Gregory E. Lang's Blog, page 10

Be Without Prejudice

Always, not just when it serves you well. To be prejudiced is not only unjust, it is unfair. Look to the interests of all others; earn respect for your impartial, equitable character rather than contempt for your unfair and biased ways. Be without prejudice.

God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all people are the same. Romans 3:22

Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. Philippians 2:4

Before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels, I command you to do these things without showing favor of any kind to anyone. 1 Timothy 5:1

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience, because we always want to do the right thing. Hebrews 13:18

My dear brothers and sisters, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, never think some people are more important than others. James 2:1

But if you treat one person as being more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God’s law. James 2:9

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

The post Be Without Prejudice appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Encourage Your Friends

No friend is more welcomed than the one who encourages you. Make yourself welcomed. Encourage your friends and stir them to do good deeds so that the cause of Christ may be made stronger in number. Turn them away from false hope and worldly promises, and you too will be encouraged when together you reach for Jesus. Encourage your friends.

I want very much to see you, to give you some spiritual gift to make you strong. I mean that I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you. Romans 1:11-12

Whoever has the gift of encouraging others should encourage. Whoever has the gift of giving to others should give freely. Anyone who has the gift of being a leader should try hard when he leads. Whoever has the gift of showing mercy to others should do so with joy. Romans 12:8

So encourage each other and give each other strength, just as you are doing now. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

But encourage each other every day while it is today. Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you. Hebrews 3:13

Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

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

The post Encourage Your Friends appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Make Many Friends

To have a friend is to be a friend. You can never have enough friends, but you can have too few. Be zealous, enthusiastic and accepting, making the needs of your friends your own and helping them, caring for one another in the same loving fellowship as Christ cares for you. You see, it is far easier to introduce a friend to the Lord than an enemy. Make many friends.

Your love must be real. Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. Romans 12:9-10

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

Now, brothers and sisters, I say good-bye. Try to be complete. Do what I have asked you to do. Agree with each other, and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

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

So if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars and do not follow the truth. But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin.  1 John 1:6-7

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

The post Make Many Friends appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Share With Others

Share more than just your things, but also your heart, counsel, and time. When you do, you’ll enjoy everything more, and so will everyone else. The money God has entrusted with you should be used in a manner that pleases Him. Share it with those having fewer resources but greater needs. Your free and cheerful giving of God’s resources will indeed lead to your blessing. Share with others.

“I tell you, make friends for yourselves using worldly riches so that when those riches are gone, you will be welcomed in those homes that continue forever. Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot. Luke 16:9-10

All the believers were together and shared everything. They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money and give it to anyone who needed it. The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. Acts 2:44-46

The group of believers were united in their hearts and spirit. All those in the group acted as though their private property belonged to everyone in the group. In fact, they shared everything. With great power the apostles were telling people that the Lord Jesus was truly raised from the dead. And God blessed all the believers very much. No one in the group needed anything. From time to time those who owned fields or houses sold them, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles. Then the money was given to anyone who needed it. Acts 4:32-35

You are rich in everything – in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us. In the same way, be strong also in the grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

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

The post Share With Others appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Say Something Nice

Certainly you enjoy compliments and sincere pleasantries. So does everyone else. As your lips smile, reveal your heart with your kind words. Be cheerful, courteous and graceful in your speech, attracting others to you so that you might make a new friend. Say something nice.

When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need – words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. Ephesians 4:29

Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19

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

Finally, all of you should be in agreement, understanding each other, loving each other as family, being kind and humble. Do not do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult. But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called to do this so that you might receive a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9

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

The post Say Something Nice appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Strike up Conversations

You’d be surprised how many people are lonely and think no one cares. So show that you care. All it takes is a simple ‘Hello!’ or “How’s your day?” It doesn’t have to be deep or profound, only sincere. A few spoken words and a few moments of attention can have a powerful effect on someone’s day. Extend the comfort that God has given you and you will surely confound the work of His adversaries. Strike up conversations.

