“At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.” (Genesis 28:11–12 NLT)

God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation from Abraham’s descendants.

Step one of the promised nation-building was giving Abraham and his wife Sarah a son, which God did when Abraham was one hundred years old. The son’s name was Isaac. When Isaac was a young man, he married a woman named Rebekah.

When Isaac was sixty years old, Rebekah gave birth to twin boys. They named them Esau and Jacob. Esau was born first. In the culture of that day, the firstborn son was given special privileges, known as the birthright. The birthright included a leadership role in the family, the right to make judicial decisions, a double portion of the father’s inheritance, and a special blessing from the father.

One day Esau returned from hunting, famished. Jacob was cooking a bean stew. He offered to give his brother a bowl of stew in exchange for Esau’s birthright. Esau agreed, which showed how little he cared about his birthright. Later, Jacob posed as his brother to trick his nearly blind father into giving Jacob his special blessing. The blessing gave Jacob divine protection. Whoever cursed him would be cursed by God, and whoever blessed him would receive God’s blessings.

Esau was devastated—and furious—when he learned what his brother had done. He plotted to kill Jacob after their father died. To protect Jacob, Rebekah sent him away until Esau cooled off. While Jacob was on the run, he spent a night in a land named Luz. There, he had a dream in which he saw a stairway that extended from the earth all the way to Heaven. He saw angels going up and down the stairway.

God spoke to him from the top of the stairway. He reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham and reminded Jacob that the land where he slept belonged to him and his descendants.

What Jacob didn’t realize is that God had given him a glimpse of Jesus’ future work. Sin separated humans from God. There was no passageway between earth and Heaven, no hope for eternal life. But Jesus’ sacrifice changed that. He became the stairway to Heaven, the only way to eternal life.

Jesus identified Himself with Jacob’s dream when He said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth” (John 1:51 NLT).

In Genesis 32:9–16, Jacob prayed as he was on his way to make amends with Esau. He acknowledged the God of Abraham and Isaac as the true God. He confessed his own unworthiness. He brought his petition to the Lord. But it would have been better if he had said, “Lord, what should I do now?” Instead, he prayed and made his plans. In other words, he decided what he was going to do and then asked God to bless it.

Is that not like us? We make our plan and then ask God to bless it. But that is not really praying about a matter. Instead, we should pray along the lines of “Lord, give me wisdom from Your Word and from godly people who will guide me scripturally. Help me do the right thing.” But Jacob did not do that. He wanted what was right, but he went about it in the wrong way.

God helps those who can’t help themselves. This is what Jacob needed to realize. Let’s learn to seek out God’s will rather than bypass it.

Reflection question: How do you feel about the claim that there are many different paths that lead to God?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.” (Genesis 22:13 NLT)

In Genesis 22:2, God gave Abraham one of the most challenging commands imaginable: “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you” (NLT).

Abraham had waited a long time for his son. Isaac was precious to him. He was the fulfillment of God’s promise to build a great nation from Abraham’s descendants. He was Abraham’s legacy.

Yet Abraham didn’t hesitate to obey. Verse 3 says, “The next morning Abraham got up early” (NLT). He began the journey as soon as he could. He didn’t try to bargain, plead, or stall.

Hebrews 11 is known as the “Faith Hall of Fame” because it records the names and actions of people of God who stayed faithful to Him during extraordinary circumstances. Abraham’s name is prominent in that list. Hebrews 11:19 says, “Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again” (NLT). That’s an amazing statement when you consider that, at that time, no one had ever been brought back to life before.

Abraham trusted God to bring ultimate good from the situation, no matter how it played out. His life, and even his son’s life, were less important to him than God’s will was.

And just as Abraham was obedient to God, Isaac was obedient to his father. He willingly went along with the preparations, even when it became apparent that he was the intended sacrifice. Isaac was a young man. He easily could have overpowered his father and saved himself. But he didn’t. He, too, remained faithful.

And, of course, so did God. Just as Abraham raised his knife to sacrifice Isaac, an angel of the Lord appeared. “‘Don’t lay a hand on the boy!’ the angel said. ‘Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son’” (Genesis 22:12 NLT).

I believe this was Jesus Himself intervening at this strategic moment, which was a perfect picture of what He Himself would experience at the cross of Calvary. Abraham offered his son, his only beloved son. And Jesus said in John 3:16 that “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (NLT).

