Gregory E. Lang's Blog, page 4

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.

The post Know Your Purpose appeared first on Gregoryelang.

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.

The post Turn From Excess appeared first on Gregoryelang.

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.

The post Give Second Chances appeared first on Gregoryelang.

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.

The post Answer When Asked appeared first on Gregoryelang.

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.

The post Put Aside Differences appeared first on Gregoryelang.

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.

The post Repay Your Debts appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Be Not Boastful

Do good deeds simply because good deeds need to be done, not to gain recognition from men or rewards in heaven for your good deeds. It is the deed motivated by grace and humility that shines and pleases God. Take an honest look at your motives and choose to humble yourself before others, for God lifts up the humble. Be not boastful.

So when you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know what you are doing. Your giving should be done in secret. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4

Because God has given me a special gift, I have something to say to everyone among you. Do not think you are better than you are. You must decide what you really are by the amount of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3

Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. Romans 12:10

He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. God did this so that no one can brag in his presence. 1 Corinthians 1:28-29

If someone wants to brag, he should brag only about the Lord. It is not those who say they are good who are accepted but those who the Lord thinks are good. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18

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.

The post Be Not Boastful appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Celebrate Every Win

You are an evangelist. Rejoice in the Lord and serve him in your daily battle, for every new believer marks a triumph over darkness. Celebrate the power of the gospel to comfort one who turned from evil and to Christ. Thanks be to God for the victory over sin and death through Christ! Celebrate every win!

In the same way, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner changes his heart and life. Luke 15:10

We had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found. Luke 15:32

When the Jewish believers heard this, they stopped arguing. They praised God and said, So God is allowing even those who are not Jewish to turn to him and live. Acts 11:18

Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law but under God’s grace. Romans 6:14

But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

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

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.

The post Celebrate Every Win appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Turn From Darkness

One cannot both indulge in the deeds of darkness and wear the armor of light. Light represents truth, knowledge and holiness. Darkness represents ignorance, error, falsehood and sin. Darkness will cause you to worry about your salvation, paralyze you with guilt and keep you from being a productive Christian. Dishonesty thrives in the night, but children of the day will walk honestly. An honest, upright, pure life needs no hiding place. Love the Lord, shine, and bring others with you into the light. Turn from darkness.

Your eye is a light for the body. When your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But when your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. So be careful not to let the light in you become darkness. Luke 11:34-35

I have come as light into the world so that whoever believes in me would not stay in darkness. John 12:46

I will keep you safe from your own people and also from those who are not Jewish. I am sending you to them to open their eyes so that they may turn away from darkness to the light, away from the power of Satan and to God. Then their sins can be forgiven, and they can have a place with those people who have been made holy by believing in me.  Acts 26:17-18

The night is almost finished, and the day is almost here. So we should stop doing things that belong to darkness and take up the weapons used for fighting in the light. Romans 13:12

Have nothing to do with the things done in darkness, which are not worth anything. But show that they are wrong. It is shameful even to talk about what those people do in secret. But the light makes all things easy to see, and everything that is made easy to see can become light. This is why it is said: Wake up, sleeper! Rise from death, and Christ will shine on you.  Ephesians 5:11-14

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.

The post Turn From Darkness appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Use Your Gifts

You cannot do everything, but you can do something. Do something, even if it seems small. Your deed may well be a huge thing to someone else. You are blessed with gifts as you are best able to use them, just as others are blessed with different gifts for different uses. God’s gifts to us vary in manner and form, but all should be committed to the service of the Lord. Use your gifts.

We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us. The person who has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in agreement with the faith. Anyone who has the gift of serving should serve. Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach. 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 12:6-8

And Christ gave gifts to people – he made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to have the work of caring for and teaching God’s people. Christ gave those gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger. Ephesians 4:11-12

There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve but the same Lord to serve. And there are different ways that God works through people but the same God. God works in all of us in everything we do. Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person, for the common good.  1 Corinthians 12:4-7

It is the same with you. Since you want spiritual gifts very much, seek most of all to have the gifts that help the church grow stronger. 1 Corinthians 14:12

God also proved it by using wonders, great signs, many kinds of miracles, and by giving people gifts through the Holy Spirit, just as he wanted. Hebrews 2:4

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.

The post Use Your Gifts appeared first on Gregoryelang.