peace to live by

Our Giving Thanks to God, Part 1 (TMF:2535)

Friday, January 24, 2025
Peace to Live By: Our Giving Thanks to God, Part 1 (TMF:2535) - Daniel Litton
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       Paul’s prayer in the beginning of Colossians 1 continues for us today. Let’s go to verse 9, and then we will jump down to verse 12. “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you… giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (1:9, 12, ESV). The final element of the prayer laid out for the Colossians is that of “giving thanks.” Giving thanks. It seems we are pretty good at that these days, as Christians. It seems so. After all, there is a lot to be thankful for. It doesn’t seem like it’s hard to come up with at least a few things to thank God for. Materialistically, most of us have a lot of possessions and whatnot. Relationally, most of us have at least a few people in our lives we would consider blessed to be part of it. If we are a believer in Jesus Christ to begin with, it seems reasonable to presume we are thankful for the gift of salvation—for the gift of our relationship with God. After all, if it hadn’t been for what Jesus accomplished for us, we wouldn’t be in right relationship with God to begin with.

The Four Areas of Effect on the World, Part 4 (TMF:2534)

Thursday, January 23, 2025
Peace to Live By: The Four Areas of Effect on the World, Part 4 (TMF:2534) - Daniel Litton
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       They too [angels] can bring negative things on the world in the form of judgment. We need no explanation about God doing this, as that’s obvious from reading the Old Testament. Even in the New Testament we see it during the church age with the negative example of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 (as as an aside, notice there’s goodness behind this negativity). But it would also seem that God’s angels, acting of their own will and by their own choice, can make negative decisions (and, of course, their choices always align with God’s will). This is hinted at in Acts 12, for instance, when it says “Immediately an angel of the Lord struck [Herod] down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last” (Acts 12:23, ESV). There is no mention in the text of God ordering this, but it would seem that the nearby angel made this choice out of his on volition (see also Luke 1:19, 20 for another example; note “my words” (ESV)). You can look that one up on your own time).

The Four Areas of Effect on the World, