of vulnerability to another. So we should travel light and live simply. The reality for most people is that we have enough--whatever enough is. We would be well advised to be content with what we have.Being content with less stuff and not envying those with a lot is a process that will take more than a quick prayer or reading a book or hearing a sermon. It will require a dependence and satisfaction in God. He knows what is best and what is needed in our lives. We must trust him and not money.

Too often we take our eyes off God and put them on earthly pursuits, with money most often at the top of our lists. Money has an incredible power, much like a magnet and more like a god than most of us are willing to admit, to draw us away from those things that are eternal and life-filling.
Always be on your guard with money. As the writer of Hebrews stated, "Don't love money." The heart can only love one thing at a time. When we choose to love God, we will discover the marvelous benefit of contentment. And, more importantly, we will learn that money can never satisfy the heart. Keep your focus, therefore, on God. He is enough.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Conspicuous Christians

Devotion by Greg Laurie

"You are the light of the world." - Matthew 5:14

There are two good ways that we can be light for the world. We can let our light shine by doing good works, and we can let our light shine by proclaiming the gospel.

Jesus told us to be conspicuous Christians when He said, You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

When there is a disaster, when people are starving, when there is a country torn by war or ravaged by disease, Christians should be the first on the scene, doing what they can. We can let our light shine at home or in our workplace by being kind, generous, loving, and by living sacrificially for others. As Christians, we can let our light shine before others through our good works.

Then, of course, we also should let our light shine by proclaiming the gospel, telling others of their need for Christ. We are not to be secretive about our faith. We can tell our neighbors the good news. We can make sure our coworkers know exactly what a Christian believes. And we can raise our children to walk with the Lord.

You can be a conspicuous Christian-let your light shine!

We Are Being Watched

People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. Proverbs 10:9

Integrity is a high standard of living based on a personal code of morality that doesn't succumb to the whim of the moment or the dictates of the majority. Integrity is to personal character what health is to the body or 20/20 vision is to the eyes. People of integrity are whole; their lives are put together. People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Their lives are open books. They say to a watching world, "Go ahead and look. My behavior will match my beliefs. My walk will match my talk. My character will match my confession."

Integrity is not reputation--what others think of us. It is not success--what we have accomplished. Integrity embodies the sum total of our being and our actions. It originates in who we are as believers in Jesus Christ--accepted, valued, capable, and forgiven--but it expresses itself in the way we live and behave, no matter whether we are in church on Sunday or at work on Monday or in a lonely hotel room on Tuesday or suffering in a hospital bed on Thursday.

Unfortunately, integrity is in short supply and seems to be diminishing everyday. All too frequently our integrity is discarded upon the altar of fame or fortune. Sadly, what we want to achieve is more important than what we are to be. Integrity is lost when we focus on expedience more than excellence, on progress more than purity, on riches more than righteousness.

People are watching. They watch to see if our behavior matches our belief, if our walk matches our talk, and if our character matches our confession. In a word, they watch to see if we have integrity.

How secure is your walk? Others are watching.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

God's Secret Agents

God's Secret Agents

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? - Hebrews 1:14

Make no mistake about it: angels are actively involved in the lives of the people of God, and in the affairs of men in general.

One of the reasons we may not be personally aware of the presence of angels in our lives is that they are doing their job properly.

Angels generally operate undercover. Theirs is a vast world of intelligent, powerful spirit beings. Angels are invisible, and they remain that way most of the time, except on very rare occasions. As we see from Scripture, God will sometimes clothe angels with a human form.

Angels are God's secret agents, not drawing attention to themselves, but instead doing the bidding of God. They have a specific work and ministry in the life of the Christian.

That certainly gives us hope in these troubled and dangerous times in which we are living. When we think of all the violence, chaos, and danger in the world today, it is comforting to know that God's angels are watching out for us.

Angels may not help you find a parking place, but you can know this: they are God's secret agents, powerfully and effectively doing the work He has called them to do.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Leading Like Jesus

One of the greatest challenges of seeking to lead like Jesus is the intimacy it requires. The biggest barrier to intimacy is a fear of vulnerability - fear of having to admit that you don't know all of the answers, that you may need help and that your abilities as a leader may be in question.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8

Prayer: Lord, admitting that I'm less than perfect or don't know all of the answers is often a difficult task. Help me to learn that it is ok to say, "I don't know but I'll find out." Let me seek the wisdom of others in learning the answers to questions so that together we might grow through the experience. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Fully God, Fully Man

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. - Luke 2:40

When Jesus was on Earth, He didn't empty himself of His divine attributes, but accepted the limitations of humanity. For example, we know that Jesus became weary like we do. On one occasion, as He came to Samaria, we read that He was weary (see John 4:6).

Why? He had been walking all day in the hot sun of Israel.

Now if I were God, I probably would have said to the disciples, "You boys go on up to Samaria, and I will see you there." Then I would have just appeared in Samaria. After all, why tire myself out like that?

But Jesus voluntarily went through the process of feeling what it was like to be tired and exhausted.We see this throughout Scripture. We know that Jesus was tired. We know that He experienced physical thirst. As He hung on the cross, Jesus said, "I thirst" (Luke 19:28). The very God who created water allowed himself to experience thirst.

We also know that He was hungry. Jesus experienced physical hunger after fasting for 40 days during His temptation in the wilderness (see Matthew 4:2).

But did Jesus have complete omniscience and omnipotence as a baby in the manger? Luke's Gospel tells us, "And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him" (Luke 2:40). So it appears that Jesus went through a learning process like anyone else.

Jesus grew as a human, but there was never a moment when He suddenly became God or when deity was transferred to Him. That was always a part of His life. He was fully God and fully man.

Devotion by:Greg Laurie

Looking Ahead

The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves. Proverbs 14:8

Bill Walsh, the former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, was thought eccentric because of how extensively he planned his plays in advance of each game. Most coaches would wait to see how the game unfolded, then respond with plays that seemed appropriate. Walsh wanted the game to respond to him. Walsh won several Super Bowls with his "eccentric" proactive approach. He was a coach who looked into the future.

Looking ahead is the process of creating the future before it happens. People who learn to do it "understand where they are going." Like Bill Walsh, it involves deciding your actions in advance so that your life will respond to you. What are the benefits of such a proactive pursuit?Looking ahead gives direction. It's like using a highlighter on a roadmap to indicate where you are, where you are going, and how you are going to get there. The highlighted roadmap not only provides information for where you are going; it also suggests where you are not going.

Looking ahead helps us to create rather than react. With each step along our journey, we are faced with a choice either to create or to react. Many people spend their entire days reacting. Like goalies in hockey, with pucks flying at us all day, we react. We react to news, cars in traffic, people, events, challenges, and obstacles. A better way involves making choices and following plans.

Looking ahead saves time. "One hour of planning saves three hours of execution." Planning yields a savings return. We only have twenty-four hours in a day and 365 days in a year. If we don't use them wisely by looking ahead, we will forever forfeit those gifts.

Looking ahead reduces crisis. Our daily lives have two controlling influences: plans and pressures. When we look ahead and choose to plan, we take charge and control of our days. If we fail to look ahead, we will spend our days in crisis mode. We will fall into a trap of panic planning-planning on the fly with no time to effectively map out a strategy.

Looking ahead maximizes energy. Failing to look ahead, we dissipate our energy on less important matters, improper agendas, and lost crusades. We waste our time on the trivial many. But preparation often energizes us!

Be wise. Look ahead. It's eccentric but well worth the effort.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Our Reason for Running

And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. - Hebrews 12:1

When I was in high school, I was in track and field. I always noticed that I ran faster when a pretty girl was watching me, because I wanted to impress the pretty girl.

But there is a better motivation than that for running this race of life. The Lord Jesus is watching us. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish."

