“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” (1 John 1:8 NLT)

Visitors to San Francisco can’t help but be amazed at the architectural marvel that is the Golden Gate Bridge. But its beauty and innovation came at a tremendous cost. During the initial phases of construction, several workers lost their balance and plunged to their deaths in the San Francisco Bay.

The builders were concerned about the human tragedy, of course. But they were also concerned about the delays in the schedule because of the deaths. They needed to find a way to keep their workers safe under the most dangerous conditions. The solution they arrived at was something that had never been done before.

The builders installed a giant safety net under the construction area. The workers knew that if they fell, the net would catch them. The experience wouldn’t necessarily be pleasant for the unfortunate worker, but at least he would live to tell about it. Thanks to the net, workers could go about their business without the fear of dying. With the threat removed, they were able to move quickly and finish the project.

Did you know that God has put a safety net under you? By that I mean, when you slip, when you fall, when you make a mistake, you don’t have to worry that your name will be blotted out of the Book of Life. You don’t have to face the prospect of becoming persona non grata with God.

The apostle Paul wrote, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood” (Romans 3:23–25 NLT).

If you believe in Christ, you have a spiritual safety net. You have a barrier against spiritual death. Because Jesus came into your heart, forgave you, and committed Himself to you, He now protects you, seals you, and justifies you because of that commitment.

The fact is that we as Christians will sin and fall short. The Scriptures, as well as our own experiences in life, tell us this is true. According to 1 John 1:8, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth” (NLT). This isn’t an excuse for ungodly living. Nor is it a license for sin. It’s a simple acknowledgment of reality.

Yet Paul wrote, “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38 NLT).

Nothing can dismantle our safety net.

Reflection question: What does your spiritual safety net mean to you? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.” (1 John 4:20–21 NLT)

One of the first things I remember taking place when I committed my life to Jesus Christ was the erosion of bitterness and anger in my heart and the growth of a love I had not known before. That surprised me because that bitterness and anger had been constant companions of mine. I had nurtured them for longer than I could remember. But such is the power of God and His love.

If we claim to be followers of Christ and harbor bitterness or hatred in our hearts toward someone, that should be a warning sign. The apostle John left little wiggle room when he wrote, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers” (1 John 4:20–21 NLT). He’s saying that if we have hatred in our hearts toward fellow members of the body of Christ something wrong in our spiritual life. Something that must be addressed immediately if we’re going to grow in our faith.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:9–10 NLT). He’s talking about something more than a passive tolerance here. Something more than simply spending an hour or two together on Sunday mornings. The love he’s talking about involves actively growing closer to others. And often that means finding ways to heal past hurts and remove the obstacles that keep us at a distance from others.

Maybe someone has wronged or hurt you. If so, take it to God. Let Him deal with it. Your job is to heed His call to love and forgive that person and not to avenge yourself. Here’s why: That bitterness and hatred will do more harm to you than to the person you’re directing it toward. It will eat you up inside. It will destroy your life. It will hinder your time of prayer with God. It will hinder your worship. It will, for all practical purposes, act as an obstacle in the relationship God wants to have with you.

There’s no room for hatred, bitterness, or prejudice in the heart of a child of God. God wants our love to be honest and without hypocrisy. That’s the kind of love that changes lives and changes the world.

Reflection question: How can you remove an obstacle that’s keeping you at a distance from someone else? 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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“So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13 NLT)

This week we’re going to focus on passages from the first epistle of John. And we’re going to start with one that addresses the topic of Christian persecution.

I heard a story about some fish suppliers who were having problems shipping cod from the East Coast. By the time the cod reached the West Coast, they were spoiled. The suppliers tried freezing the cod, but en route across the country, they turned mushy. The suppliers tried shipping live cod, but they arrived dead. Finally, the suppliers tried sending live cod, but with one difference: They included a catfish in each tank. You see, catfish are the natural enemies of cod. By the time the cod arrived, they were alive and well because they had spent their trip fleeing the catfish.

Believe it or not, there’s a spiritual lesson in that story. Have you ever considered that, spiritually speaking, God may put catfish in the tanks of believers to keep us alive and well spiritually? And that, often, the “catfish” takes the form of persecution?

Maybe you get singled out in your friend group for refusing to go along with certain activities. Maybe you have a coworker who tries to trip you up with hard questions about spiritual things. Maybe you have a neighbor who openly mocks your faith in Jesus. Maybe you have a spouse or family member who doesn’t believe in Christ and can’t understand why you do.

If you’ve ever faced these or other types of challenges to your faith, you may have wondered why God allows them to happen. Think of them as catfish in a cod tank. They keep you alert and focused. As strange as it may seem, they can strengthen your faith in ways that an easy, unchallenged Christian life never could.

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you” (John 15:18–19 NLT). In other words, “You’re in good company.”

So, rather than ask God to shield you from persecution, ask Him instead to give you the strength and wisdom to deal with it in a way that brings glory to Him. Ask Him to give you the perspective to see the big picture—that is, what’s behind the persecution and what’s to be gained from withstanding it.

If you’re experiencing persecution, here are two things to remember: First, persecution confirms that you are a child of God. Second, persecution causes you to cling more tightly to Jesus. That’s a win-win.

Keep in mind, too, that this world isn’t your real home. If you persevere with a steady, peaceful spirit, trusting in Jesus to help you, your welcome into Heaven will be more glorious than you can possibly imagine.

Reflection question: When have you experienced persecution because of your Christian faith? 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.