Harvest Daily 09/07/04

Harvest Daily Devotional
by Pastor Greg Laurie

September 7
Take a Stand

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  Romans 1:16

As an evangelist, I constantly observe how two people who hear the same message will react in two completely different ways.  One person will be profoundly moved, while the other will become harder in his or her sin.

We see the very same thing in the story of Cain and Abel.  Both of these men were sons of Adam and Eve.  They were raised in the same home and exposed to the same spiritual message.  When we first read of their story in Genesis 4, it seems they were both believers.  But time revealed that Cain was such a jealous and embittered man that he murdered his brother Abel.

The story of Cain and Abel ought to remind us there are those people who can go through the motions.  They can look like believers, but have no relationship with God.  As the Scripture says, there are people who have a form of godliness but deny its power (see 2 Timothy 3:5).  That is the life story of too many people.  They are all show and no go.  Their faith in God turns out to be a mere game or act. 

Consider this.  You can offer like Cain.  You can weep like Esau.  You can serve like Gehazi.  You can be a disciple like Judas.  You can recite long prayers like the Pharisees, be a seeking soul like the rich young ruler, and have lamps like the five foolish bridesmaids, and still be lost.

The real issue is not about enjoying the message or whether it moves you.  The heart of the issue is whether or not you believe the message and take a stand for it.  Does that describe your faith?  If not, stop going through the motions and take a stand.

Copyright (c) 2004 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright (c) 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000