That is what will keep you going. You have to keep following the Lord, even if your friends aren't there with you. As the song "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" says, "Though none go with me, still I will follow."

We all know that people do turn away from the Lord. But if you are living this Christian life because of what people have to say about it, then you are not going to make it.

People will let you down. People will disappoint you. Circumstances are going to be hard. You should do this because you love Jesus.

When you face all of the garbage out there, remember that it is the Lord Jesus Christ you are running for. That is the reason you should be running this race."

Is this why you are running it right now? When you are maintaining a love relationship with Jesus Christ, you will see this world for what it really is-empty, futile, and meaningless. On the other hand, if you are just giving it your bare minimum, then you are not going to make it.

So let's make every day of this spiritual race count.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

What Lights Do

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:8

Remember the song "This Little Light of Mine"? "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine . . ." As children, it spoke to the fact that we should show that we love Jesus. As adults, I think it has even more meaning-I think it applies to our spiritual gifts. It's easy to run away from our spiritual gifts-as the song says, to "hide it under a bushel." It's not necessarily because of the gifts themselves but because of the risk involved. What if I mess up? Will God be disappointed with me? What will people think about me? But, it's not about me. God's Word clearly tells us that God has given us these gifts for a purpose, and if we have them, we need to use them.

I know that one of my spiritual gifts is worship. I have seen God use my music in many ways. But recently, I have realized that although I was using my gift, I still struggled with taking risks. My main instrument is my voice, but I also play the piano. I felt convicted that I needed to add playing the piano to my worship ministry. This move was a risk for me. Why? Because I was afraid of disappointing people. I'm a musician-what would they think if I failed at the piano?

I've had to remind myself that it doesn't matter what people may think but what God thinks. I've found that using my piano skills has added to my ministry, has changed my heart, and hasn't changed what people think of me. Yes, it feels risky-but who wants to live under a bushel, really!So, if God has blessed you with the ability to encourage others or show kindness, look for the extra step you can take to help someone. If God has blessed you financially, then use your money for his purposes. And if God has given you the gift of leadership, get up, start moving, and find ways that you can lead others. Stop following and start leading. God has gifted you for a reason. Avoid bushels. Trust him to use you.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

The Witness of the Holy Spirit

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. - John 6:63

Remember the day the Holy Spirit shined His light in your heart and showed you that you were a sinner? You thought you were an okay person, but suddenly the Holy Spirit began to convict you of your sin.

It was the Holy Spirit who brought about that change in your heart.

Jesus said, " 'Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit' " (John 3:5-6).

Not only does the Holy Spirit bring about the work of conversion, but after it has taken place-after Christ has come into your heart-the Holy Spirit personally gives you the assurance that you are a believer. As Romans 8:16 says, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

As a result, you can have the inner conviction and witness of the Holy Spirit that you are a child of God.

And as part of this wonderful work of conversion, the Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells us. Romans 8:11 tells us, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

God is not asking you to do the impossible. He will give you the power to live the Christian life.

With the Holy Spirit empowering you-and as you yield to Him-you can live this life that God has called you to live.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Full of Holes

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Every Christian is a vessel God has uniquely created for sharing a treasure with others. This treasure, referred to as the gospel of Jesus, is contained in "fragile clay jars" so it's "clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." Paul uses the phrase "fragile clay jars" because as humans we are easily broken and we struggle with the most basic details of life. Yet we are called to pour out our treasure so that the world comes into contact with God.

God's works flow naturally from a person whose life has been totally committed to him. The key is to give liberally of what we've received, knowing that the Lord will continue to fill us so that we are never totally empty nor constantly overflowing. Instead, our container will be full of holes that continuously pour out the love of Jesus. As long as we are being filled by God daily, we will never have a problem serving those he wants us to serve (see Galatians 6:10).

However, these clay jars can eventually become empty from lack of use. Empty vessels serve little purpose other than taking up space. And the Lord does not want us to simply exist. As pastor Rick Warren has correctly noted, each person has been made for a purpose. When a follower of Christ is not connected to the source of these gifts, his or her desire for serving God and other people diminishes.

Think about your life-vessel today. How has it been used to store the goodness of God? Has that goodness flowed into other lives? Has God's measure of goodness in you evaporated from days and months of non-use? Or is your life a container full of holes, leaking the goodness of God continuously because you are continuously filled by the source that never runs dry?

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

The Little Old Lady from Pasadena

For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. - 2 Corinthians 5:10

The Bible tells us that one day, all Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. Don't let that frighten you, because this particular judgment happens in heaven, which means you made it!

The Bible says, "For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

It will be about how you lived your life and what you did with your time and resources.

An awards ceremony

Perhaps we can better understand this judgment if we were to compare it to an awards ceremony like the Oscars, Emmys, or Grammys. Rewards will be given out for faithfulness on this day.

We may expect that the great saints that God has used over the years will reap all the awards. People like Corrie Ten Boom, Jim Elliot, and Billy Graham.

We may also be surprised by the rewards won by "the little old lady from Pasadena"!

Yes, there really was one, and her name was Pearle Goode. When Billy Graham was doing his crusade in Pasadena a few years ago, he attributed the success of these events, going back 56 years, to prayer.

If the Graham team had anything close to a personal intercessor, it was Pearle Goode of Pasadena. For many years, she prayed in secret for Graham until he heard about her and made provision for her to attend his crusades so she could pray on-site.

Goode lived to be 90. At her funeral, Billy's wife, Ruth, paid her this tribute: "Here lie the mortal remains of much of the secret of Bill's ministry."

She did her part

Pearle Goode wasn't a preacher, missionary, or author. She didn't have a hit song on Christian radio. But Pearle did her part, just as surely as Billy Graham did his.

While Billy was out preaching, Pearle was praying. While Billy was doing his part, Pearle was doing hers.

Don't worry about what God has called someone else to do. What has He called you to do?We all have a part to play in getting the gospel out. Make sure you do yours.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Why Did Jesus Come?

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. . . ." - Luke 4:18

No doctor can heal a broken heart. He or she may be able to treat other ailments you might have. But no physician can get to the source of a broken heart-and a broken heart is a very real thing when you have experienced one.

Your heart may be broken right now. Maybe it is from the loss of a loved one or from a lost romance. Perhaps it is broken because of constant failure. Maybe your children have let you down. Maybe your parents have let you down. Maybe your husband or wife has let you down. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, and only He can heal a broken heart. So if you have a broken heart today, let Him heal it.

Jesus also came to bring deliverance to the captives. The Bible teaches that before we became believers, we were spiritual prisoners-of-war who were held captive by the devil, the god of this world (see 2 Timothy 2:26).

Jesus came to free us. He can unlock the door, but we must walk through it. Let Him set you free. He came to bring recovery of sight to the blind. Before we were Christians, we were spiritually blind (see 2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Jesus wants to open your eyes to what is true. Let Him.

Are you brokenhearted? Are you under the power of some sin? The same Jesus who walked this earth, died on a cross, and rose from the dead loves you. And He came to set you free.

Devotion by:Greg Laurie

Kept by His Love

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - Hebrews 7:25

The Bible tells us to keep ourselves in the love of God (see Jude 21). But we are also told in the same passage that God will keep us (see Jude 1).

Is this a contradiction? Not at all. These verses complement one another. They show us God's part and our part. We don't keep ourselves saved, but we can keep ourselves safe.

God's love is unconditional. And fortunately for us, Jesus Christ loves, preserves, and intercedes for us before the Father.

But we can do things that will get us out of harmony with His love. That's why we are reminded to keep ourselves in the love of God, which means that we are to keep away from all that is unlike Him. We are to keep away from any influence that would violate God's love and bring sorrow to His heart.

