Growing in Grace

"Follower" is more than something you do or don't do; it's who you are. Our behavior is determined by our identity. When we understand who we are, then we will know what to do. . . But if our behavior change isn't flowing from our core identity, it doesn't last. . .When you understand that your identity is not about being a fan and instead embrace who you are as a follower, your life will gain incredible clarity and direction. When Jesus came He wasn't focused on behavior modification, He was focused on giving the disciples a whole new identity. When our identity is wrapped up in who we were then we will start to live out of that identity because identity determines behavior. If we believe who we are is what we were, then we find ourselves living the way we once did. Instead of moving forward as a follower of Christ, we find ourselves held captive by our past. . . We have been made new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). He gives us a new identi

It's not that following Jesus wasn't important to this man, but following Jesus wasn't his top priority. . . Many fans say to Jesus, "I will follow. Anything and everything I have, I give to you." But Jesus points to what you're hiding behind your back and says, "What about that?". . . They are willing to follow Jesus, but the relationship isn't exclusive. . . Jesus doesn't want followers who have a divided affection or a split allegiance . . . When you accept the invitation to follow Jesus, you are not just saying that He is a top priority in your life; you are making Him the only priority in your life. . . Jesus loves you so much. He died to have a relationship with you. He will not share your heart with anyone. . . The reason Jesus is so adamant about followers surrendering everything is because the reality is this: the one thing we are most reluctant to give up is the one thing that has the most potential to become a substitute for

But godliness with contentment is great gain. -1 Timothy 6:6 When we live and act without contentment, we are trying to fill needs in our lives. It might be the need to be "somebody," the need to feel secure or cared for, or the need to have excitement and newness in our lives. Most people try to fulfill these needs with material things, but they can only really be met by a spiritual relationship with the God who made us.  -David Guzik, commentary on 1 Timothy 6

Fans feel OK about a half-hearted relationship with Jesus because they have every intention of one day going all-in and being completely committed. . . They let themselves off the hook for a lukewarm faith because they didn't tell Jesus no; they're just waiting till later. . . It says in Matthew chapter 4 verse 20, "At once" and in verse 22, it says "immediately." That's the commitment that Jesus was looking for in His followers. When fans are asked about when they will get serious about their commitment to follow Jesus, the most common answer is tomorrow. . .  When Jesus calls us to follow, He means right now.  For the fans who are always telling Jesus tomorrow, I've discovered that most often tomorrow only becomes today when tragedy strikes and dreams are shattered. . . There are natural consequences that come when we refuse to follow Jesus and instead go our own way. The truth is the longer you put Him off, the more likely it is that fo

Losses come in many forms. All losses touch us deeply. But sitting in his prison cell, Paul took inventory of all his earthly losses and insisted they didn't compare to the gain of knowing Jesus, walking with Him through life, and possessing the hope of heaven. Bring your losses to Him and lay them at His feet. Let him heal your bruised heart with the profit, gain, and unquenchable hope of a relationship with God's Son who loves you.  -From "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada

It's much easier to speak about following Jesus when you are making a general statement without any specific commitments. But the most obvious and basic definition of following Jesus will mean making some significant life changes. Following Jesus literally means that you go where Jesus goes. . . We  may be quick to say to Jesus, "I will follow You wherever. . ." But let's move it from the general to the more specific. Where is the one place you find it most difficult to follow Jesus? If you said to Jesus "Wherever," where do you think is the one place He would point and say, "What about there?" One of the reasons we don't follow Jesus wherever is that when He says there we take that more as a suggestion than as a command. . .  Jesus wants followers who will say yes to Him before they even know the request. A follower of Jesus says, "My answer is yes, now where did you want me to go?" Jesus speaks of following Him as a jo

What kind of people do you hang around with? Show me your friends and I will show you your future. Pay attention to what kind of people you're spending time with.  -Greg Laurie, Harvest Daily Devotion for 7/21/28

God uses problems to help you sense your weakness and His strength and to bring discipline into your life. How you react to problems and difficulties shows clearly the kind of stuff that's within you.  -Dr. Harold J. Sala

We are living branches connected to the living Christ. His life is our life. Abiding is living in constant awareness of total dependence on Jesus. . . Lord, I don't want to deal with life in my own wisdom or power. I want people to see Your life and strength in me at every turn.  -"A Spectacle of Glory", Joni Eareckson Tada

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23) The slogan for followers of Christ could accurately be captured this way: Come and Die The symbol for followers of Christ. . . is a cross. . .The cross was a symbol of humiliation. . . The one who had everything, made Himself nothing. . . If we are going to follow Him it means humbly taking up a cross and making ourselves nothing. The cross was a symbol of suffering. Taking up your cross and following Jesus can and will bring pain and suffering. You can't carry a cross without suffering. . . When people say yes to following Jesus, they are agreeing to carry a cross, and that will be painful at times. . . Here's a question: Am I really carrying a cross if there is no suffering and sacrifice? . . If there is no sacrifice involved, if you're not at least a little uncomfortable, then there is a good chance that you aren't carrying a cross. The cross w

