Greg Laurie Harvest Daily Devotional

Get guidance on Bible study from C.S. Lewis - Free Course!
<< Greg Laurie Daily Devotions

Sin’s Greatest Deterrent - Greg Laurie Daily Devotion - June 2, 2015

 

Sin’s Greatest Deterrent

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” - (John 14:15)

What a terrible thing it is when believers fall into sexual sin. After David fell into sin with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan said to him, “By this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14). In other words, “David, you just gave ammunition to the enemy.”

I wish Christians would think about that before they sin. Joseph did. When Potiphar’s wife made her advances, Joseph understood there were consequences to sin. He said, “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has [Potiphar] kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). Joseph was loyal to Potiphar. Of course, Potiphar would end up betraying Joseph. But Joseph wouldn’t betray Potiphar.

Joseph could have rationalized it. Hey, man, I had a rough childhood. I was sold into slavery by my brothers. I am here all alone in Egypt. It’s hard being alone. Egyptian culture—that is the way it is here. It doesn’t really matter.

He could have said a lot of things, but Joseph understood that God’s standards are absolute. They don’t change. He also realized that all sin is against God. This should be our strongest deterrent against sin—not merely our fear of the repercussions. The greatest deterrent against sin is loving God. If you love God, you want to do things that honor Him.

I like this statement of Augustine’s: “Love God and do as you please.” If you really love God as you ought to, with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind, then you will only want to do what pleases Him. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. 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.

Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.

SPECIAL OFFER

Yesterday’s Prophecies
Are Today’s Headlines

The Bible tells us that certain things will take place in the last days, and we are seeing some of them happen before our very eyes. The headlines are filled with signs of the times. How are we to respond to these things, and how should we live in light of Bible prophecy? 

Find out in Israel, Iran, ISIS in Bible Prophecy, Pastor Greg’s newest booklet, written to give you a biblical perspective on world events. Included is his sermon by the same title on DVD. 

Israel, Iran, ISIS in Bible Prophecy will be sent to you in thanks for your gift to Harvest Ministries this month.



More Greg Laurie Daily Devotions Articles