Gregory E. Lang's Blog

Strive for Harmony

In harmony with one another we share the love of Christ and become examples of the goodness accomplished in his name. But in conflict with one another we work against His purpose and distract everyone from the Gospel. Live together in peace, spreading good will among men. Strive for harmony.

Those who show mercy to others are happy, because God will show mercy to them. Those who are pure in their thinking are happy, because they will be with God. Those who work to bring peace are happy, because God will call them his children. Matthew 5:7-9

Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant. Do not think how smart you are. If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. Do your best to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:16-18

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Hebrews 13:1

People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living. James 3:18

Finally, all of you should be in agreement, understanding each other, loving each other as family, being kind and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Strive for Congruence

The evidence that you have a saving knowledge of Christ is loyal obedience to his commandments. Don’t be the one who speaks of himself in holy terms but then walks in dark, lowly places. A profession of faith joined with a wicked life leads no one to the Lord. Do not contradict your words with your deeds and distract from the work you are called to accomplish. If you abide in Christ, live as he did. Practice what you preach. Strive for congruence.

What about you? You call yourself a Jew. You trust in the law of Moses and brag that you are close to God. You know what he wants you to do and what is important, because you have learned the law. You think you are a guide for the blind and a light for those who are in darkness. You think you can show foolish people what is right and teach those who know nothing. You have the law; so you think you know everything and have all truth. You teach others, so why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but you steal. You say that others must not take part in adultery, but you are guilty of that sin. You hate idols, but you steal from temples. You brag about having God’s law, but you bring shame to God by breaking his law. Romans 2:17-23

So prepare your minds for service and have self-control. All your hope should be for the gift of grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ is shown to you. Now that you are obedient children of God do not live as you did in the past. You did not understand, so you did the evil things you wanted. But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy. It is written in the Scriptures: You must be holy, because I am holy.  1 Peter 1:13-16

So if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars and do not follow the truth. 1 John 1:6

We can be sure that we know God if we obey his commands. Anyone who says, I know God, but does not obey God’s commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if someone obeys God’s teaching, then in that person God’s love has truly reached its goal. This is how we can be sure we are living in God: Whoever says that he lives in God must live as Jesus lived. 1 John 2:3-6

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Deny Selfish Pleasures

Self-indulgence disgraces the Lord, for it was his self-sacrifice that gave you the promise of life. Self-indulgence also discourages other Christians who may be weak in their faith and looking to you as an encourager. Pursue what is right and acknowledge Christ with your unselfish conduct. If you know how to do the right thing and choose not to, your sin is greater because of your knowledge. But if you conquer temptation and give yourself entirely to God, he will work mightily in you. Deny selfish pleasures.

He (Moses) chose to suffer with God’s people instead of enjoying sin for a short time. He thought it was better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking for God’s reward. Hebrews 11:25-26

Remember this! In the last days there will be many troubles, because people will love themselves, love money, brag, and be proud. They will say evil things against others and will not obey their parents or be thankful or be the kind of people God wants. They will not love others, will refuse to forgive, will gossip, and will not control themselves. They will be cruel, will hate what is good, will turn against their friends, and will do foolish things without thinking. They will be conceited, will love pleasure instead of God, and will act as if they serve God but will not have his power. Stay away from those people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

In the past we also were foolish. We did not obey, we were wrong, and we were slaves to many things our bodies wanted and enjoyed. We spent our lives doing evil and being jealous. People hated us, and we hated each other. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was shown, he saved us because of his mercy. It was not because of good deeds we did to be right with him. He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit. God poured out richly upon us that Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior. Being made right with God by his grace, we could have the hope of receiving the life that never ends. This teaching is true, and I want you to be sure the people understand these things. Then those who believe in God will be careful to use their lives for doing good. These things are good and will help everyone.  Titus 3:3-8

You want things, but you do not have them. So you are ready to kill and are jealous of other people, but you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God. Or when you ask, you do not receive because the reason you ask is wrong. You want things so you can use them for your own pleasures. James 4:2-3

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Pause to Reflect

Knowledge and wisdom are the products of reflection. Pause, reflect, consider what the Lord has done for you, and become wise in the ways He would have you to live. Examine your thoughts, words and deeds, and take the necessary steps to align yourself in proper relationship with Christ. Do not compare yourself to what others do, but instead strive to please God in all that you do. Do this and you will know the Lord. Pause to reflect.

Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith. You know that Jesus Christ is in you – unless you fail the test. 2 Corinthians 13:5

If anyone thinks he is important when he really is not, he is only fooling himself. Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done. Galatians 6:3-4

Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Philippians 4:8

Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we have continued praying for you, asking God that you will know fully what he wants. We pray that you will also have great wisdom and understanding in spiritual things so that you will live the kind of life that honors and pleases the Lord in every way. You will produce fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:9-10

Think about what I am saying, because the Lord will give you the ability to understand everything. 2 Timothy 2:7

Remember your leaders who taught God’s message to you. Remember how they lived and died, and copy their faith. Hebrews 13:7

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Know Your Purpose

The gospel is not for a few favored ones, but for everyone. Your purpose is not your purpose, but His purpose. Give yourself fully to him; labor for the Lord, making Him known through your words and deeds. Know, and fulfill, your purpose.

