Gregory E. Lang's Blog, page 5

Act with Tenderness

Opposers of the Word must be corrected, but not rudely; rather gently, kindly, humbly. Jesus’ tenderness drew people to him and in his gentle company they stopped and listened to his message. Be like-minded, and be heard. Act with tenderness.

Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does his love comfort you? Do we share together in the spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? If so, make me very happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and having one mind and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2

Be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to do what is good for each other and for all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:15

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient. 2 Timothy 2:24

People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their “religion” is worth nothing. James 1:26

Are there those among you who are truly wise and understanding? Then they should show it by living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom. James 3:13

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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Act with Patience

Do nothing that would discourage others from turning to Christ, but instead let the Holy Spirit use you to inspire others to follow Christ. If your heart is filled with love, patience will be one of your defining qualities and reason why others draw nearer to you. Patience leaves time for anger to fade away. Act with patience.

Always be humble, gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love. Ephesians 4:2

But I was given mercy so that in me, the worst of all sinners, Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. His patience with me made me an example for those who would believe in him and have life forever. 1 Timothy 1:16

Preach the Good News. Be ready at all times, and tell people what they need to do. Tell them when they are wrong. Encourage them with great patience and careful teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2

Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. A farmer patiently waits for his valuable crop to grow from the earth and for it to receive the autumn and spring rains. You, too, must be patient. Do not give up hope, because the Lord is coming soon. James 5:7-8

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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Act With Mercy

For mercy begets mercy, and the lack of mercy earns you nothing. Act with mercy.

Then the master called his servant in and said, You evil servant! Because you begged me to forget what you owed, I told you that you did not have to pay anything. You should have showed mercy to that other servant, just as I showed mercy to you. The master was very angry and put the servant in prison to be punished until he could pay everything he owed. This king did what my heavenly Father will do to you if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart. Matthew 18:32-35

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 (NIV)

What I say is true, and you should fully accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. But I was given mercy so that in me, the worst of all sinners, Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. His patience with me made me an example for those who would believe in him and have life forever. 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Show mercy to some people who have doubts. Take others out of the fire, and save them. Show mercy mixed with fear to others, hating even their clothes which are dirty from sin. Jude 22-23

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 Act With Mercy appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Act with Humility

You are a representative of Christ; your actions should reflect positively on him. You are not forbidden from behaving righteously before men, but from making it your goal to be seen for the sake of receiving their praise.  Do nothing for your own glory, for you cannot save yourself. Jesus has done that work for you, therefore, bring glory to Him; represent him well. Act with humility.

Be careful! When you do good things, don’t do them in front of people to be seen by them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to the poor, don’t be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets in the synagogues and on the streets so that people will see them and honor them. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. 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 6:1-4

We must not be proud or make trouble with each other or be jealous of each other. Galatians 5:26

Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does his love comfort you? Do we share together in the spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? If so, make me very happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and having one mind and purpose. When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:1-5

In the same way, younger people should be willing to be under older people. And all of you should be very humble with each other. God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. Be humble under God’s powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes. 1 Peter 5:5-6

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

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Act With Compassion

Jesus had compassion with everyone, attending first to their worldly hunger and thirst, and then to their spiritual deprivation. Acts of compassion demonstrate the unfailing concern Christ has for the people, his sheep. In this way you will also become a shepherd – act with compassion.

If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don’t refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42

When he (Jesus) arrived, he saw a great crowd waiting. He felt sorry for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34

Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him, When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite only your friends, your family, your other relatives, and your rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them, and you will be repaid. Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then you will be blessed, because they have nothing and cannot pay you back. But you will be repaid when the good people rise from the dead. Luke 14:12-14,

We ask you, brothers and sisters, to warn those who do not work. Encourage the people who are afraid. Help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. Be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to do what is good for each other and for all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

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

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Calm Troubled Waters

Live and encourage peaceful lives. Christ understood that in order for the gospel to be made known, believers must be peace-loving rather than quarrelsome so that those who had not yet heard the Word would listen rather than turn away. Don’t participate in or encourage foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they lead to conflict rather than peace. Calm troubled waters.

So let us try to do what makes peace and helps one another. Romans 14:19

So, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up their hands in a holy manner, without anger and arguments. 1 Timothy 2:8

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient. The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth. 2 Timothy 2:24-25

Try to live in peace with all people, and try to live free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord. Be careful that no one fails to receive God’s grace and begins to cause trouble among you. A person like that can ruin many of you. Hebrews 12:14-15

But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living. James 3:17-18

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

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Count to Three

Counting to three implies self-control. Self-control refers not only to control of the temper, but the tongue and passion for money or power. Be careful not to act or speak rashly, especially in anger. Under the influence of anger you are easily tempted to commit evil and display something very different from God’s righteousness. If Christ is your example, self-control must be found in you. Count to three.

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

And do not make the Holy Spirit sad. The Spirit is God’s proof that you belong to him. God gave you the Spirit to show that God will make you free when the final day comes. Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil.  Ephesians 4:30-31

Tell them not to spend their time on stories that are not true and on long lists of names in family histories. These things only bring arguments; they do not help God’s work, which is done in faith. The purpose of this command is for people to have love, a love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a true faith. Some people have missed these things and turned to useless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand either what they are talking about or what they are sure about. 1 Timothy 1:3-7

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

The post Count to Three appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Do No Harm

Christ suffered the punishment of our sins so that we might be reconciled with God. All he asks in return is that we obey the new law: to love one another. Love is compassionate and kind, not harmful. Don’t let the fact that you were treated wrongly cause you to commit another wrong, but overcome evil with love, mercy and restraint. Do no harm.

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 12:17-18

Love never hurts a neighbor, so loving is obeying all the law. Romans 13:10

Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil.  Ephesians 4:31

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. Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13

This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as he did. He had never sinned, and he had never lied. People insulted Christ, but he did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him. 1 Peter 2:21-23

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

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Love Your Enemies

Not one of us is deserving of God’s compassion, yet we are forgiven. Christ on the cross prayed for his enemies; so did Stephen, the first Christian martyr. If someone does you wrong, remember Christ’s example. Just as God loves you, you should love your enemies, forgiving them for their offenses against you. When you do, you give glory to God by multiplying his forgiveness. Love your enemies.

You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemies. But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong.  Matthew 5:43-45

But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you. Luke 6:27-28

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy. Luke 6:35-36

Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them. Romans 12:14

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

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Love the Least

Take great care not to befriend only with those in prosperous and influential places. Remember that Jesus dined with and cared for the outcast instead of hanging out only in the company of the king’s court and temple priests. If you enjoy the love of Christ you must share your blessings and faithfully care for the poor and downtrodden. Having contempt for anyone only encourages the nonbeliever. Love the least.

Be careful. Don’t think these little children are worth nothing. I tell you that they have angels in heaven who are always with my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10

Then the King will answer, I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me. Matthew 25:40

Then the King will answer, I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.  Matthew 25:45

I will not leave you all alone like orphans; I will come back to you. John 14:18

Always be humble, gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love. Ephesians 4:2

People will no longer have to teach their neighbors and relatives to know the Lord, because all people will know me, from the least to the most important. Hebrews 8:11

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.

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