As we see in Genesis 22:13 above, God arranged for Abraham a different sacrifice in the form of a ram whose horns were caught in a nearby thicket. Isaac was saved because God provided a sacrifice to take his place.

In this story, we see Jesus and His saving work. Every one of us has sinned. We deserve God’s punishment, which is death. Even though we sinned against Him, God loves us so much that He provided a sacrifice to die in our place—just as He did with Abraham and Isaac. If we believe in Christ, we will have eternal life.

Reflection question: What does the story of Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac reveal about God?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre.” (Genesis 18:1 NLT)

Abram (who was later renamed Abraham) was given an extraordinary promise. God announced that He would bless Abram with a son and a land for his descendants. Those descendants would become a great nation—one that would bless all other nations.

God didn’t include a timetable with His promise. He wanted Abram and his wife Sarai (who was later renamed Sarah) to trust Him. But as time passed, that became more and more difficult for the childless couple.

In Genesis 12, God instructed Abram to leave his country and move to the land of Canaan—the Promised Land. When Abram got to Canaan, the Lord appeared to him and confirmed His promise to give the land to Abram’s descendants. And in Genesis 17, the Lord appeared to Abram to make a covenant with him. If Abram served God faithfully and lived a blameless life, God would give him countless descendants. The Lord then changed Abram’s name to Abraham because he would be the father of many nations.

One day, Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day when he saw three men nearby. Abraham recognized one of them as the Lord Himself. The Bible doesn’t say how Abraham recognized Him, but it may have been because he had already encountered the Lord on two previous occasions.

So the encounter at Mamre was the third time the Lord appeared to Abraham. And on all three occasions, it was Jesus he came face to face with. It couldn’t have been God the Father. The apostle Paul wrote of Him, “No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will” (1 Timothy 6:16 NLT). Jesus Himself touched on His encounter with Abraham during His confrontation with the Pharisees in John 8. “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” they replied (verse 57 NLT). They couldn’t wrap their minds around the idea that the One who stood before them had also stood before Abraham centuries earlier.

Unlike the Pharisees, Abraham knew exactly who he was talking to. And it must have gratified him to hear the Lord confirm again that Sarah would give birth to a son. Sarah, on the other hand, had a different reaction. She laughed to herself when she heard the Lord’s words. She was, after all, nearly ninety years old, and Abraham was nearly one hundred—not exactly the prime childbearing years.

Jesus reassured the couple with an important question by quoting Genesis 18:14: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (NLT) Within a year, they would have their answer. And they would name him Isaac.

It is interesting how Jesus came to different people in the Bible. To Abraham, Jesus came as a traveler. We know that Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56 NLT). Why did the Lord come to Abraham as a sojourner? That is what Abraham was.

Jesus meets us where we are, in a way that resonates with us. He appeared to Abraham and Sarah to encourage them to be patient, to trust God’s timing, and to prepare for the blessings and challenges that lay ahead. He does the same thing for us, as often as necessary, through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Reflection question: How might the Lord reassure you or give you the perspective you need to trust His promises and His timing?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” (Genesis 6:9 NLT)

Once sin entered the world, it didn’t take long for it to reach a tipping point. Genesis 3 tells us about the temptation of Adam and Eve and their decision to disobey God. And just three chapters later, we find these words: “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart” (Genesis 6:5–6 NLT).

Because God is just, He has wrath and anger. Some people have a hard time with this. “How can God be loving and wrathful?” Is it really that hard to figure out? If God loves what is good, then He hates what is evil. And if He is just, there has to be a penalty for breaking His laws. He demands punishment for sin. That punishment is death. God determined to destroy every living thing on the earth. What stopped Him? “Noah found favor with the Lord” (verse 8 NLT).

Noah was not a sinless man, but he was a righteous man. He had a close relationship with God. He prioritized God’s will and was obedient to His call. Because of Noah’s faithfulness, God provided a way to save those who were connected to this righteous man from His judgment.

Noah built an ark—an enormous sailing vessel—according to the Lord’s precise instructions. He herded two (male and female) of every type of animal onto the ark, along with the necessary provisions. Then he, his wife, his three sons, and their wives boarded the vessel.

Seven days later, the rains started. Torrential downpours continued for forty days. Everyone and everything that was not on the ark was destroyed by the floods. Eight people were saved from God’s judgment because of one person’s righteousness.

