Gregory E. Lang's Blog

After all, he, the manifestation of God in the flesh, loved you first. And when you love him in return, and walk faithfully with him, obeying from the heart all his commandments, good things do indeed come to you. Love God, your Father, your Christ, with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. Love the Lord. Love the Lord. Love the Lord.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. Mark 12:30

I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do. Those who believe will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:12-14,

If you remain in me and follow my teachings, you can ask anything you want, and it will be given to you. You should produce much fruit and show that you are my followers, which brings glory to my Father. I loved you as the Father loved me. Now remain in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commands, and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy. John 15:7-11

The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, Father. Romans 8:15

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

My dear brothers and sisters, do not be fooled about this. Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows. God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made. James 1:16-18

Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are following the way of truth. 3 John 1:4

May the Lord bless us and keep us, and may his love shine through in everything we do. Amen.

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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Love will repay cursing with blessing, hate with good will, evil treatment and persecution with prayers. While on the cross Jesus prayed for his enemies; he was clear about his desire and command that we too should pray for others. What greater display of love for your neighbor and brother is there than to bow and pray for him? Please the Lord; pray for others.

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

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

That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive what God promised for his people until God gives full freedom to those who are his – to bring praise to God’s glory. That is why since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you. I always remember you in my prayers, asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better. I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people. Ephesians 1:14-18

I thank my God every time I remember you, always praying with joy for all of you. Philippians 1:3-4

Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:25

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen. James 5:16

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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Pray continually, on all occasions with all kinds of prayers, thanksgiving and requests, for the Lord is faithful, and as you draw nearer to him he will strengthen and protect you, growing you in righteousness and enriching you with blessings. Daily prayer strengthens your walk with Christ, increasing your endurance for his sake. Pray every day.

Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God’s people. Ephesians 6:18

Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. Colossians 4:2

Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And now, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the Lord’s teaching will continue to spread quickly and that people will give honor to that teaching, just as happened with you. And pray that we will be protected from stubborn and evil people, because not all people believe. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

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

Anyone who is having troubles should pray. Anyone who is happy should sing praises. Anyone who is sick should call the church’s elders. They should pray for and pour oil on the person in the name of the Lord. And the prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will heal that person. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen. James 5:13-16

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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Do more than just read the Bible, do what it says. Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, patience; and to patience, service for God; and to service for God, kindness to your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to your kindness, love. If you seek these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of your Lord Jesus Christ. Be an effective and productive child of God, refusing to let anyone lead you astray. Strengthen your foundation.

We live by what we believe, not by what we can see. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves. James 1:22

Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness. Through these he gave us the very great and precious promises. With these gifts you can share in being like God, and the world will not ruin you with its evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you the wrong way. Christ is all that is right. So to be like Christ a person must do what is right. The devil has been sinning since the beginning, so anyone who continues to sin belongs to the devil. The Son of God came for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s work. Those who are God’s children do not continue sinning, because the new life from God remains in them. They are not able to go on sinning, because they have become children of God. So we can see who God’s children are and who the devil’s children are: Those who do not do what is right are not God’s children, and those who do not love their brothers and sisters are not God’s children. 1 John 3:7-10,

But dear friends, use your most holy faith to build yourselves up, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the Lord Jesus Christ with his mercy to give you life forever. Jude 20-21

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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The purpose of the Scriptures is to inspire blessed hope through the promise and comfort they offer to those who suffer for God. Everything that was written was written to teach you, so that through the encouragement of the Scriptures you might become fully equipped, able to teach the Gospel to others, and to discourage its opposers. Read your Bible and discover what righteous living really is. The stronger your conviction becomes of what is right, the easier it becomes for you to live righteously. Study the Word.

Jesus answered, You don’t understand, because you don’t know what the Scriptures say, and you don’t know about the power of God. Matthew 22:29

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NIV)

Instead, the Scriptures showed that the whole world is bound by sin. This was so the promise would be given through faith to people who believe in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:22

Until I come, continue to read the Scriptures to the people, strengthen them, and teach them. 1 Timothy 4:13

All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. 2 Timothy 3:16

By holding on to the trustworthy word just as we teach it, an elder can help people by using true teaching, and he can show those who are against the true teaching that they are wrong. Titus 1:9

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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We live by faith, not by sight. Faith in Christ pleases God. It is not works, but one work, that is required, a faith that would enable you to rely on Christ and from such faith to lead a Christ-like life. God promised to be with you, and his Son died to make that possible. He who has called you is faithful, and if you trust him he will save you. Your faith will remind you to whom you truly belong. In Jesus Christ, go boldly to God. Rest in assurance.