We are loved by God, and He will protect His investment. For example, if you own an inexpensive pair of sunglasses, you may not be all that concerned about where they are. But if you have a more expensive pair, then you will tend to know their whereabouts.

Or, if you went to Disneyland with your children, you wouldn't just forget about them. Instead, you would keep your eye on them, because you want to protect what is dear to you.

In the same way, we are preserved, we are protected, and we are being kept by the power of God. But we need to keep ourselves in a place where He can actively show His love to us. We need to keep ourselves in the love of God.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Pears, Pears, Everywhere

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.John 15:5

My family had a tree in our backyard that provided two things: shade and countless jars of pear preserves. One day, I asked my mother why she made so many jars every year. Her response was, "If I don't, they will start falling off the tree and go bad." With that, I went outside to take a look for myself. There were pears everywhere-so many, in fact, that the tree branches were beginning to sag and snap under the immense weight of their fruit. It looked to me like my mother's faithful picking was encouraging the tree to produce even more!

Jesus told his disciples that God acts as a gardener in the lives of those who claim him as Lord. He wants his followers to be abundant producers of good fruit, showing the world that they are children of God (see John 15:8). But this is not enough. Instead of simply harvesting the fruit that is produced, the Lord grabs a pair of pruning shears and begins to trim the branches. A little here, a little there, until he is satisfied with the end result.

This process of subtraction is a good thing. For it is in these times that God rids us of attitudes and actions that limit our effectiveness for the kingdom. In their place, he grants new opportunities to exhibit love, patience, kindness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). As these values are acted upon, what started out as subtraction becomes addition, and more fruit is produced than before the pruning.

If the branches are not pruned they may become weakened or stressed, and they will eventually snap. Once that occurs, the branches will wither and die because they are not attached to the tree, leaving wasted fruit behind. But the result of a life lived wholeheartedly for Christ will be an abundance of fruit-fruit that will last.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Pour it On!

"But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." - Acts 20:24

Imagine for a moment that you are running a race that is ten laps long. And let's just say that you are in first place for nine of those ten laps. Not only are you in first, but you are creaming the competition.

So when you come to the tenth lap, you think, "What's the point? I'm obviously the winner here. I'm going home."

Guess what? You don't get first place, second place, or even an honorable mention. You don't get a gold medal, silver medal, or bronze medal. You are disqualified because you didn't finish the race.

In the same way, it isn't enough for you to do well in the first five years or the next 20 years of your Christian life. You have to cross the finish line.

That is why the apostle Paul, when he was leaving the elders of Ephesus, said in his departure speech, "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

That is what we should all be aiming for. The apostle Paul wanted to win the spiritual race.

We should want to win it as well. And that is why this is not the time to be easing up. This is the time to pick up the pace. This is the time to pour it on.

Devotion by:Greg Laurie

After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, "What were you discussing out on the road?" But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.Mark 9:33-34

It's embarrassing when someone demonstrates he or she can read your mind. Most of us would rather not have our thoughts exposed. We're not proud of our motives. We don't want our intentions broadcast. The disciples had a problem-Jesus understood them. Just as he understands us.

Every tactic we use in human relationships to avoid the truth is absolutely transparent to God. The fact that God knows us that well isn't amazing. After all, he is God. The fact that we still try to work our magic on him isn't all that surprising either. After all, we are human. It is amazing though that God knows us as he does and still draws near to help us be better than we instinctively are.

The disciples were arguing about leadership. They were mind-wrestling over who could claim the top of the heap. They were all poised on the ladder to greatness, and thankfully we are not given the details on how ready they were to step on each other on the way up. Apparently the discussion ended in a draw.

Jesus' question caught them by surprise. The subject of greatness suddenly didn't feel right. Jesus broke the strained silence with a challenge. He gave them the ultimate measure of leadership: "Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else" (Mark 9:35). Apparently the silence resumed. The disciples neither argued with him nor asked any questions. We don't know how long this went on, but Mark records that Jesus spotted a little child in the vicinity and decided to make an additional point while holding the child. "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me" (Ma! rk 9:37). Are the two points connected? Perhaps Jesus was saying, "Do you really want to be first? Then start small."

As you go about your day, think about whom you serve. How aware are you of people who are not being served? Can you see those who are overlooked? In the end, what do you find most important: being called a leader or doing what a real leader does?

If our thoughts and intentions are to serve Christ, we don't have to worry about someone reading our minds.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

"And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will." - Romans 8:27

We don't always know what to pray in every given situation. That is when the Holy Spirit will help you, even interceding for you.

Romans 8:26-27 tells us, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will."

But what is God's will?

We as humans are always in interested in the here and now, what will benefit us temporarily. God, however, sees things a bit differently. He is also interested in the "bye and bye" and the eternal.

In other words, God has a bigger plan than my personal happiness in the given moment. He desires my holiness as I am conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

First things first

It is interesting that following Romans 8:27 is Romans 8:28. I often say, "People don't read what follows Romans 8:28."

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

Right after that, Romans 8:29 tells us, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" (NKJV).

We need to read Romans 8:26-29 to get the whole picture!Let's put this all together, because this is showing the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Allow me a very loose paraphrase/interpretation.

There are times when we are overwhelmed with the way life is going. We are so distressed that we don't even know how to pray, so we just sigh or groan. But the Holy Spirit takes these groans and sighs and turns them to prayers to the Father.

No matter what is happening, God is going to take your present circumstances and bring good out of bad. But His ultimate goal is take all that happens, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, and make us more like Jesus. Because that is the objective and endgame for every believer.

One other thing

I have found that happiness does not come from seeking it, but from seeking God. If you dedicate your life to being happy, it's doubtful you ever will be.But if you focus instead on being holy, on being the person God has called you to be, you will find personal happiness as a byproduct of having your priorities in order.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Pedestals

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.1 Corinthians 10:12

Have you built any pedestals lately? In the last couple of decades, newspapers and newscasts have been filled with reports of sin in high places. Television evangelists have fallen with embarrassing regularity. Today's righteous finger pointer often turns into tomorrow's suspect of impropriety. Only the exposés of political leaders vie with the revelations of religious scandals for front-page coverage.

I'm not sure how the average American views these scandals. Certainly the news media seem to delight in their revelations. And comedians have grist for hundreds of new routines. But as a person who also claims to be a born again Christian and a follower of the same Jesus about whom these men have preached, I am dismayed and angered. When these high profile Christians are impugned, I feel as if the barbs are being hurled at me. Their proven or alleged wrongdoings seem to indict all of us. Maybe you can identify with those feelings.

If we the evangelical Christian community are honest, however, we would have to admit that we are part of the problem. You see, by putting these men on pedestals, we have made them larger than life and we have made them susceptible to the temptations of power and pride.

In reality, they are fallible and sinful human beings, just like you and me. Think of how you would fare if your inconsistencies and secrets were exposed-those angry words, gossip, lust for things, murdeous thoughts. But we elevate those with special gifts. We treat celebrity converts with almost worship status.

Years ago, as a college freshman and aspiring athlete, I went to college football camp. It was a Christian institution, staffed with excellent role models. I admired these upper classmen "superstars" as athletes and as great examples of the Christian life. But during one of our team meetings, a massive All-American tackle said something that I have never forgotten. "Don't put your faith in us or in any human being. If you watch us long enough or close enough, we'll let you down," he said. "Instead, keep your eyes on Christ. He will never fail."

Who are your Christian "superstars?" A pastor, a musician, a parent, a close friend? By "overrating" you hurt them and yourself. Instead, let us put our Christian leaders in their proper place as fellow strugglers who are striving to be Christ-like and who are using their gifts to serve him. And let's uphold in prayer our Christian leaders and those in the spotlight.