Noah and his family, along with the animals on the ark, were responsible for repopulating the earth. They were part of God’s new creation. But Noah’s righteousness was imperfect, and sin reared its ugly head again. People pursued evil instead of good. They disobeyed God instead of following His will. The trend toward wickedness continues today. We don’t have to look far to find Satan’s influence in our culture.

And because God is still perfectly just, that means another judgment is coming. Jesus says in Matthew 24:37–39, “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes” (NLT).

And this time, He is the means of salvation. What the ark did for Noah and his family is what Jesus does for everyone who believes in Him—that is, offer protection from God’s holy wrath. Noah’s salvation came from an ark made of wood. Jesus’ salvation comes from a cross made of wood. If you trust in Him, you will be saved.

Reflection question: How can you help someone who doesn’t realize that God’s judgment is coming?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 NLT)

The first promise of a Savior came almost immediately after the need for one was created.

God designed a paradise for the first two humans. The Garden of Eden supplied their every need. Tending the garden gave them a sense of purpose and fulfillment. The perfect harmony of nature within the garden surely gave them a sense of emotional well-being. And God Himself walked in the garden in the cool of the evening. Because they spent so much time in God’s presence, it’s probably safe to assume that their every spiritual need was met.

Everything in the garden was available to Adam and Eve—except the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were forbidden to eat it. God warned that if they disobeyed His one rule, the punishment would be death.

But one creature in the garden cared little about God’s rule. The serpent convinced Eve to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. She, in turn, gave some to Adam, who ate it as well. When they realized what they had done, they hid. They hid because they realized that they were naked and because they were afraid of God’s punishment for their sin.

Of course, nothing is hidden from God. Adam blamed Eve for their sin, and Eve blamed the serpent. God revealed to each of them the consequences of their actions. His judgment on the serpent is found in the passage above. In it, we find what some Bible scholars call the proto-evangelium—the first reference to God’s plan of salvation and redemption.

The woman’s offspring is Jesus. He would do what Adam and Eve couldn’t do: live a sinless life. God didn’t kill Adam and Eve. But He also didn’t waive the punishment of death. That punishment would fall to their sinless offspring.

“He will strike your head” refers to Christ’s ultimate victory over the serpent and his offspring. The apostle Paul wrote, “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross” (Colossians 2:15 NLT).

And that ties into the final phrase of Genesis 3:15: “And you will strike his heel” (nlt). Christ’s ultimate victory would come at a cost. The shedding of sacrificial blood would be necessary. Genesis 3:7 says Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to cover their nakedness—and, in a sense, to cover their sin. But look what God does in verse 21: “And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife” (nlt). An animal had to be sacrificed to cover them—and their sin. Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (NLT).

In the third chapter of Genesis, we find the first promise of Jesus, the Savior, who would shed His innocent blood to provide forgiveness and salvation to everyone who believes in Him.

What’s more, our ancient enemy was soundly defeated at the cross. There, he lost his stranglehold on the life of the human race. As a Christian, you have been set free by the power of Jesus Christ.

Reflection question: What does God’s original plan, as well as His response to Adam and Eve’s disobedience, reveal about Him?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT)

As we mentioned in the previous devotion, this month we’ll be looking at passages in the Old Testament in which Jesus appears or is referred to. Before we do that, though, let’s briefly review how the Bible came to be. The more we understand about what God’s Word is—and isn’t—the better we can appreciate its specific references to Jesus centuries before His birth.

The Bible is the most amazing document ever given to man. Technically speaking, it is not one book. The Bible is a compilation of sixty-six books with more than forty different authors. It has been separated into two sections.

The first section contains thirty-nine books that make up the Old Testament. The second section contains twenty-seven books that make up the New Testament.

Overall, the Bible was written over the course of approximately 1,500 years and was written in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) by people all over the place—from kings to peasants to philosophers to laborers, poets, statesmen, and scholars. Moses was a political leader trained in the schools of Egypt. He wrote the first five books of the Bible that we know as the Pentateuch. Peter was a fisherman. Joshua was a military general. Daniel was the equivalent of a prime minister. Luke was a doctor. Solomon was a king. Matthew was a tax collector. Paul was a rabbi.

 The Bible is the most ambitious literary project ever conceived. And it’s a miracle. There’s no earthly reason for so many disparate parts to form such a seamless whole. But there is a heavenly reason. God guided every author, every step of the way. He didn’t dictate the words of Scripture. He allowed each author to use his own writing style and personality. But God made sure that they wrote what He intended. He inspired them to express His truths in their own words. And though they all bring different perspectives to the material, they all tell a single story.