We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called, because that was his plan. Romans 8:28

And there are different ways that God works through people but the same God. God works in all of us in everything we do. 1 Corinthians 12:6

So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted. 1 Corinthians 15:58

By God’s special gift of grace given to me through his power, I became a servant to tell that Good News. Ephesians 3:7

So we continue to preach Christ to each person, using all wisdom to warn and to teach everyone, in order to bring each one into God’s presence as a mature person in Christ. Colossians 1:29

You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Turn From Excess

Excess of any kind will lead you astray; turn from it and toward the will of God. You are to rid yourself of your former way of life and put on a new self, one created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Do not live the rest of your life for unholy desires, but rather for the will of God. If you are guided by the Spirit you will not obey the lusts of the flesh and temptations of evil. Act like Jesus and find yourself satisfied in higher and long-lasting ways. Turn from excess.

Let us live in a right way, like people who belong to the day. We should not have wild parties or get drunk. There should be no sexual sins of any kind, no fighting or jealousy. Romans 13:13

So I tell you: Live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful selves want. Our sinful selves want what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is against our sinful selves. The two are against each other, so you cannot do just what you please. But if the Spirit is leading you, you are not under the law. The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: being sexually unfaithful, not being pure, taking part in sexual sins, worshiping gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people, feeling envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like these. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not inherit God’s kingdom.  Galatians 5:16-21

You were taught to leave your old self — to stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self becomes worse, because people are fooled by the evil things they want to do. But you were taught to be made new in your hearts, to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God — made to be truly good and holy.  Ephesians 4:22-24

Since Christ suffered while he was in his body, strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking Christ had. The person who has suffered in the body is finished with sin. Strengthen yourselves so that you will live here on earth doing what God wants, not the evil things people want. In the past you wasted too much time doing what nonbelievers enjoy. You were guilty of sexual sins, evil desires, drunkenness, wild and drunken parties, and hateful idol worship. 1 Peter 4:1-3

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Give Second Chances

You are not forgiven only once, but each and every time you repent your sins. Be honest about your imperfection and you will truly find reason to repent each and every day. And remember, just as you are imperfect, so are those around you. Forgive your neighbors as Jesus forgives you, as often as he forgives you. Give second chances.

Jesus answered, I tell you, you must forgive him more than seven times. You must forgive him even if he does wrong to you seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:22

When you are praying, if you are angry with someone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins. Mark 11:25

If he sins against you seven times in one day and says that he is sorry each time, forgive him. Luke 17:4

But now you should forgive him and comfort him to keep him from having too much sadness and giving up completely. 2 Corinthians 2:7

Since he himself is weak, he is able to be gentle with those who do not understand and who are doing wrong things. Hebrews 5:2  

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Answer When Asked

The Lord asks us to tell others about him in order to spread his message to the world. Conduct yourself as though you belong to the Lord, and when asked why you behave as you do, eagerly explain why. Use encouraging words, let Christ be honored and praised in your answer, claiming Him as the reason of your hope. Don’t be embarrassed or shy; seek to please God instead of men with what you say. Answer when asked.

I will give you the wisdom to say things that none of your enemies will be able to stand against or prove wrong. Luke 21:15

But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and led the apostles outside. The angel said, Go stand in the Temple and tell the people everything about this new life.  Acts 5:19-20

We are not trying to prove ourselves to you again, but we are telling you about ourselves so you will be proud of us. Then you will have an answer for those who are proud about things that can be seen rather than what is in the heart. 2 Corinthians 5:12

When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should. Colossians 4:6

Before we came to you, we suffered in Philippi. People there insulted us, as you know, and many people were against us. But our God helped us to be brave and to tell you his Good News. 1 Thessalonians 2:2

But respect Christ as the holy Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. 1 Peter 3:15-16

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Put Aside Differences

It is said a house divided against itself cannot stand; neither can the body of believers. Put aside differences and unite as believers, strengthening each other and the church for the sake of Christ. Avoid rash judgments and a desire to find fault in others. God respects moral character, not appearances, or wealth, or earthly rank. Put aside differences.

Don’t judge other people, or you will be judged.  You will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and the amount you give to others will be given to you. Matthew 7:1-2

Each one of us has a body with many parts, and these parts all have different uses. In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are all one body. Each one is a part of that body, and each part belongs to all the other parts. Romans 12:4-5

Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God. Romans 15:7

I beg you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with each other and not be split into groups. I beg that you be completely joined together by having the same kind of thinking and the same purpose. 1 Corinthians 1:10

My dear brothers and sisters, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, never think some people are more important than others. Suppose someone comes into your church meeting wearing nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing old, dirty clothes. You show special attention to the one wearing nice clothes and say, Please, sit here in this good seat. But you say to the poor person, Stand over there, or, Sit on the floor by my feet. What are you doing? You are making some people more important than others, and with evil thoughts you are deciding that one person is better.  James 2:1-4

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Repay Your Debts

Repay not just your financial debts, but your relationship debts and your spiritual debts too. One who is rich in Christ cannot deprive a neighbor. Every obligation must be satisfied, every debt paid. Let no debt remain due to anyone, except that immortal debt of mutual love, which is due in full to one another, forever and ever. Repay your debts.

Do not owe people anything, except always owe love to each other, because the person who loves others has obeyed all the law.  Romans 13:8

If he has done anything wrong to you or if he owes you anything, charge that to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back, and I will say nothing about what you owe me for your own life. Philemon 18-19

The pay you did not give the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the workers have been heard by the Lord All-Powerful. James 5:4

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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