Devotion: "Pedestals" by Tyndale House Publishers

T.H.I.N.K. About It!

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:31-32

Yesterday, we talked about grieving the Holy Spirit, making the Holy Spirit sad or sorrowful.

Foul and abusive language is one thing that grieves the Holy Spirit, along with bitterness.

So what else grieves the Holy Spirit? Coming back to Ephesians 4:30-32, the apostle Paul writes:And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

The third way that we can make the Holy Spirit sad or sorrowful is having fits of rage and uncontrolled anger.

"Rage" speaks of the person who is easily angered and who raises their voice, shouting and screaming. "Slander" is speaking evil of others behind their backs. "Malicious behavior" speaks of ill will and plotting evil against someone.

This basically describes a person who is hellbent on destroying another, for whatever reason.

Look, all of us have been hurt in life, but we have a choice as to how we react.

We can be like the Moneylender Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, demanding our "pound of flesh." We can say, "They did this to me, therefore I will have my vengeance!"

Or you can believe God when He says "Vengeance is mine, I will repay . . . "

Augustine had a sign on his living room wall that said, "He who speaks evil of an absent man or woman is not welcome at this table."

Instead, try the acronym "T.H.I.N.K." the next time you are not sure whether or not you should say something.

T- Is it Truthful?
H- Is it Helpful?
I- Is it Inspiring?
N-Is it Necessary?
K- Is it Kind?

Instead of speaking evil of someone, we are to "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,"You might say, "But they don't deserve that!" True, but neither do you or I, and God still forgave us.

Paul concludes this passage by saying, "Just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Forgiven people should be forgiving people. Otherwise, we are grieving the Spirit.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

How to Become a Hero

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33


In a column, reporter Bob Greene once opined on "How to Become a Hero." He described a Texas gem dealer who went to a mineral show in Arizona. There he met a man who wandered creek beds, looking for interesting stones. This man was displaying some of his finds in plastic containers.

Among the smaller stones the dealer saw a large rock, and that's all the displayer thought it was-a big rock. But this gem dealer knew otherwise. He recognized it as the biggest star sapphire he had ever seen.

Knowing that the owner had no idea of the true worth of the stone, the gem dealer bargained with him and paid $10 for the rock. Later he reported that it was worth $2.5 million.

And, noted Greene, this gem dealer has become a sort of folk hero because he found something of value and purchased it at the lowest possible price, without hinting to the original owner what was going on. Greene went on to say, "This is just a particularly dramatic example of the way so many people are getting rich these days. They don't do anything of importance or value; they just manipulate and sidestep and feint and parry. They make people think they are going to do one thing, and then they do another. The lesson seems to be that only suckers believe in putting in a day's work for a day's pay. The smart boys are the tricksters."

Unfortunately, Bob Greene is right. People's lives today seem consumed with lotteries, long shots, and insider trading . . . and a continuing saga of greed, bribery, extortion, and embezzlement.

As Christians, however, we shouldn't be too surprised. Jesus said that his values are the opposite of the world's and that people who follow him will be misunderstood. True followers of Christ won't fit into society.

The Bible says that who we are on the inside is infinitely more important than our outward appearance, the way we achieve our goals is as important as the goals themselves, and that seeking Christ and his kingdom is more important than being the richest person on earth. Greene concludes his column with these thoughts: "Let's imagine that the gem dealer sees the star sapphire and instead of purchasing it for $10, he tells the man of its real worth and urges him to get some advice about what a fair asking price is before selling it. I know, I know; that's not the way the world works. Maybe, though, he could have at least cut the poor rock-hunter in on his profits. But then he wouldn't have been a hero for these days, would he?"

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" (Matt 16:26).
Don't worry about making it in today's world. Focus your attention on being a "hero" where it counts . . . in God's eyes.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Who is Jesus?

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. - Colossians 1:15


I heard the story of a little boy awakened by thunder and lightening. He called out to his father, "Daddy, come quickly! I'm scared."

The father said, "God loves you and He will take care of you."

"I know God loves me," said the little boy, "but right now I want somebody who has skin on."

For all practical purposes, Jesus Christ was God with skin on, God as man walking among us. The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae:He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:15-18)

There is no question about what Paul meant. Jesus is God, manifested as a man. But there are many today who want to say, "That Jesus-He was a wonderful prophet. He was a great, godly man, a great human teacher."

No. Jesus is God in human form, the second member of the Trinity, the incarnate deity.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Find us faithful

Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.Revelation 2:10

Faithfulness is not a word we hear often these days. Sometimes we hear it at retirement parties: "After twenty-five years of faithful service, we give you this gold watch." Or we use it to describe our dog: "My dog may be old and ugly, but he's faithful." The word is employed to describe the most famous geyser in America, Old Faithful, at Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful is not the biggest geyser in America. And it's not the most powerful geyser in America. What makes it famous is its faithfulness! It's like clockwork. Dependable. People appreciate constancy, even in a geyser.

It's not easy to find someone who can be counted on. One who will be faithful to the end. One who is dependable through thick and thin. The fact is that not everyone who volunteers actually comes through. Not everyone who says they will perform a task actually does it. Not everyone who makes a commitment can be counted on.

Faithfulness is not just a religious duty that we employ on Sundays or when we are supposed to be Christian. When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember that God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a dependable and reliable accountant or teacher or parent or engineer. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us.

In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery.

"Your Majesty," said Prior Richard, "Do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king."

"I understand," said Henry. "The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you."
"Then I will tell you what to do," said Prior Richard. "Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you." (Steve Brown, Key Biscayne, Florida) Not bad counsel. Go forth and do likewise faithfully.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

What We Think About is Important

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. - Philippians 4:8

In Philippians 4:8, the apostle Paul gives us an extensive list of thing that we should focus our thoughts on:"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things."

Another translation puts it this way: "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse" (THE MESSAGE).

What we think about ultimately affects what we do. Therefore, we must nip in the bud any thoughts that are impure, spiritually harmful, or that feed the beast of worry.

This means refusing to play the "What If" game, driving yourself to despair.

You remember the first temptation, when Satan came to Eve in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:1 says, "Now the Serpent was more Cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"

He did not introduce himself by saying, "Hi, I'm the Devil, the enemy of God, and I have come to ruin, destroy, and pull you into hell with me and my demons!" He may be wicked, but he isn't stupid!

When the Devil comes to us, he comes with subtlety, snake-like, slithering in when you least expect it. That's why we need to keep our guard up at all times.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

Integrity

Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not wholeheartedly. 2 Chronicles 25:2

Most of us know the feeling. We have been asked to do something we don't really want to do. Maybe we agreed without thinking through what was involved. Perhaps the task seemed easier than it turned out to be. But out of duty, pressure, or necessity, we do it, resenting every moment of our cooperation. The various forms this principle can take is illustrated in the way men take the garbage out to the curb every week!

Amaziah became king of Judah when he was twenty-five years old. His reign spanned twenty-nine years. His father, Joash, provided him with a good but seriously flawed model to follow as king. As a result, Amaziah knew what God expected of him, but he resisted obedience.

Young Amaziah grew up in a court setting filled with intrigue, treachery, and killing. He watched his father do well under the godly influence of the old priest Jehoiada. But when Jehoiada died, Joash quickly lost sight of his dependence on God. Eventually, Joash permitted his adviser's son, Zechariah, to be killed in order to silence his convicting message.

When Amaziah became king, he continued in his father's pattern. He executed those who had assassinated his father. He kept alive an appearance of attentiveness to God, but his heart wasn't in it. His early successes, which could have inspired humility, instead gave rise to arrogance. He received but rejected God's warnings. He challenged a reluctant Israel to a military confrontation. God ensured a humiliating defeat for Amaziah and Judah. The remainder of Amaziah's reign was desolate. Like they did to his father before him, Amaziah's own people plotted and killed their king.

