“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Mark 8:36–37 NLT)

Years ago, I ran into a guy I used to hang out with in school. I hadn’t seen him in twenty-five years. He called to say that he was coming to hear me speak, so we arranged to meet beforehand.

As we talked, he told me that he had been married twice and was presently divorced from his second wife. Then he said, “I basically drank my marriages away.” He went on to explain that he had gotten into the partying lifestyle and had never stopped. He said it had ruined his life.

I said, “You know, in the Bible, God says, ‘You will seek Me and find Me—’”

“You can quote your book, and I’ll quote mine,” he interrupted. “I’m in fellowship, too. I’m in a 12-step program.”

Once upon a time, our lives probably looked pretty similar. We enjoyed the same pleasures and chased the same vices. The difference was that I stopped chasing at the age of seventeen. And for him, the chase never ended. As I thought about the course his life had taken and the course my life had taken, it was clear to me who had given up the most.

There may be times when you look at unbelievers and think, “I don’t know, maybe they are having a better time than I am. Maybe I’m denying myself things for no good reason.” That’s when you need to remind yourself that looks can be deceiving. What looks like fun and freedom from a distance may turn out to be misery and addiction upon closer inspection. Make no mistake, there’s always a price to pay for sin. We all reap what we sow.

Jesus put it this way: “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Mark 8:36–37 NLT). The problem is that most people don’t realize that they are losing their souls. There is no “Check Soul” indicator light on the dash to warn us. There is a famous quote that goes, “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.” In that same vein, losing your soul is what happens when you are busy living life on your own terms. It’s what happens when you pursue success as you understand it or as society defines it.

If you live for Christ, if you determine to do things God’s way, you won’t regret it. Because you won’t find happiness or fulfillment through sex, drugs, or drinking. You won’t find it through relationships, success, possessions, or accomplishments either. You will find the happiness and fulfillment you’re looking for in life only through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Don’t risk losing your soul. Gaining the whole world is a poor substitute.

Reflection question: What do happiness and fulfillment look like in your life?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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“But Jesus replied, ‘We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.’” (Mark 1:38 NLT)

In John 4, Jesus visits a Samaritan village, meets a woman at a well, and talks to her. A simple story, right? No miracles, no healings, no drama. Perhaps, but this seemingly simple story is loaded with profound significance.

For one thing, in Jesus’ day, most Jewish people did not travel to Samaria. In fact, they often went well out of their way to avoid it. For another thing, most Jewish people didn’t talk to Samaritans. They considered Samaritans second-class citizens. (That’s why Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan was so shocking to His Jewish listeners.) And for another thing, most Jewish men did not talk to women, not even their wives, in public.

So, why did Jesus do all three of these things? In answering that question, we unlock two very important principles of the Christian life—principles that should guide our efforts to share the Good News of Christ with others.

First, we must go to where the people are. Jesus went to a Samaritan village because there was a Samaritan woman who needed to hear His words. That mentality fuels the servant heart. Jesus didn’t say that the whole world should go to church; He said that the church should go into the whole world. Mark 16:15 records one of Jesus’ last interactions with His disciples. “And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone’” (NLT). That was the message He left them with. And that’s the assignment His followers today are given.

When Harvest Ministries was doing an outreach in Disneyland several years ago, I was asked, “Why are you doing this in a place like Disneyland? Why would you hold an event in a place like this?”

I said, “Because Jesus said, ‘Go into all the world,’ and He did not exempt Disneyland. There are people here. And we want to reach people.” The glorious thing is that many people came into God’s kingdom through that outreach. We need to go to where the people are.

Second, we must care about the people we speak to. Jesus needed to go to Samaria because He cared about this woman (see John 4:10). When the apostle Paul was in Athens, he saw that the city was given over to idolatry, and his spirit was “deeply troubled” within him (see Acts 17:16–17 NLT). He felt righteous indignation as he saw so many people turning to false gods.

In the same way, any effective sharing of the gospel must always begin with a God-given burden. We must care. Jesus cared. Do you? Do you want to reach out to perishing people?

We must go to where the people are. We must care about them and reach out to them.

Reflection question: Where are the people with whom you need to share the Good News of Christ? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 NLT)

We’re a month removed from the Christmas season, although you wouldn’t know it from the number of people who still have their decorations up. Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus’ coming. But amidst the traditional readings, carols, and pageants of the season, one question that often gets overlooked is the most basic one of all: Why did Jesus come?

Let’s look quickly at five different reasons. First, Jesus came to proclaim Good News to the spiritually hurting. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor” (Luke 4:18 NLT). Not only did He proclaim the Good News, He was the Good News. He was the Messiah, the Savior the world had been waiting for.

Second, Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. Medical technology has made stunning advances in pain management, but there is still no cure for a broken heart. People struggle with all kinds of heartbreaking challenges—physical, relational, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Jesus understands. He lived as one of us. He experienced pain and betrayal and grief. He knows what we feel. The psalmist wrote of the Lord, “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NLT).

Third, Jesus came to set people free who are bound by sin. He came to open our spiritual eyes to our spiritual need. One of the greatest tricks the devil ever pulled was convincing people who are slaves to sin that they are free. The apostle Paul wrote, “So Christ has truly set us free” (Galatians 5:1 NLT). Jesus exposed the devil’s lie and shone a spotlight on people’s sin. He then provided a means for their sins to be forgiven forever.

Fourth, Jesus came to lift up those who are crushed by life. Jesus said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). He came to give us abundant life. Jesus came to show us that there is more to life than this. He came to give us hope.

Fifth, Jesus came to give His life for us. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT). God is holy and just. He demands punishment for sin. That punishment is death. Only a perfect sacrifice offered in our place could save us from death. Jesus was that perfect sacrifice. He willingly took our punishment for sin. He allowed Himself to be killed so that we might live.

Jesus Christ came to this earth to seek and save those of us who are lost, just as a shepherd seeks a lost sheep. Those who trust in Him will enjoy eternal life with Him.

Reflection question: Which of these reasons for Jesus’ coming would resonate most powerfully with someone you know? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.