Every believer has a story. We have all experienced rescue on a grand scale. God has saved us from a lifetime of futility and given us purpose, a destiny, and a reason to get up in the morning.  -from "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada

A fan will try and accept the invitation of Christ to follow, but they don't want to say no to themselves. In Luke 9:23 Jesus makes it clear that if we are going to follow Him, a casual no-strings-attached arrangement isn't a possibility:  If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself . . . A follower makes a decision every day to deny himself and choose Jesus. . . even if it costs everything. When we sacrificially deny ourselves for Christ's sake it is the clearest evidence of our committed love. A committed love is best demonstrated through sacrifice. One way fans try to follow Jesus without denying themselves is by compartmentalizing the areas of their lives they don't want Him to have access to. . . Following Jesus requires a complete and total commitment. The Bible would describe a follower as a "slave." . . A slave has no rights. A slave has no possessions to call their own. A slave in Jesus' day didn't even have a personal i

When Jesus says "Come after," He's describing a passionate pursuit of someone you love. It's a pursuit that can easily consume our thoughts, our resources, and our energy. That's what Jesus is looking for from a follower when he says "Come after." Followers should have some come after Jesus stories that make people say, That's crazy . Many fans didn't grow up thinking about their relationship with Jesus in these terms. . .  Jesus wants us to  understand that following Him is a pursuit that requires everything we have. . . Fans will be careful  not to get carried away. Followers understand that following Jesus is a pursuit that may cost them everything, but it is the best investment they could ever make. There is a fear among fans that by going all-in, they're going to miss out. Fans want to have just enough of the pleasure without having to risk feeling any pain. . . Instead of come after we hold back. It's not that we don't

John 3:16 emphasizes believing. Luke 9:23 focuses on following.  There is no believing without following. Jesus' invitation to follow is addressed to Anyone. . . Anyone can follow but not without giving up everything. . . The grace of God doesn't simply invite us to follow. . . it teaches us to follow . . . Even after we decide to follow Jesus, we continue to need His grace for the journey. . .  The invitation of Jesus to follow Him begins, "If anyone. . ." It turns out that Anyone means Anyone. Anyone means me. Anyone means you.  -From "Not a Fan" by Kyle Idleman

Photo Credit Being close to God isn't something syrupy or sentimental. It is life itself. It's the reason for drawing breath each day.  - From "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada

Photo Credit Many who assumed they were on the path to heaven will find out that heaven is not their destination. Ask yourself some important questions from what Jesus teaches in Matthew 7: #1 Does your life reflect what you say you believe? -Biblical belief is more than something we confess with our mouths; it's something we confess with our lives. -A fan may say "Lord, Lord," but a fan doesn't live "Lord, Lord."  Fans confuse their feelings for faith. But your feelings aren't faith until they are expressed. There is a tendency to define yourself as a follower based on how you feel about Jesus, but following requires there to be more than a feeling. Following requires movement. Photo Credit A belief, no matter how sincere, if not reflected in reality isn't a belief; it's a delusion. #2 Do you think you're on the right road because of what you've done? -Just as dangerous as assuming that

God greatly blessed both King Solomon and Daniel. They both were well known and able to influence the lives of many people. Not only were they wise, but they also enjoyed fame, fortune, and great success during their lifetimes. King Solomon is the author of our wisdom book - the book of Proverbs. God used him to teach us the difference between the wisdom of God and the perceived wisdom of the world. King David was King Solomon's father. He taught Solomon the value of trusting in God and having the wisdom of God above all else. Through Solomon's story, we see the value of having the fear of God as our first priority. From King David, Solomon learned the importance of being faithful, righteous and upright in heart. Solomon viewed himself as a servant. When asked by God what he would like, Solomon asked for a discerning heart to grow God's people and to be able to distinguish between right and wrong. He did not ask for long life, wealth or the death of his enemies. God gav

A Proverb is a short sentence expressing in a few words a well-known truth. The main purposes for studying the Proverbs are: *to know God *to know the Word of God *to Know God's principles *to learn how to apply God's wisdom *to give purpose to life We can understand the Proverbs by recognizing we have a need, listening, praying and studying. Usually and older person does have knowledge and wisdom because of their life experiences. They have already dealt with many of the same problems we are facing. But just because a person is old does not mean that he or she is truly wise. True wisdom comes only from God. Foolish people tend to judge others by whether they are rich or poor, athletic or musical, smart or slow to learn, well dressed or poorly dressed, outgoing or shy or friendly or lonely. Maturity teaches us to view others as God views them. God judges us by whether we are wise or foolish. A fool rejects the one true God. In Psalm 14:1-3, King David described the

According to Proverbs 3:13-15, silver, gold, rubies and anything you desire cannot compare to the value or importance of wisdom. 1 Corinthians 2:4-8 says there are two kinds of wisdom: the wisdom of this age and the wisdom of God. Proverbs 21:30 tells us that nothing can succeed without the Lord's wisdom. Anything that denies or belittles God is not wisdom. Without God, there can be no true wisdom. Isaiah 55:8 says that God's thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways. Therefore, atheism or godlessness in any form is not wisdom. God alone makes us wise. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts and ideas. Wisdom is knowing how to apply facts and ideas so that important choices can be made rightly. 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 shows us that God will destroy the wisdom of the wise. The world cannot use the wisdom of God to know God. God used the foolishness of what was preached to bring people to a saving knowledge of Him. 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 tells us that the world sees God's