Amaziah suffered from a problem we might call model-conflict. His own desires got tangled with the memory of Jehoida's and Joash's examples. He didn't seem to give much thought about his direction. The models we follow will only help us as far as they are consistent with God's direction for us. Have you done a model-check lately? To what degree are those you follow influenced by Christ and his Word? Who inspires your attitudes? Integrity is obedience from the heart.

Adapted from 365 Life Lessons from Bible People (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 1996).

Do You Love ME?

And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." - John 21:17


Simon Peter did love the Lord, even though he had denied Him. But no longer would he boast of his love for Jesus.

That is always a wise thing to do. Never boast of your love for God. Instead, boast of His love for you.

Don't tell me how much you love Him, how much you have done for Him, how wonderful of a servant you are. No-tell me how much He has done for you, how much He loves you, all that He has worked out in your life.

How can we tell if a person loves the Lord?

A person who loves the Lord will long for personal communion with God. The psalmist said, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God" (Psalm 42:1).

A person who loves the Lord will love the things He loves and hate the things He hates. The apostle Paul wrote, "Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9).A person who loves the Lord will long for the return of Jesus. The apostle John prayed, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).

A person who loves the Lord will keep His commandments. Jesus Himself said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15).

If you really love God, it will be shown in your life. "'Do you love me?' Jesus said to Peter. And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You' "(John 21:17).

And Jesus is still asking that question of all of us. "Do you love me?" I wonder what our answer would be.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Compass or Clock?

But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, "You are my God!" My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Psalm 31:14-15

A friend said, "My problem is that I have surrendered my time to work, to other people, and to bad habits."

That truly is the problem, not only for my friend but also for many of us. We should first surrender our time to God. God owns it anyway. Unfortunately, we often ask God to wait in line for leftover time. No wonder life seems out of sync! We need help with our task to manage properly what has been entrusted to us until Christ returns or wants it back, and that includes our time.

Think about a compass and a clock. Two very important tools with two very different purposes. One would be wise not to confuse the two. To surrender our time to God is to be governed by a compass rather than to be controlled by a clock. A compass provides a sense of direction, purpose, vision, perspective, and balance. A clock measures duration, the expenditure of time. A compass determines effectiveness-doing the right tasks. A clock determines efficiency-how long it takes to accomplish a task. Each has its place. But, the compass must come before the clock; therefore, effectiveness before efficiency. The "mega priorities" of the compass subordinate the "mini priorities" of the clock.

A compass, therefore, becomes a symbol of an internal guidance system that provides us with our values and convictions based on God's Word. This non-negotiable governs our lives. In the same manner that the magnetic force pulls the compass needle, it is God who governs the drive of our lives. We surrender to his force.

Our time should be surrendered to God daily. I asked a friend who is engaged in many pursuits successfully how he managed it all. He said, "I give my first minutes to God, then I commit the remainder of the day to his Lordship. And amazingly I work more effectively and efficiently."
Have you surrendered your time to God? Is your future in his hands?

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Gone Fishing

Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." - John 21:3

How many times have you wanted to leave your problems behind, get away from it all, and hang the "Gone fishing" sign on your office door?

After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were waiting in Galilee for Jesus as He had instructed them. Not knowing what else to do, they decided, under the leadership of Peter, to go out and fish.

The apostle John tells the story like this:Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. (John 21:3-4)

Well, these disciples went out fishing and they caught nothing. That was not a bad thing. But Jesus had them catch nothing to prove a point, which was the futility and uselessness of living our lives without the direction and blessing of Jesus.

You can aim at your goals. You can work hard in business, work hard at everything you hold dear, and still your dreams may not be fulfilled because you did not have the Lord direct your life. You did not invite Him to bless your plan or, more importantly, direct you in your plans.

So often we will think, It's my life and my future and my career and my family and my money. We forget that we belong to God.

We need to remember-it's God's life. It's His future.

He is so gracious and loving. He wants to guide and direct your steps. Did you know that? God has a custom-designed plan just for your life.

Keep that in mind as you think about your future. Say, "Lord, what do You want me to do? I don't want to go fishing and pull up empty nets. I want You to direct me. I want You to guide me."

Devotion by:Greg Laurie

What's Love Got to do With It?

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2-3

Influential individuals often demonstrate a care and compassion for the people they are around. This love propels them to make a difference. Without love nothing else matters. The famous love essay, written by the influential apostle Paul, reminds us of the need for love.

Love keeps the flame of influence burning brightly. Teilhard de Chardin said it this way: "The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire."What is love challenging you to do in your life, at your church, in your community? What sacrifices are you willing to make to see God's dream for you become reality?

A college professor had his sociology class go into the Baltimore slums to get case histories of 200 young boys. They were asked to write an evaluation of each boy's future. In every case the students wrote, "He hasn't got a chance." Twenty-five years later another sociology professor came across the earlier study. He had his students follow up on the project to see what had happened to those boys. With the exception of 20 boys who had moved away or died, the students learned that 176 of the remaining 180 had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors, and businessmen.

The professor was astounded and decided to pursue the matter further. Fortunately, all the men were in the area, and he was able to ask each one, "How do you account for your success?" In each case the reply came with feeling, "There was a teacher."

The teacher was still alive, so he sought her out and asked the old but still alert lady what magic formula she had used to pull these boys out of the slums into successful achievement.The teacher's eyes sparkled and her lips broke into a gentle smile. "It's really very simple," she said. "I loved those boys." (Eric Butterworth, "Love: The One Creative Force," Chicken Soup for the Soul)

The Purposeful Life

Pilate said, "So you are a king?" Jesus responded, "You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." "What is truth?" Pilate asked.John 18:37-38

It's an age-old quest. The search for the meaning of life has always dogged mankind. Why am I here? What am I striving for? How do I make my mark in life, and what does it matter if I do or not? Finding no answers to these questions, many become defeatists; some become suicidal, while still others become tyrants.

During Pilate's interrogation of Jesus, Jesus volunteered that his purpose was to testify to the truth. Looking at Jesus with both pity and contempt, Pilate must have wondered what Jesus meant. A prisoner, beaten within an inch of his life, betrayed by his friend, deserted by his followers, and about to be hung on a tree until dead; what "truth" could Jesus possibly testify to that would hold any meaning for Pilate? Having been a witness to the heartless cruelty of man toward man, Pilate looked at Truth Incarnate and asked, "What is truth?"

The true condition of Pilate's heart was revealed when he turned to the screaming mob and, in an act of appeasement, sentenced Jesus to death. The words Jesus spoke on the cross while he was dying testified to the truth of his unparalleled love for man. Jesus' death testified to the tragic truth of man's rejection of God. Ultimately, Jesus' resurrection testified to his victory over sin and the glorious truth of God's passion for the redemption of man.

Jesus knew his purpose in life and fulfilled it with resolve. His victory over sin and death gives us the opportunity to live a purposeful life today. As Jesus testified to the truth of God and man, so we are called to testify to Jesus. Every day our lives can and do give evidence to the power of his loving sacrifice. Since we are liberated in Jesus, we can live in freedom toward others, unrestrained and generous in our compassion and fervent in our witness to our Savior. Our lives can be lived with purpose, determination, and joy in the knowledge that we are freed from the consequences of sin and the finality of death.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Warriors in the Battle

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood . . . - Ephesians 6:12

A spiritual battle wages in our world today; and God is looking for men and women who are ready to go into that spiritual battlefield and make a difference. The battle has been raging since the very beginning, as Satan has tried to keep us apart from God. The apostle Paul described this spiritual struggle when he wrote, "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

The devil has always opposed Christ, and he will oppose those who follow Jesus Christ.

