“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

Have you ever had one of those seemingly perfect moments in life when everything just came together? That stunning sunset. Or that beautiful star-filled night. That special moment with someone you love, when you thought to yourself, I always want it to be this way. Of course, it isn’t always that way. Those seemingly perfect moments pass just as quickly as they occur, leaving you wanting more.

Along those same lines, maybe you believed that when you reached certain goals in your life, you’d be happy. Maybe when you were single you thought, If only I had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, I’d be happy. So you got yourself a boyfriend or a girlfriend. And then you thought, If only we were engaged, I’d be happy. So you got engaged. And then you thought, If only we were married, I’d be happy. So you got married. And then you thought, If only we had kids, I’d be happy. So you had kids. While there can be happiness in every phase of life, no matter what our circumstances are, fulfillment—genuine, lasting fulfillment—always seems to be a little beyond our reach.

Why is that? Because from the day each of us was born, we’ve been on a quest. We were created in the image of God, so we’re aware that there’s more to life than mere existence. There’s purpose. There’s meaning. But they’re not always apparent, so we search for them in moments big and small.

The apostle Paul gives us valuable insight into these ideas of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in Ephesians 2:10. “We are God’s masterpiece” (NLT). We have a very high ceiling—the potential to accomplish some amazing things and experience soul-deep fulfillment.

Finding our meaning and purpose begins with the decision to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. When we do that, God creates “us anew in Christ Jesus” (NLT). He unlocks our potential to “do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT). He unleashes us to be change agents in a world desperate for them.

Some people try to find purpose in doing good deeds to earn God’s favor. But that’s a dead end. In the two verses that precede Ephesians 2:10, Paul says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (NLT). It’s only when we acknowledge that we can never do enough to earn God’s favor that we start to find purpose.

The Holy Spirit is our guide. He opens our eyes to the opportunities we have to do good things in gratitude for the matchless gift of salvation that God has given us.

The more closely we align our daily lives with what God created us to be, the more we’ll experience the sense of adventure, purpose, fulfillment, and joy that comes from our walk with Christ.

Reflection Question: What gives you a sense of purpose and meaning? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.” (Romans 16:17–18 NLT)

For years now, we’ve been living in an era focused on sensationalism. I’ve never seen a culture and society so obsessed with gossip, innuendo, and rumors. Just look to social media, and you’ll find all kinds of posts that probe into the personal lives of others.

This mentality has saturated the news media, too, where reporters hunt for any juicy piece of gossip they can find. And if someone is charged with a crime today, we often try them in the media before they can enter a court of law where evidence is presented and where they face their accusers.

That same skeptical, rush-to-judgment tendency works its way into our personal interactions, too. How many people are struggling with feelings of bitterness or sadness because they’ve been dealt an unjust reputation? How many people feel misunderstood and helpless to do anything about it because others have chosen to believe the worst about them? How many people have had to learn to live with being known for something they didn’t do?

Proverbs 6:16–19 tells us that two of the things the Lord hates are “a false witness who pours out lies” and “a person who sows discord in a family” (NLT). People who gossip, spread rumors and innuendo, and slander others fall into these categories. That is, the categories of things the Lord hates. The apostle Paul warned about such people in the passage from Romans 16 above. It comes down to this: The Lord has a better plan for His people.

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31 NLT). He wasn’t talking about having a general loving attitude toward others. He was talking about performing tangible acts of love for the people around us. Showing care, concern, and generosity to others in ways that make a difference in their lives.

One of the ways we can do that is by refusing to believe the worst about others. The apostle Paul wrote, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV). That certainly includes believing the best about other people.

One of the most meaningful gifts we can offer another person is the benefit of the doubt. That’s not to say we should be naïve or overlook the obvious. But when we lead with a spirit of kindness and optimism, we open the door to deeper, more meaningful interactions.

And consider this: Your willingness to believe the best about someone may inspire that person to live up to your expectations. That’s why the writer of Hebrews said, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24 NLT).

Reflection Question: What would believing the best about someone look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" 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.

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” (Galatians 6:1 NLT)

After observing the behavior of some believers, you’d think that they have a verse in their Bibles that says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, go and tell as many people as possible. And then set about trying to drive that person away from the faith.” But that’s not what Scripture tells us to do.

Jesus addressed the topic in Matthew 18:15–20. If a fellow believer appears to have fallen into sin, our first responsibility is to approach the person in a spirit of love and say, “I heard that you __________. Is that true?” If the person confesses and repents, the matter is settled.

Unfortunately, that’s not what usually happens. Instead of confronting the person directly, people whisper behind the person’s back. They spread rumors. And many times, they end up slandering an innocent person. If you’ve ever had that happen to you, you know how painful and destructive it can be. But that’s not the end of the damage.

The apostle Paul warned in Galatians 5:9 that a little yeast spreads through a whole batch of dough. In the context of a person suspected of falling into sin, the point is that the fallout from mishandling the situation doesn’t stay isolated between the two people involved. Instead, it works its way through the entire body of believers as people take sides.

So dealing in gossip and slander isn’t just cruel, it’s also self-defeating. In 1 Corinthians 12:12, the apostle Paul wrote, “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ” (NLT). And in verse 26, he reminded believers what this means: “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad” (NLT).

We have a vested interest in the spiritual and emotional well-being of our fellow believers. If one person is damaged by innuendo, gossip, or slander, everyone suffers.

If you’re faced with confronting someone suspected of falling into sin, there are a few things to keep in mind. The spirit in which you approach the person is key. In Galatians 6:1, Paul emphasizes the importance of gentleness and humility. “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (NLT).

And instead of getting caught up in sordid details, keep your eye on what’s really happening. Remember that the devil wants to turn believers against each other. He’ll attack us from the outside, but many times, when that doesn’t work, he’ll try to infiltrate our ranks and divide us.

Jesus said, “Love one another” (John 13:34 NIV). With that love comes responsibility. And sometimes that means stepping out of your comfort zone. But if you love someone enough to seek the truth and confront, when necessary, you will strengthen not only the bond between the two of you, but also the entire body of Christ.

Reflection Question: What are some important dos and don’ts for helping someone who has stumbled spiritually? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" 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.