Lose Your Religion - Greg Laurie Daily Devotion - July 8, 2020
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Lose Your Religion
“And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering” (Romans 8:17 nlt).
When people go through great difficulty, sometimes they say they’re losing their religion.
I would say that’s good. Lose your religion and then replace it with a relationship with God, because the faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.
If your faith can’t stand a test, then maybe it isn’t real faith. The faith of real Christians will grow stronger through hardship. It won’t get weaker because of it.
The reality is that if you live a godly life, then you will suffer in some way. The Bible tells us that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12 nlt).
Trials, hardships, difficulties, and yes, even suffering, come into every believer’s life. It is not a matter of if, but when.
That’s because once you become a Christian, a new battle begins. It’s a battle with the devil, the world, and the flesh.
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering” (Romans 8:17 nlt).
We go through hardship so our faith will get stronger and so we will become more like Jesus. God is getting us ready for Heaven. And suffering reminds us that Earth is not our home. Heaven is.
Yes, we will suffer as Christians, but God will be with us. Suffering and pain cause us to depend on Him instead of ourselves. It is only the Christian who can know that God is ultimately in control. And it is only the Christian who knows that one day we will be rewarded in Heaven.
Copyright © 2020 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com and weekly podcast on LifeAudio.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
In thanks for your gift, you can receive a copy of Jesus Revolution by Greg Laurie
God used the Jesus Movement to reach an entire generation with the hope of the gospel. In Jesus Revolution, Greg Laurie shares the true story behind this spiritual awakening and the people God used to change countless lives. Written with Ellen Vaughn, this book offers an inspiring look at how revival spread during one of America’s most turbulent decades.
Support Harvest Ministries this month and receive Jesus Revolution as our thank-you gift. For gifts of $50 or more, you’ll also receive the Jesus Revolution DVD to enjoy and share with others.