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. -Philippians 4:8

You cannot be a follower unless you are filled with the Holy Spirit. When you become a Christian you receive from God the gift of the Holy Spirit. That's His promise to all who put their faith in Him. So it's not a question of whether or not you have access to this power of the Holy Spirit; the question is, have you accessed it? Fans may have received the gift of the Holy Spirit but they aren't being filled with the Holy Spirit. Fans may have received the gift of the Holy Spirit but they aren't being filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the power of the Spirit begins with an honest acknowledgement of our own weakness. The only way to be filled with the Spirit is to empty myself of me.  Fans foolishly think that with enough hard work they can follow Jesus. Followers of Jesus understand that it's a journey they were never meant to make alone. Followers keep in step with the Spirit and He supernaturally gives us the strength and

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. -Matthew 5:6 Photo Credit

A message for dads. . .  For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.  -1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 Photo Credits

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world,love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. -1 John 2:15-17

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. -Daniel 5:27 Photo Credit In Daniel 5:27, King Belshazzar sees a cryptic message handwritten on the wall of his banquet room. When he asks Daniel what it means, God's prophet replies, "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting." Thinking about this reply might prompt us to ask, "Where are we found wanting?" To find out, look to Jesus and ask yourself how much you have been conformed to His likeness. Do you have His meekness? His humility? His gracious spirit? Do we, like Paul, consider ourselves "the worst of sinners" and least of all the saints? (1 Timothy 1:15) Can we say with him, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain"? (Philippians 1:21) Let's ask God to bring us there. Let's ask His Spirit to rekindle our need for God, for deeper faith, for warmer zeal, and for more fervent love. Together let's cry out, "Please, Lord, if I am

The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork. -Job 39:13 In Job 38-41, God takes Job on a tour through the wonders of nature. In Job 39:13, the Lord points Rejoice in who you are and with what God has given you. The wings of an ostrich really don't do much of anything. Ostriches can't fly. But they can run like the wind! Even so, it's the glory of a bird to flap its wings, and the ostrich does so with pride and joy. We too can rejoice in both our strengths and our weaknesses - in our strengths because they are precious gifts from God and in our weaknesses because God demonstrates His power and grace through them as we depend on and trust in Him. (12 Corinthians 12:9-10) our that "the wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork." Whatever else God intended to teach through this observation, one application seems clear: -From  A Spectacl

Greg Laurie Thursday, January 25, 2018 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?"                                     —Matthew  22:41 –42 Without question, Jesus Christ is the most controversial figure who has ever lived. He is loved, worshiped, and followed by some. He is hated, despised, and rejected by others. He is disregarded and ignored by most. But it always will come down to Jesus. Who is Jesus? Two thousand years ago, Christ Himself asked the question: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Matthew  22:42 ). And to this very day, people are still confused about the answer. Maybe there has never been a time when more people profess faith in Jesus yet at the same time have no clue as to who He really is. Many will speak with respect about Christ. They will say things like, “I believe that Jesus was a great prophet” or “I believe that Jesus was a messenger sent from

Greg Laurie Wednesday, January 24, 2018 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."                                                                                                —Luke  14:11 If we have learned nothing else from our culture telling us what we should do to be happy, we have learned this: It is just not true. We have realized where happiness isn’t. Prior to becoming a Christian, I already knew the answer was not in the world. I knew it wasn’t in my mother’s world of hedonism and drinking and partying. I knew it wasn’t in my world, limited as it was at seventeen years old. So I was wondering where it was. And then I became a Christian. We have a different paradigm to follow, given to us by God in His Word. We could call it the divine paradox, because in God’s economy, if we want to be great, we must learn to be humble. If we want self-fulfillment, we should seek the fulfillment of others. Regarding this divine

Greg Laurie Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. —Mark 9:2–3 The miracle of the Transfiguration wasn’t that Jesus shined like the sun; the miracle was that He  didn’t  shine like the sun all the time. When Jesus came to Earth, He never gave up His deity. But we might say that He shrouded His glory and laid aside the privileges of His deity. Jesus Christ is God. He is a member of the Trinity, coequal and coeternal with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. Jesus was God before He was born, and He remained God after He became man. His deity was prehuman, pre-Mary, and pre-Bethlehem. Jesus laid aside not His deity, but the privileges of deity, to model what it is to be a servant. Paul told the believers in Philippi, “Let this mind be in you

Greg Laurie Monday, January 22, 2018 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you?                                                                 —James 4:1 I think we could safely say that so many of the problems we deal with are because of our selfish human natures. Selfishness is at the root of many sins. It is amazing how even little children have this trait. Have you ever noticed when two children are playing and one child doesn’t care about a certain toy until the moment the other child picks it up? Suddenly both children want it. They scream and pull, and they will destroy the toy in the process. It’s all because one child wants what the other has. That is just human nature. We are born that way, and we carry this trait with us through life. James pointed out, “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” (James 4:1). That’s really it. We want