One of Satan's strategies was to try to stop the Messiah from arriving in the first place. Remember in the book of Exodus when Pharaoh commanded all of the Hebrew baby boys to be killed? That was Satan's plan to wipe out the tribe the Messiah would come from. Satan tried again with Haman in the book of Esther and with King Herod who killed all those babies in Bethlehem, intending to stop the arrival of the Messiah.

Well, those plans didn't work, but the battle continued.

Certainly the devil was at work when Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver. You might have thought that Satan was basically successful when nails went through the hands and feet of Jesus on the cross.

But as the devil hammered home those nails he was hammering home his own defeat, because it was the blood of Christ that redeemed us. Thank God today for that redemption! Let's be warriors in the battle.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Evangelize or Fossilize

The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. - Proverbs 11:25

If we were brutally honest, perhaps the real reason we do not want to take a new convert under our wings is because we know we are not living the Christian life as it ought to be lived.

We don't want that new believer to see our inconsistencies or our hypocrisies. We end up saying, "I don't want to take on that responsibility."

But there is another way to look at it. Maybe we need to make some changes in our lives so we can be good examples to new believers. That doesn't mean we have to be perfect.

Christians make mistakes too, and a mature believer can be a model for applying the truths of God. This is all part of the discipleship process.

There can come a point in your Christian life in which you face spiritual dryness. Has that ever happened to you? It may be that you don't necessarily need to attend more Bible studies, read more Christian books, go to more church services, or even pray more.

The real problem may be that you don't have an outlet for what you are taking in. You need an outlet for your intake, or else you will stagnate. You have a choice: either evangelize or fossilize.

When you take a new believer under your wing, you are not only helping him or her, but you are saving yourself from spiritual stagnation. New believers need our wisdom, knowledge, and experience. We need their zeal, spark, and childlike faith.

Show me a church that does not have a constant flow of new believers, and I will show you a church that is stagnating.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Unexpected People

No flesh should glory in His presence. - 1 Corinthians 1:29

What kind of qualities does God look for in the man or the woman that He uses? Is He looking for a towering intellect? Is He concerned with how many certificates you have hanging on your wall? Do you have to be a born leader?

Throughout Scripture and throughout the history of the Christian church, we find that God has done unexpected things with unexpected people. He has accomplished extraordinary things through ordinary people.

He chose David, a young shepherd boy, to lead the nation Israel. He wanted someone to lead an army, and He chose a coward, Gideon. It's almost as though the Lord was going out of His way to pick someone and raise him up.

The apostle Paul explained to the church in Corinth that God chooses ordinary people so everyone could see that the glory belongs to God:For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

When I came to Christ, I was not a sports star or a rock musician or somebody important. I was just a mixed up 17-year old kid. Anything good that has come out of my life has been the work of God. It's the truth, anybody can see it plainly. That means we all qualify.

God can use ordinary people to touch the world. Let Him use you, and watch what God can do!

Desperation

About that time David's son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, "I will make myself king."1 Kings 1:5

Life can be unfair in the most aggravating ways! One of the amazing aspects of studying the Bible involves the discovery that ancient lives reflect our experiences. The similarities can be eerie. People and the way they relate to one another have not changed in thousands of years. That's why we can learn so much from their lives.

Adonijah wanted to be king of Judah. After all, he was the oldest living son of David. He was handsome, perhaps regal in appearance. So much so that several of David's advisers (Joab and Abiathar) gave him their support. But David had already promised his throne to Solomon. Adonijah's dreams and plans were in vain. Unfortunately, that didn't stop his attempt to take the throne.

David was an absent father in Adonijah's life. He never guided or questioned his son's actions or attitudes. Consequently, Adonijah never learned to recognize limits or how to work within them. He was spoiled into thinking he could always have his own way. He was unable to respect the wishes of others or to acknowledge God's will. Even though David thwarted Adonijah's attempt to take the throne, he failed to deal directly with his son. Adonijah's life was an example of the fact that although David was an outstanding leader and king, he was a poor model as a father. Adonijah's willfulness led to his own death.

Parents do not love their children by letting them do whatever they want or by giving them whatever they desire. Gifts can be an expression of love but so can limits. Self-centered children grow into self-destructive adults. Teaching our children how to respond correctly to the word no can be difficult. But failing to teach them that lesson will do them great harm.

How well have you learned to respond to limits? The word no can be a priceless gift. Knowing how to respond to no is a priceless lesson.

Adapted from 365 Life Lessons from Bible People (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 1996).Tyndale House Publishers

In the Twinkling of an Eye

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet . . . we shall be changed. - 1 Corinthians 15:52


Jesus tells us that there is coming a day when He will return. He will come quickly for all of His people and we will be taken to be with Him in heaven.

If you are not a Christian, that means you will be left. Remember Jesus said, " 'Two will be in the field: the one will be taken, and the other left' " (Luke 17:36).

If you are a Christian you will go immediately into the presence of God. But if you are not a Christian, and by that I mean if you have not asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be your Savior and Lord, then you will be left. Don't let that happen to you. It can happen so quickly.

I read that archaeologists uncovered extraordinary ruins in the town of Herculaneum, which is close to the ancient city of Pompeii. In 79 A.D., the violent volcano Vesuvius erupted there so suddenly, so quickly, that the scientists found people literally frozen in time. They uncovered Roman soldiers with swords in hand who had been killed instantly.

Think about that. These soldiers didn't even know what was about to happen. Then boom! They just stopped-dead in their tracks.

That is how quick the Lord's return could be. Suddenly, Jesus will return. Will you be like that one person in the field who was left behind? Maybe you are on the verge of accepting Christ.

It's time to decide now. This could be your last opportunity.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

We Are In This Together

But now I said to them, "You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!"Nehemiah 2:17

Did you notice the words we and us in this verse? In order to motivate the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the wall, Nehemiah had to identify with their problem, their need, and their future. It was no longer their problem. Now Nehemiah saw the broken wall as our problem. Imagine the kind of response Nehemiah would have received if he had said, "You folks have gotten yourselves into a bad mess. You know what you need to do? You need to rebuild that wall. If you need me, I'll be in my office. After all, I wasn't part of the problem. You people will have to get it on and do the work. Let me know how it turns out." Identifying with the problem encourages motivation.

When Lee Iacocca became chairman and CEO of Chrysler at the height of the auto giant's problems in 1979, he knew he would have to ask employees to take a pay cut to keep the company out of bankruptcy. Although he persuaded Congress to guarantee the company loans, he was still deeply distrusted by Chrysler's union members. He knew that he had to find a way to persuade these workers that he had Chrysler's best interests at heart.

Iacocca called a meeting of key management and union executives. He announced that for the next year his salary would be $1. The gambit worked. By sacrificing his own salary, Iacocca proved that he placed the welfare of the company over personal gain. He identified with the workers. He was saying, "We are in this together. And, together we can make it through." He knew that people will accept a lot of pain when everybody is going through the trial together. If the followers know that the leader's in with them, together they can move a mountain or, in Nehemiah's case, build a wall.


In what ways can you identify with the people you lead? How can you say to them, "We are in this together"?

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Alpha and Omega

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8

There are some who follow Jesus because they want God to conform to their plans instead of them conforming to His. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is come into the world." Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to a mountain by Himself alone. (John 6:14-15)

They wanted to take Him by force and make Him the king. They saw the Messiah as a political liberator. They didn't understand that before He will come to reign as Lord of lords and King of kings and establish His kingdom, He would first suffer and die for the sins of humanity.

Sometimes people are that way with God today. They expect the Lord to conform to their conception of Him. They expect God to conform to their plans. They decide, and He is supposed to cooperate.

It doesn't work that way. He doesn't conform to your plans. You conform to His plans.