He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:4

God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Colossians 3:12

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

Open your homes to each other, without complaining. 1 Peter 4:9

My dear friend, it is good that you help the brothers and sisters, even those you do not know. 3 John 5

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

The post Strike up Conversations appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Smile at Everyone

A smile is an easy yet powerful way to show Christ at work in you. Christian living is more than adhering to moral standards of conduct; it is also the demonstration of several graces, including love, joy, and peace. A smile is a one-second chance to extend God’s grace and love on someone who otherwise might never see Him. So when you get dressed for the day, put on your smile. Reach into someone’s day and make it better. Smile at everyone.

Greet each other with a holy kiss. 2 Corinthians 13:12

But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.  Galatians 5:22-23

Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:31-32

Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Philippians 4:4

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

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

The post Smile at Everyone appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Lead Serve Love: Introduction (published 2011)

A few years ago it seemed everywhere I looked people were wearing bracelets bearing the letters WWJD. Of course, we know this is the acronym for the question, “What would Jesus do?” I observed then that surprisingly few owners of those bracelets could answer that very question when confronted with any number and manner of dicey dilemmas or moral conflicts, let alone everyday awkward encounters with other people. Further, reluctantly, I have to admit that then I too had only vague ideas about what Jesus would really do in a given situation. I was not yet a student of the Bible, especially the New Testament, in those days.

Since then I have taken up the Bible not only as an incredibly interesting read but also as a guide for living. I spent a full year in extensive daily Bible reading and doing my best to live by the example of Jesus Christ himself and as taught by his apostles. One day, I came across this verse: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). Those eleven words have since become a driving force in my life; they helped me to answer the question: What would Jesus do? Reading through the New Testament a second time, now intentionally seeking to learn how to walk as Jesus did, my life began to change.

I was finally discovering how to walk the Christian talk, so to speak. And with every step, I grew closer to God, and the closer I grew to him, the more I wanted to share what I was learning. This book was written for those who also want to walk in the Spirit, to do what Jesus would do, and who need a simple, loving nudge to take those first life-changing steps of Gospel living.

This is a rather simple book really, one meant to be understood quickly, thumbed through randomly if you wish, yet resonate deeply. To that end I’ve written one hundred brief, three word sentences (a friend of mine calls it the threeology theology), each followed by an expository paragraph and a few Bible verse references which encourage the recommended behaviors and traits posited in the three word sentences. You may begin and end your study of Jesus with this book alone, or, and I hope you will, you may go to your Bible and read the verses I’ve cited in their full context. The latter process will take more time but leave you more blessed with greater knowledge of the teachings of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Either way, it is my hope that with the help of this book you will discover walking with Jesus means putting into action what Jesus has commissioned us to do, and that is to make the Gospel known to all people by demonstrating the love of God through our words, deeds and motives. Jesus charges us to take up his mission in our generation to bring glory to God so that his kingdom may continue to come through the work of his people – including you.

We cannot adequately demonstrate the love of Christ in the privacy of our homes, among only our closest friends or within the walls of our church. Instead, just as Jesus walked from city to city imparting mercy and grace to all he came in contact with, we are to be similarly intentional about imparting mercy and grace to others. We should do this as every opportunity arises, even if in unlikely places. As in when standing next to someone on a street corner, while in line in a grocery store, in the break room at work, during rush hour traffic jams, and even more far reaching places and occasions.

Being a disciple, an ambassador to Christ and a willing minister to others, is a dynamic life process. Yet for some, putting his or her theology into action may at first be an awkward, even uncomfortable, process.

Many of us go through life looking away from unfamiliar people and those whom are different from us, missing an opportunity to speak to or literally touch someone who may be in great need or agonizing pain. But imagine a world where you demonstrate one loving, selfless deed every day, and your deed inspires good deeds in others, which in turn inspires even more good deeds in still others. Your one act of Christian loving-kindness may ripple across the workplace, your neighborhood, even your entire community, resulting in immeasurable Kingdom impact, all for the glory of God! Oh, for such a world!

Turn the page and begin your walk with Jesus today. And along the way, may you lead others to Christ through your faithful, righteous example, may you serve all with a humble, true and compassionate heart, and may God’s love shine through in everything you do.

Available for Kindle here.

The post Lead Serve Love: Introduction (published 2011) appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Heaven

Friend, all my letters have been leading up to this, the subject of Heaven. I have led you in this direction along this meandering and occasionally redundant path because I hoped to build excitement in you about what is in store for you as a believer in Christ. And I do not mean only for you, but for me too, because as I said in the beginning, my hope and longing is that we will be together in fellowship in eternity. I care far too much about you to be satisfied having enjoyed your company for only a little while.