The Bible is the story of God’s love for us, even after we sinned against Him, and His amazing plan to save us from the punishment we deserve for our sin. The Bible is the story of Jesus. He is the golden thread that runs through its pages. He bridges the Old and New Testaments. He connects sixty-six separate books into one.

We see the promise of Jesus in the Garden of Eden. We see the work of Jesus in Noah’s ark. We see the ancestors of Jesus in the stories of Abraham, Jacob, and David. We see specific predictions about Jesus in the Old Testament books of prophecy. And we see the fulfillment of everything written about Him in the Gospels.

God’s perfect plan of salvation can be seen in the perfect Book He gave the world.

Reflection question: How do you know God’s Word can be trusted?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?’ Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25–27 NLT)

Did Jesus exist before the nativity in Bethlehem? Was there a Christ before Christmas?

The answer is yes.

Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem is when the incarnation took place. The incarnation is when God became a man. But that’s not when Jesus came into being. Jesus, being God, has always been and He always will be. He is eternal because He is God. Understanding that opens up Scripture to us in a whole new way.

The Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament covers events that occurred before Jesus’ birth. The New Testament covers events surrounding His birth and after. It’s similar to the way we divide history. The Old Testament is BC (before Christ); the New Testament is AD (anno Domini), which is Latin for “in the year of the Lord.”

Casual readers of the Bible may assume that Jesus is a New Testament figure, an AD man. But that’s not the case. Remember, He’s eternal, so there’s no such period as BC because nothing existed before Christ.

John 1:1–2 says, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God” (NLT). And in Colossians 1:17, the apostle Paul writes of Christ, “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together” (NLT).

Not only has Christ existed forever, He is also the central figure of Scripture. Not just the New Testament, but the Old Testament as well. That’s the theme for our devotions this month: Jesus in the Old Testament. You can’t fully appreciate God’s amazing plan of salvation until you connect the dots between the Old Testament passages that anticipate Christ’s coming and the New Testament passages that detail His saving work.

Luke 24 tells the story of two followers of Christ who were walking to the village of Emmaus three days after Jesus’ crucifixion, just as news of His resurrection was starting to spread. They were sad and confused. Jesus appeared to them, but God kept them from recognizing Him at first.

Jesus’ words to them—“You foolish people!”—may seem harsh. But Jesus wanted them to understand that it wasn’t the time for mourning or confusion. The Messiah was alive! God’s plan of salvation had been accomplished! Death had been conquered! Centuries of prophecy and promises had been fulfilled!

Verse 27 says, “Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (NLT). These men likely were no strangers to Old Testament Scripture. But they had failed to make some very important connections. Not only were Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection all part of God’s prophetic plan, but so was just about everything else He did. The evidence was there, in the words of Scripture, for anyone who searched for it. Jesus helped His followers recognize the clues they had missed.

We are never alone in life. That’s the message we see from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus has always been there. He appeared to Abraham and Jacob, among others. He was never far from the minds of the Old Testament prophets. And to those who are His disciples, He says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT).

Reflection question: What does the Old Testament reveal about God and His plan of salvation?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (James 1:27 NLT)

In football, there are players who excel at their position on offense and players who excel at their position on defense. And then there are the exceedingly rare athletes who excel on both sides of the ball. They’re called two-way players. They have the skills to contribute both offensively and defensively.

In James 1:27, James calls for Christians to be “two-way players” in putting our faith into action. On the offensive side, he calls us to involve ourselves in the lives of people in need. On the defensive side, he warns us to guard against being corrupted by the world.

Unlike the athletic marvels in football, you don’t need to be extremely gifted to excel in both areas as a believer. You just need to align your priorities with God and follow the game plan in His Word.

In this case, the game plan begins with choosing a side. Here’s a hint: Always team up with people in need, those who fall through the cracks of our society. God loves underdogs—and the people who side with them. Proverbs 19:17 says, “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!” (NLT). And Jesus Himself, quoting Isaiah 61:1–2, said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18–19 NLT).

Your first instinct may be to pray for the poor and needy in your community. And that’s an instinct you should certainly follow. But if you do, and you stay alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, you’ll probably discover that you’re the answer to your own prayer. Or at least part of the answer. There’s a very good chance that He’ll call you to get actively involved in the lives of the people you pray for.

