All that is good lies along the straight path, and on the dark, meandering trail wickedness and deceit are found. Pay attention not only to what Jesus taught, but how he lived. Rise above slander and spite; deserve respect for your life lived in the service of God, relying on the truth of the Word as your daily guide. Walk straight paths.
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. Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
It (Grace) teaches us not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants to do. Instead, that grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God. We should live like that while we wait for our great hope and the coming of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him – people who are always wanting to do good deeds. Titus 2:12-14
So then, rid yourselves of all evil, all lying, hypocrisy, jealousy, and evil speech. As newborn babies want milk, you should want the pure and simple teaching. By it you can grow up and be saved, because you have already examined and seen how good the Lord is. 1 Peter 2:1-3
They have caused many people to suffer, so they themselves will suffer. That is their pay for what they have done. They take pleasure in openly doing evil, so they are like dirty spots and stains among you. They delight in trickery while eating meals with you. Every time they look at a woman they want her, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into the trap of sin, and they have taught their hearts to be greedy. God will punish them! These false teachers left the right road and lost their way, following the way Balaam went. Balaam was the son of Beor, who loved being paid for doing wrong. 2 Peter 2:13-15
Here is the message we have heard from Christ and now announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 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 1:5-7
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.
