21 October 2018
Two-Minute Features | 28 October 2018 | 14 October 2018

Being Overly Critical is Not Being Good (TMF:1005)

Friday, October 26, 2018
Peace to Live By: Being Overly Critical is Not Being Good (TMF:1005) - Daniel Litton
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       Second, Paul said the Romans were “able to instruct one another” (ESV). Now this fact is important because it shows that the church members individually were growing in familiarity with the Word of God and could help each other out by leading one another in the right direction. Now, this is not an excuse to become critical of one another—for we should never do that. When we become critical of one another, it just causes negativity and bad emotions to develop between people. And people don’t want to be around a brother or sister who is overly critical. That kind of person is no fun to be around. But by knowing the Word, and by living it out before others, by our goodness we can help one another and give good advice when the occasion arises. A church that isn’t founded in the Word of God isn’t a good church at all. We don’t want to be following the ways of this world, acting no different than those who are outside the church. But we want to display a quality of goodness.

Goodness Involves Learning God's Word (TMF:1004)

Thursday, October 25, 2018
Peace to Live By: Goodness Involves Learning God's Word (TMF:1004) - Daniel Litton
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       Paul told the Romans, “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another” (Romans 15:14, ESV). So, when Paul said the Romans were “full of goodness,” he used two different things to establish that fact. He said that they were, first, “filled with knowledge.” One way we better ourselves, become more good, is by learning more and more about the Word of God, by reading our Bibles and retaining what we read. I am not saying that we should just legalistically read our Bibles everyday, but we should try to retain and remember what we read so that it will affect our lives in a positive way. Some people choose to do their devotions in the evening rather than the morning because they are half-asleep for a while after they get up. If they read in the morning, they probably aren’t going to remember much of what they read. And it can be good to read an easier-to-read Bible translation so that you can understand better what you are reading.

Jesus' Sacrifice Makes Us Truly Good (TMF:1003)

Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Peace to Live By: Jesus' Sacrifice Makes Us Truly Good (TMF:1003) - Daniel Litton
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       Our next Fruit of the Spirit: goodness. Part of the Christian life is living in a way that is overall good, a way that is like that of the Lord Jesus Christ (becoming more like Christ). We are to display goodness in character, and to be good at all we do. We work heartily, as unto the Lord, with good effort. Indeed, goodness is part of the definition of a Christian. We are truly good in God’s eyes because of what Jesus has accomplished for us by his dying on the cross. By trusting in Christ’s sacrifice for us, we have been made right in God’s sight. God looks at us through rose-colored glasses, as some have said, seeing the blood of Christ when he looks upon us. This means God sees us as perfect, as sin-free. Our definition for each of us then comes from our position in Christ, that we are completely sanctified in him, by his blood. We are not defined by who we are in this world, by what we do for a living, or by who we are friends with. Christ is our definition. Recall, the Apostle Paul said, “For me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21, ESV).

Kindness Involves Forgiving Others (TMF:1002)

Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Peace to Live By: Kindness Involves Forgiving Others (TMF:1002) - Daniel Litton
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       The more we give, the further God’s grace will be lavished upon us. And God makes sure we have everything we need as a church so that the church can then offer more and more good works toward others. The Apostle Peter has told us, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8, 9, ESV). Times are going to come when someone does something that we don’t like, something that is against us. And at that moment, we are going to have a choice to make. We are going to have to choose to be kind toward the person, and not retaliate or return whatever they did to us with an evil of our own. God’s wants us to show kindness toward another with love, even when the person doesn’t deserve it. Remember, there have been times when you have done things against others yourself, and you have had to rely and hope for their kindness. By being kind to each other, it causes us as a group to be blessed.

Avoiding Legalism When Being Kind (TMF:1001)

Monday, October 22, 2018
Peace to Live By: Avoiding Legalism When Being Kind (TMF:1001) - Daniel Litton
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       I would say though, and advise, that it is good for us not to become legalistic about our kindness toward others. We should do things for others because we really want to, not because we feel that we have to. If I do something for someone else because I feel I have to, I am not doing it with a right ‘heart’ attitude, and therefore I am doing it out of obligation or to stay true to keeping a rule. The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9, ESV). The more we give, the further God’s grace will be lavished upon us. And God makes sure we have everything we need as a church so that the church can then offer more and more good works toward others.