What that might look like is hard to say. What matters is that you can make a difference. You can bring hope to people who desperately need it. You can use your skills and resources to give them assistance. You can connect them to your community. You can let them know that you care in tangible ways. You can show them what Jesus’ love looks like.

But as you concern yourself with other people’s well-being, don’t neglect your own. Especially your spiritual well-being. The world’s influence is a constant threat. What makes it so dangerous is that often you don’t even know you’re being influenced or corrupted.

You need accountability partners—people who can recognize signs of corruption, or even just worldly influence, in you. People who aren’t afraid to lovingly challenge you when necessary. The ideal accountability partner is a Christian spouse or loved one, someone who knows you well and has a deep concern and a vested interest in your spiritual well-being.

Reflection question: What are some subtle ways in which a person can be corrupted or negatively influenced by the world?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22 NLT)

The Bible is the source of some of the most famous quotes in all of literature. “A fool and his money are soon parted” comes from Proverbs 21:20. “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” which was quoted by Abraham Lincoln in a speech on the eve of the Civil War, comes from Matthew 12:25. “Go the extra mile” comes from Matthew 5:41. And “You reap what you sow” comes from Galatians 6:7.

God’s Word also contains some of the most familiar stories ever written. Even people who have never cracked the spine of a Bible can tell you about Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, or Hezekiah’s purification of the temple (okay, maybe not that one).

There’s a lot to admire in the Bible. But God doesn’t want us to be admirers of His Word. He doesn’t want us to be appreciators or bystanders. He wants us to be active participants. He wants us to apply those famous quotes to the decisions we make every day. He wants us to find common ground with people who were faithful to God in those familiar stories. He wants us to take steps to avoid the fate of the people who weren’t faithful.

The Bible contains wisdom that can be applied to practically any area of your life. The key is knowing how to make the connection. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, the apostle Paul writes, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (NLT).

The way you connect these words to your life will depend on your relationship. You might resolve to learn to tolerate—or maybe even appreciate—certain quirks or habits of your spouse that try your patience. You might take steps to deal with your feelings of jealousy. You might apologize for times when you demanded your own way or brought up things your spouse did in the past.

Maybe you’re struggling in your relationship. Maybe you and your spouse have even talked about ending it. If you turn the words of 1 Corinthians 13 into a plan of action, you might choose instead not to give up. You might ask God to strengthen your faith—in Him and in one another. You might look for signs of hope that you can build on. You might talk to a Christian counselor to find ways to endure together.

If you study God’s Word for the purpose of doing what it says, you can change your relationship—and every other area of your life—in ways you can’t imagine.

Reflection question: How will you apply a specific passage of Scripture to your life this week?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” (James 1:16–17 NLT)

In this passage, James is talking to people who were struggling with temptation. They were looking for scapegoats. Some even had the nerve to suggest that God tempted them to sin. James nips that talk in the bud with three words: “Don’t be misled.”

God doesn’t tempt anyone to sin. He is light; sin is darkness. The two can’t coexist. There is no dark side to Him. There’s not even a hint of a shadow.

God created with us free will. He lets us choose whether we will obey Him or not. And He allows us to experience the consequences of our disobedience. But He doesn’t tempt us. He doesn’t try to get us to do wrong.

In fact, He gives us every reason not to sin. He warns us in His Word about temptation. In 2 Timothy 2:22, the apostle Paul writes, “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”

God’s light exposes darkness. It shows us the ugly truth behind the attractive things that tempt us. Not only that, God gives us an escape route from every temptation we face. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul writes, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

God isn’t the tempter; He’s the Giver. He’s generous beyond belief, and His goodness is perfect. We never have to question His motives because He wants only what’s best for us—not just in the moment, but forever. And because His wisdom is as reliable as His goodness, we can trust that everything He sends our way is not just beneficial, but perfectly beneficial.

Everything good—in this world and in your life—is a gift from God. If you wrap your mind around that truth, you have something to be thankful for every day. The promise of eternal life. The view from your favorite vacation spot. The skills, abilities, and qualities that set you apart from others. The taste of your favorite food. The people closest to you.

What would happen in your relationship with your spouse or other loved ones if you treated them like the gift from God that they are? If you spent time appreciating the many ways they bring you joy and brighten your day? If you found creative and meaningful ways to let them know how thankful you are for them?

Imagine the possibilities.

Reflection question: How can you show your appreciation for the good and perfect gifts God has given you?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.