The Father gives me (Jesus) my people. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them. I came down from heaven to do what God wants me to do, not what I want to do. Here is what the One who sent me wants me to do: I must not lose even one whom God gave me, but I must raise them all on the last day. Those who see the Son and believe in him have eternal life, and I will raise them on the last day. This is what my Father wants. John 6:37-40

Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can troubles or problems or sufferings or hunger or nakedness or danger or violent death? As it is written in the Scriptures: “For you we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.” But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us. Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

In Christ we can come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this through faith in Christ. Ephesians 3:12

Now may God himself, the God of peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self — spirit, soul, and body — be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

The world and everything that people want in it are passing away, but the person who does what God wants lives forever. 1 John 2:17

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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For it is when you are alone with God that you are free from distraction and temptation to impress with your actions and words. There are times for public and corporate prayer, and there are times for private prayer. Kneel and be sincere with your Lord. Make private time.

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray so people will see them. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward. When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door and pray to your Father who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you. Matthew 6:5-6

After he had sent them away, he went by himself up into the hills to pray. It was late, and Jesus was there alone. Matthew 14:23

Then Jesus went with his followers to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray. Matthew 26:36

Early the next morning, while it was still dark, Jesus woke and left the house. He went to a lonely place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

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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Do your best to present yourself to God as one who surely knows and confidently walks like his son, Jesus Christ. As a believer, think of yourself with sober judgment but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline, one unafraid to endure the laughter and scoffs of the nonbeliever. In your resolve the word of God and work of Jesus will be made known. With all moral courage, the natural fruit of a trusting faith in God, you are one saved by grace. Just be yourself.

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

God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Make every effort to give yourself to God as the kind of person he will accept. Be a worker who is not ashamed and who uses the true teaching in the right way. 2 Timothy 2:15

Because you have these blessings, do your best to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add patience; and to your patience, add service for God; and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love. If all these things are in you and are growing, they will help you to be useful and productive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But anyone who does not have these things cannot see clearly. He is blind and has forgotten that he was made clean from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9

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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God hears your prayers and pleas but answers in his own time. Jesus encouraged us to always pray and never give up. There must be constant seeking and patient endurance. He who remains faithful shall enter the kingdom. Do not throw away your confidence, but hold yourself up in prayer. In time, when you have resisted the world and done the will of God, you will be richly rewarded. Never give up.

Some people, by always continuing to do good, live for God’s glory, for honor, and for life that has no end. God will give them life forever. Romans 2:7

Remember those days in the past when you first learned the truth. You had a hard struggle with many sufferings, but you continued strong. Sometimes you were hurt and attacked before crowds of people, and sometimes you shared with those who were being treated that way. You helped the prisoners. You even had joy when all that you owned was taken from you, because you knew you had something better and more lasting. So do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:32-36

When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy. After they have proved their faith, God will reward them with life forever. God promised this to all those who love him. James 1:12

Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said before. They said to you, “In the last times there will be people who laugh about God, following their own evil desires which are against God.” These are the people who divide you, people whose thoughts are only of this world, who do not have the Spirit. But dear friends, use your most holy faith to build yourselves up, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the Lord Jesus Christ with his mercy to give you life forever. Jude 17-21

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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The hope you have in Christ is the source of your greatest joy. It is through the sufferings of Christ that you are enabled to come to God; without Christ and his death on the cross there could be no gospel. Through his blood your sins are cleansed so that you are made holy in the sight of God. As God’s child you have a glorious hope of eternal life, a hope not only of eternal existence, but that you become a joint heir with Christ. You are reconciled with God when you believe in his Son, grow in your faith and are not swayed from the truth of the gospel – those who believe in what they cannot see shall inherit an everlasting life. Always have hope.

Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory. We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us. Romans 5:1-5

I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people. And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world. Ephesians 1:18-20

At one time you were separated from God. You were his enemies in your minds, and the evil things you did were against God. But now God has made you his friends again. He did this through Christ’s death in the body so that he might bring you into God’s presence as people who are holy, with no wrong, and with nothing of which God can judge you guilty. This will happen if you continue strong and sure in your faith. You must not be moved away from the hope brought to you by the Good News that you heard. Colossians 1:21-23

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In God’s great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a living hope, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Now we hope for the blessings God has for his children. These blessings, which cannot be destroyed or be spoiled or lose their beauty, are kept in heaven for you. God’s power protects you through your faith until salvation is shown to you at the end of time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

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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