The only thing that is going to turn us around, conform us, is a change of heart, a spiritual awakening, and that can only happen through prayer and the proclamation of the gospel.

Jesus Christ is not a means to an end. He is the end. He is the all in all. He is the Alpha and the Omega.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

People Do Things for Their Reasons, Not Yours

But now I said to them, "You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!"Nehemiah 2:17

Gordon Bethune took over Continental Airlines as CEO when it was in a free fall in 1994. The airline had one of the worst on-time records in the business. Customer service almost didn't exist. Planes were dirty. Workers lost luggage.

The first problem Bethune tackled was the on-time record. He pledged non-manager workers $65 bonuses every month the airline's on-time rate put it in the top five nationwide. Baggage handlers, gate and reservation clerks, flight attendants, and secretaries were all part of the pool.He arrived at the $65 by determining what it cost the company each month to run flights late. At $5 million per month, Bethune was willing to give half of that back to the employees ($65 times 40,000 employees) if they turned their on-time record around. He announced the program in January 1995. In February of 1999, 80% of Continental's flights landed on time.

By providing a financial windfall to the employees, all of a sudden, planes were clean. Motivation was up. So were profits. People were doing things for their reasons. During Nehemiah's time, the city walls encircling Jerusalem, God's holy city, lay in ruins. It was a disgrace. A city's walls were for protection. Without the stone barricade and nothing to stop their enemies, the inhabitants were defenseless and vulnerable to attack.

People are experts in cost-benefit analysis. Everybody asks, "What's in it for me?" Constructed walls around Jerusalem would benefit the residents of the city. Nehemiah knew this and acted on it. He led the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the wall, not for his sake (he lived a thousand miles away) but for their sake. And, it wasn't an extra $65 a month in their paycheck; it was for the protection of their very lives and their families.

One can poke, prod, and push people, and they don't move. But give them a good reason-one of their reasons-a way in which they will benefit, and they will follow where you lead.People do things for their reasons, not your reasons. Their reasons.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Remember Lot's Wife

But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. - Genesis 19:26


Who was Lot's wife? We don't really know a lot about her, not even her name. We assume that she met Lot in Sodom. We can safely conclude that Lot's wife was not a believer. It's clear she did not want to leave Sodom. She wanted to steal one last glance, and it cost her everything.

The book of Genesis tells us what happened that day. While they were fleeing, she looked back and became a pillar of salt. When Jesus said to His disciples, " 'Remember Lot's wife' " (Luke 17:32), it was a warning to not look back.

Why was looking back such a horrible sin, causing the judgment of God to fall upon Lot's wife? Doesn't it seem a little harsh? All she did was steal a quick glance.

But it wasn't just one last look. It was a lingering, a desire to stay there. You see, looking back is a step toward going back.The devil will come to you and say, "Hey, Christian! Remember the old days?" Let's be honest. We all had some fun in this world. But the devil doesn't remind you of the other things. He doesn't say, "Remember when you were miserable and empty, lonely, and terrified of death." He will remind you of a few good times because he knows that the first step to going back is looking back.

Then, like Lot's wife, you start to look over your shoulder. That is why Jesus said, " 'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God' " (Luke 9:62).

If you are going to follow Christ, you need to look forward, not over your shoulder. Remember Lot's wife: you don't want to be turned into a pillar of salt.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Is Your Life Balanced?

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.Luke 2:52

A balanced life is characterized by order, peace, and wholeness. The various parts of life are as they should be and where they should be. Each part of the balanced life gets the right amount of time and effort at the right time. It's not giving each part of life the same amount of time that makes life balanced; it's giving each part the necessary allotment of time.

The life of Jesus is an excellent model concerning balance. Throughout his life, Jesus was under constant pressure. Friend and enemy alike pursued him. Yet, when examining his life as recorded in Scripture, one sees that he never hurried, that he never had to play catch up, and that he was never taken by surprise. He managed time well, bringing it under control, because he knew the importance of balance. Jesus' life was well rounded. He grew intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially.Does your life reflect a balance? Do you make time for intellectual growth? If you are too busy to read a book or engage in study that stimulates the mind, you are too busy. Do you make time for physical health? Many people burn out because of improper personal maintenance. Don't be another fatality on the emotional highway. Take care of your physical self. Do you make time for your relationship with God? Do you feel too busy for prayer, Bible study, meditation, or devotions? Psalms 46:10 can be translated, "Take time and know that I am God." A popular hymn gives this advice: "Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord . . . Take time to be holy, the world rushes on," but do we do it? Do you make time for primary relationships? Is adequate time provided for your spouse, family, and friends?

Only you can answer those questions honestly. And, only you can take the necessary steps to bring order, harmony, and balance back in your life. Start today.
Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Make a Choice

Devotion by Greg Laurie
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. - James 4:4

Lot was the nephew of the only man identified in the Bible as the intimate friend of God, Abraham.

Abraham essentially wanted to walk with God, but Lot did not. Abraham was a man who possessed a deep friendship with God. Lot was interested in a friendship with God, but he was also very interested in a friendship with the world.

The apostle James asked the question, "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4).

James is saying that if you are going to follow Jesus Christ, you can't be a friend of this world. And "the world" means this world system that is hostile to the truth of God.

In case you haven't noticed it, this culture we are living in does not promote Christian values. In fact, if anything, this culture promotes the opposite.

It seems at every turn there is hostility toward those of us who believe there is right and wrong, morality and immorality. In a day when anything goes, people don't like those who hold to a set of standards and are unshakeable in them.

So if I want to be a friend to this world, if I want to go out there and do whatever my little heart desires, and engage in any pleasure that interests me, I cannot be the friend of God.

It's like having a foot on the dock and a foot in a rowboat that is beginning to drift away. You are going to have to make a choice. You can't live in two worlds.

You need to walk with God, as Abraham did.

How's Your Vision

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.Proverbs 29:18

Robert Fritz wrote, "It is not what a vision is; it's what a vision does." What does a vision do? Vision is the ability to see. Helen Keller was asked, "Is there anything worse than being blind?" "Yes," she replied, "having eyesight but no vision!"

Leaders imagine a preferred future. Vision is the stuff of the future. Vision is the vivid image of the compelling future God wants to create through you. Leaders can stand up and say this is where we are going.

Mike Vance tells of being at Walt Disney World soon after its completion when someone said, "It's too bad Walt Disney didn't live to see this." Vance replied, "He DID see it-that's why it's here."

What kind of vision do you have?

Myopic vision. Leaders with myopic vision are so terribly nearsighted that they live only for today. Their vision of the future is fuzzy. They can barely see beyond their noses.

Peripheral vision. Leaders with peripheral vision are blindsided by side issues. These visionaries are hampered in moving forward because they catch the threatening images of lurking problems in the corners of their eyes. They are fearful of shadowy difficulties and people lurking on the sidelines who will defeat their efforts. These folks are easily distracted.

Tunnel vision. Leaders with tunnel vision see only what's dead ahead of them and assume that their slender view of reality reflects the whole world. They don't see other persons or other issues.

Panoramic vision. Leaders with panoramic vision see the big picture. They see beyond today. They see what is ahead of them. They see what is to their sides. They have a basic understanding of the key ingredients of a healthy organization and know the steps that it will take to get them there.

Vision is perhaps the greatest need of leadership today. As someone said regarding the church but it pertains to any organization, "Our preachers aren't dreaming. That's why the church is such a nightmare."How's your vision? Without it your organization will be like an unbridled horse. With it the organization will be focused, moving toward the fulfillment of the dream.

Crowns In Heaven

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. - James 1:12

As Christians, one day we will receive rewards for our service to the Lord. I don't know about you, but I have not acquired a vast number of awards in my life. I have mostly won those purple honorable mention ribbons. They are just not as exciting as a big first place trophy!

