peace to live by

Intro to the Epistle to the Colossians, Part 2 (TMF:2490)

Friday, November 22, 2024
Peace to Live By: Intro to the Epistle to the Colossians, Part 2 (TMF:2490) - Daniel Litton
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       This being the case, it is also ascertained that Paul hadn’t visited the city of Colossae before. This can to determined from verse 1 of chapter 2. And the audience to which Paul was writing may have been quite large. At the site of the city in present day, the walls are still there, as well as a theater, and the theater suggests seating of about 25,000 to 30,000 people. Thus, in understanding Colossae’s size, we understand that the church may have been large, but to what degree, it really is not known. In coming to verse 1 of chapter 1, we read the following: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” For those who are familiar to the setup of things after the Lord Jesus Christ’s accession into Heaven, we know that God basically chose two men to be the primary heads of the work he sought to accomplish. Those two people are the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul. Now, Peter was with Jesus during his earthly ministry, all the way from the beginning and all the way through the end.

Intro to the Epistle to the Colossians, Part 1 (TMF:2489)

Thursday, November 21, 2024
Peace to Live By: Intro to the Epistle to the Colossians, Part 1 (TMF:2489) - Daniel Litton
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       Turning in our New Testaments today, we come to Paul’s Letter to the Church of Colossae. The book has come to be known as ‘Colossians.’ While this letter may have been sent from Paul as a response to the threat of false beliefs threatening the brand new church, really, it is an encouragement and overview of what is to be expected from the church and believers in general. Paul—the minister to the Gentiles (and likely eventual minister to the Jews as well)—is the one who has the authority from God to deliver such a message. Along with him is Timothy, who is the minister most famous as the recipient of Paul’s letters to him, which appear a few books over in our New Testaments. Thus, Paul was likely behind bars in Italy at the writing of this epistle here. Rome to be specific. It seems likely that this traditional view in the church throughout the ages is the correct view. This being the case, it is also ascertained that Paul hadn’t visited the city of Colossae before.

The Way to Real, Genuine Happiness, Part 2 (TMF:2488)

Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Peace to Live By: The Way to Real, Genuine Happiness, Part 2 (TMF:2488) - Daniel Litton
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       Without being in that right relationship, as I just talked about a little bit ago, no one can really have that foundation, that trust, that peace residing inside their minds. When we know God, everything else is secondary. We know that truly, no matter what happens, everything will be okay for us. We are guaranteed to go to Heaven. And one gains this guarantee by believing in and trusting in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. You see, Jesus came to earth, some 2,000 years ago, and died on the cross to make any one of us right with God. If we trust in his death on our part, we can no longer be held guilty for any of our sins against God. And, Jesus rose from the dead and now lives in Heaven with God. Because he rose, God promises that anyone who believes in his resurrection will themselves be resurrected from the dead one day. This is a tremendous truth in that we will have a new body one day after we die. So, by trusting in Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can live new lives in God, lives of happiness that last forever.

The Way to Real, Genuine Happiness, Part 1 (TMF:2487)

Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Peace to Live By: The Way to Real, Genuine Happiness, Part 1 (TMF:2487) - Daniel Litton
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       Well, that concludes our happiness points, and indeed, I still had more I could do. We just ran out of time unfortunately. I could go on and on, but I think we got through the essential ones, or at least, essential ones that we can use to make our lives better. In finishing up, one thing I would note is that before any real, genuine happiness can ever occur, one needs to be in right relationship with God. Yes, that is where true happiness begins. Without being in that right relationship, as I just talked about a little bit ago, no one can really have that foundation, that trust, that peace residing inside their minds. When we know God, everything else is secondary. We know that truly, no matter what happens, everything will be okay for us. We are guaranteed to go to Heaven. And one gains this guarantee by believing in and trusting in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. You see, Jesus came to earth, some 2,000 years ago, and died on the cross to make any one of us right with God.

God Really is Like Mister Rogers, Part 3 (TMF:2486)

Monday, November 18, 2024
Peace to Live By: God Really is Like Mister Rogers, Part 3 (TMF:2486) - Daniel Litton
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       We may read our Bibles and see all that judgement side of God, but there is something we need to note about that. You see, all of God’s anger is directed toward sin, right? I mean that’s why God gets upset, right? He gets upset at sin. So, we read our Bibles, probably especially the Book of the Revelation, and think that God has this great judgment side. Well, yes, as long as sin is around he will. But, reading our Bible to the end, we know that sin will one day cease. What does that mean? It means that all God’s anger ceases. Interesting. That being that case, the day will come when all there is with God’s character are the attributes we personally like—those which we adore in fact, just like it will be with us. That’s all that will be displayed. In that case, we find that God really is like Mr. Rogers after all, that Mr. Rogers really modeled how God really is. And with that, my friends, we can rest and be happy.