So, on to it. What is Heaven? If you imagine Heaven is a place where the streets are paved with gold, the gates are made of pearl, and the walls adorned with precious jewels, you would be right but preoccupied with the wrong things. Focus on this: Heaven is the divine dwelling place of God, an actual realm where everything operates according to his flawless will. Heaven is a place of peace, love, community, and worship, where God is surrounded by a heavenly court and other heavenly beings. It is the very embodiment of God’s perfection, where life will be free from death, pain, sickness, disappointment, cruelty, and anything that isn’t perfectly lovely. Your future life in Heaven will include the best of the life you now live, plus additional joys far beyond your imagination.

The Lord Jesus is in Heaven, at the right hand of the Father, making intersession for you and me just now as you read this letter. Myriads of angels are in Heaven, too, serving the Lord in various ways. And the saints of God who died on Earth are in Heaven. Everyone who has genuinely trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior will be there, including those we dearly love and who have given themselves to Jesus. What wonderful company we shall have! And in Heaven, God will know us as we truly are, inside and out, past and present, with nothing hidden but everything known. When we awake in Heaven, we will know each other as God knows us because all the secrets and flaws of this life will have been removed. In this life, sin has caused us to deceive others and ourselves in a vain effort to hide our misdeeds. But when we are finally freed from the influence of sin, then we can be as we were created to be, without sin,  shame, and embarrassment. No one will begrudge us for any reason because everyone will love each other in the same unconditional loving way that Jesus loves you today. I am so eager to present myself to you in this cleansed and redeemed state, for as good a friend as I have tried to be, I know I have offended or disappointed you from time to time.

Best of all, let’s not overlook this: in Heaven, we will see Jesus himself face to face. We will worship the Son of God and praise his great victory over sin and death in his very presence! The best worship you have experienced on Earth will pale in comparison to the celebration you will enjoy at the feet of your Savior. How wonderful it will be to walk with him literally!

Do I know all there is to know about Heaven? No, but I am sure of this one truth. No one will go to Heaven except by the grace of God and through the merits of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, you have no hope of seeing Heaven. Friend, if you know Jesus, you have nothing to fear. So put your trust in Jesus. Stand with your full weight on the merit of the author and finisher of your salvation. May God help you to trust in Jesus Christ and him alone for your salvation. May God grant that we will meet again in Heaven one day. Amen!

I hope you have enjoyed these posts from my book, Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living. You may purchase an autographed copy here, or order a Kindle or paperback edition from Amazon.

The post Heaven appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Gratitude

God has many thoughts of love, grace, and mercy concerning you, a sinner such as you are. He has thoughts about your spiritual blessings, your redemption and salvation by Christ, and your eternal life in fellowship with him. God hears your prayers; he listens to your requests and answers them in his own time and according to his judgment of what is best for you. He is a God who bestows favors on you, granting you his presence, indulging you in communion with him, and favoring you with endless supplies of his grace and innumerable mercies. For these and all other things, you should be overflowing with gratitude.

I know that you, a child of God, are grateful, and I pray this characteristic will stay with you all the days of your life. We should always be grateful because the Lord is always with us. Be thankful in all that you do and say, even if you must wait for your heart’s desire, for in Christ, you have already received the most precious gift – everlasting life!

Friend, in Christ, you are renewed; by his grace, you were restored. Realize your dependence on him and your complete inability to restore yourself. Do not forget your cleansing. With gratitude, proclaim the work that Christ has performed in and for you. Expressing gratitude honors God and gives him the glory for all that he has done. Gratitude is the realization that all you have and all that you are is a gift from God. Again, you should always be grateful, no matter what your circumstances may be. In practicing constant, conscious gratitude, you will cultivate a heart of thankfulness that will only bring more joy to your life. I want this for you.

My dear friend, give thanks to God in all things with strong affection, sincerity, and a true heart. Be grateful that God is God and that he loves you so much. And please remember that I am so grateful for you and love you so much. Now, please pray for me. That will be a most appreciated reward for the effort I have put into teaching you these things.

The post Gratitude appeared first on Gregoryelang.