But Jesus told us that our service to God, even it if is not seen by people, is indeed seen by God. He says, " 'Your Father who sees in secret will Himself one day reward you openly' " (Matthew 6:4).

The Bible speaks of crowns that will be given as rewards in heaven. One of them is called the soul winner's crown, also known as the crown of rejoicing: "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

The Bible also speaks of the crown of life: "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12).

Thirdly, there is the crown of righteousness: "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). There is a reward waiting for the believer who longs for His return, who loves Him, who is homesick for heaven.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

The Greatest Life

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. - Galatians 2:20

If you want to be a true follower of Jesus, you need to take up your cross. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24).

That may sound miserable to some of us. You envision yourself carrying around some huge, wooden cross-living a miserable life, a life of selfless sacrifice.

Let me share something with you. Taking up the cross of Christ means that I come to the Lord and say, "God, I realize you know more about life than I do. You know my future and what is best for me. And Lord, I want what You want for me more than what I want for myself. I am willing to put Your will above my own. If that means letting go of something that would hold me back or hurt me spiritually, I'm willing. If that means cutting loose something that is dragging me down, I'm willing. Because I know that You love me and have my best interest in mind."

That is why the apostle Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).

The greatest life is the life that has been exchanged-the life that has been given to God. And the greatest life is living in obedience to Jesus Christ.

Devotion by:Greg Laurie

Broken Trust

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

I gave you your master's house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife.2 Samuel 12:8-9

The life of King David was filled with numerous triumphs, conquests, and successes. He single-handedly took down Goliath with a sling and a stone. He wrote many of the psalms from which we find comfort in our times of difficulty. He presided over the nation of Israel and was considered by many to be its greatest leader.

David also learned a harsh lesson about the importance of trust. While sitting on his rooftop one day (when he should have been at war), he saw Bathsheba bathing and sent for her. This act led to adultery, the murder of Uriah the Hittite, and a cover-up of the whole situation. Only when the prophet Nathan confronted David about his actions did the king ask God for forgiveness. However, the Lord did not let David off easy. The child he fathered with Bathsheba died, there was a constant threat of murder in his family, and his son Absalom caused David problems until he was killed in battle.

When someone is trusted with a leadership role, they are given the opportunity to use their talents, time, and influence for causes bigger than themselves. As they make good decisions while showing integrity and concern for others, they earn trust. John Maxwell likens this to putting change in their pocket. However, when they betray that trust, it becomes difficult to regain. In addition, the leader has to pay some of their change back to the people. When one runs out of change, trust is gone. And when trust is gone, the leader ceases to be a leader.King David's story should serve as a reminder of the importance of trust and how quickly it can disappear. Allow God to mold and refine your character so that your decisions will inspire others to trust your abilities.

God Has A Future For You

Devotion by Greg Laurie

When the apostle Paul was imprisoned for proclaiming the gospel, he was no doubt feeling a bit down and discouraged. Perhaps he was wondering if he would ever be released.

Then Jesus came to him with these words: "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome" (Acts 23:11).Paul could take comfort in that there was a future for him because Jesus said, "You must also bear witness in Rome."

They wouldn't kill him. He was still to bear witness in Rome. He had a future.

One of my favorite Bible versesOne of my favorite verses about God's future for each of us is in the book of Jeremiah:"I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11)

It is worth noting that these words were given to Israel when they were in captivity in Babylon. They had lost hope. They saw no future, and felt as if God had forgotten about them.

But the Lord was saying to them (and us too), "I have not forgotten you, and there is a future!"

Note that God does not say, "I know the thoughts that I have thought toward you." Rather, He says, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you."God thinks about you all the time.

Now it would be wonderful enough to know that God ever thought of me as an individual. But it is not something God has merely done in the past. It is something He is doing in the present and will continue to do in the future.

Know this: God is thinking about you right now! He is not thinking about you merely as a member of the human race. He is thinking about you as an individual.

Psalm 40:5 says, "Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be counted to You in order. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."

God's thoughts toward you are continual, nonstop, and innumerable.

Think about that! God Almighty, the One who holds the heavens in the span of His hand, the One who spoke and creation came into being, is thinking about you right now.

Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of a future. Now the word used here for future could be translated "an expected end." Another translation describes it as "a ground of hope" or "things hoped for."

There will be an outcome in your life, regardless of what you are going through at present. There will be completion. God will tie up the loose ends.

You are still a work in progress. God is still finishing you, so don't be impatient. Don't feel it's over, just because you are not where you want to be yet.

We see only the beginning. God sees "the expected end" and it is good!

God still had a future for Paul, just as He does for you.

God Works in Every Circumstance

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28

God, in His mercy, can also take the tragedies of life and use them. God can take the most evil deed and work in spite of it.

The apostle Paul made this point in Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Paul includes what we perceive as "good things," as well as the bad things.

It's hard for us to understand how a bad thing can ultimately work together for good. There is nothing good about what happened to the 150,000 people who died in Southeast Asia during the 2004 tsunami. It was tragic beyond belief.

But God, in His infinite wisdom and love, somehow takes all the events of our lives, both good and bad, and blends them together ultimately for good. The good He intends, that is.

After that tragedy, Christian organizations mobilized to send much needed help and resources to the hurting people of Southeast Asia. People received much needed physical and spiritual help. Back then and even now, God will work things together for good.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie

Not Persuaded

Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can't become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!"John 7:3-4

The pressure was on. Michelle was really being pushed to launch the new product in the spring and get a jump on the competition. Everything was ready-almost, but not quite. It was the "not quite" that caused Michelle to hold back and reexamine the data. By the time the product was ready to be launched in the fall, the product had required critical changes. In the end, Michelle's ability to stand firm against outside pressures ensured the viability of the product and preserved the integrity of the company.Jesus faced similar pressures in John 7. His brothers were pushing him to go to the Feast of Tabernacles early and show off his miracle-performing abilities. Like many Jews, these brothers were looking for someone to "wow" the crowds and eventually lead the people in a rebellion against the Romans. The Feast would have been an ideal platform for launching Jesus' political career.

But Jesus could not be persuaded to become a crowd (or brother) pleaser. Jesus knew that his mission on earth was not to win fans, but to redeem people from their sin. Keeping his ultimate purpose in mind, Jesus chose to go to the festival, but in secret. In his wisdom, Jesus could not be persuaded to veer from his purpose, not even for one day of earthly glory. His choice to enter the festival quietly, instead of with a fanfare, led to a day of heated debates with his enemies and intense discussions with the crowd but no flashy miracles. By the end of the day, "many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him" (v. 31).

Regardless of the agenda others have, a leader needs to stand firm and keep her goal in focus. Leaders with integrity know that they cannot allow themselves to be persuaded to cave in to people-pleasing or glory-grabbing decisions. Pursuing integrity may not always be the popular or easy path, but it usually proves to be the wiser path.

Devotion by: Tyndale House Publishers

Weight off Our Shoulders

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9 "

It was like having a burden lifted off of my shoulders," is a common description from people after they come to Christ.

Years ago I received a letter from a girl, who explained that she became sexually involved as a young girl. Soon after that, she got pregnant and had an abortion. She explained how she got married, but now finds herself in a marriage that is falling apart. Her life was empty and she was facing guilt over her abortion.

But then she heard the gospel. She said, "It was as if a big, huge stone had been lifted from off my back."

That's such an accurate description of what Christ accomplishes when we confess Him as Savior. No matter what you have done. No matter what sins you have committed. Jesus Christ is ready to forgive you and let you into heaven.

None of us deserve it, but He has saved us anyway. His offer of eternal salvation is there for you, if only you will come to Him.

Devotion by: Greg Laurie