God Really is Like Mister Rogers, Part 2 (TMF:2485)

Friday, November 15, 2024
Peace to Live By: God Really is Like Mister Rogers, Part 2 (TMF:2485) - Daniel Litton
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       Yes, he was neighbor focused. That’s interesting because Jesus told us in the second greatest commandment that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Mr. Rogers was always eager to invite the TV viewer into his home, to befriend that person. I think he made a lot of children his friends. I know he did for me. And Jesus even taught us that one needs to become like a little child if one ever wants to be close to God. Remember that? So, Mr. Rogers provided us a good example of how one should treat his neighbors, how one should be kind and show hospitality toward them. But, really, I think there is more to Mr. Rogers than that. One thing I believe we can note about him is that he really was an imitator of God as Paul told us to do. Now, one might say, “Well, sounds good. But Mr. Rogers didn’t show the judgment side of God. He didn’t demonstrate that part. He was all welcoming and friendly. There is much more to God than Mr. Rogers’ character.” Okay, let us examine that. You see, and here I am going to enlighten you on a great truth, and that is that God himself really is just like Mr. Rogers I think.

God Really is Like Mister Rogers, Part 1 (TMF:2484)

Thursday, November 14, 2024
Peace to Live By: God Really is Like Mister Rogers, Part 1 (TMF:2484) - Daniel Litton
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       Jesus told us on more than one occasion that we are to shine our lights before others. We all know that. Well, there was one particular guy that we are all familiar with who accomplished just that (at least, most of us are familiar with him; some younger people might not know who he is). Well, who I am talking about is Fred Rogers, who is more commonly known as Mr. Rogers. Indeed, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was one of my favorite TV shows growing up as a kid, if not my most favorite. I adored that show, and I’d have to say it was probably my favorite especially when was like three or four years old in the late 80s. We can remember about Mr. Rogers that he was always saying, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Yes, he was neighbor focused. That’s interesting because Jesus told us in the second greatest commandment that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Mr. Rogers was always eager to invite the TV viewer into his home, to befriend that person. I think he made a lot of children his friends. I know he did for me. And Jesus even taught us that one needs to become like a little child if one ever wants to be close to God. Remember that?

The Reason Christianity is So Good, Part 3 (TMF:2483)

Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Peace to Live By: The Reason Christianity is So Good, Part 3 (TMF:2483) - Daniel Litton
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       Empty and scary stuff for the person who has no hope—for the person who doesn’t know Jesus. Sure, we could believe in some mystical hope that everything will work out. But if it’s not based on truth, like the Bible for the Christian, a person cannot really know for sure. And if they cannot really know, how is that something worth betting your life on? The beautiful thing is that when a person no longer fears death because they have accepted Jesus, that person can have peace of mind to live life to its fullest extent. The biggest fear of all, the fear from which all other fear seems to take its root, is gone. So peace can flow forth like a steady stream. This is why Christianity really gives life. I do not believe a person can truly be at peace with the fear of death bouncing around in their heads, that uncertainty about the future. That being the case, why not choose to believe in Jesus today? Why not gain that peace of mind once and for all? Why not lay that foundation from which all happiness can now flow? This is how true happiness can be gained.

The Reason Christianity is So Good, Part 2 (TMF:2482)

Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Peace to Live By: The Reason Christianity is So Good, Part 2 (TMF:2482) - Daniel Litton
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       All humans fear not being able to live any longer. At least, that’s what they initially fear. And it’s this very question that Christianity, interestingly enough, solves. For sure. Christianity fixes this problem with the human psyche. How does it do that? Well, it does that because we know that when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior that we lose, or should lose, the fear of death right from the start. We understand that, as a Christian, death means we go somewhere better. Hell is eliminated from the picture. This allows us to live our lives freely without this fear any longer. Quite an incredible thing that gives us a lot of happiness at the same time. Jesus conquered death the Bible tells us, and so we will conquer it too. Incredible stuff. I think all humans from birth have the fear of death lurking around in the back of their minds. There is always that fear that you could die at any time, and life would end. Everything you’ve done would come to an end, all that you’ve accumulated, and all the relationships you know would end.

The Reason Christianity is So Good, Part 1 (TMF:2481)

Monday, November 11, 2024
Peace to Live By: The Reason Christianity is So Good, Part 1 (TMF:2481) - Daniel Litton
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       Humans have one thing that we all fear. At least that’s my understanding. According to what appears to be a general consensus from psychologists, there is one thing people fear more than any other thing. Do you know what that is? Well, death of course. Whether the psychologist is coming from an evolutionary perspective or some other perspective, that seems to be the common consensus. It is interesting because I was listening to a Bible teacher not too long ago talk about this concept. When he posed the question of what he personally thought all human fear tied back to, he concluded that it was probably death. So, interestingly, he agreed with a lot of psychologists even though I don’t think he knows a whole lot about psychology. But, yes, this is my personal belief as well. All humans fear not being able to live any longer. At least, that’s what they initially fear. And it’s this very question that Christianity, interestingly enough, solves. For sure. Christianity fixes this problem with the human psyche.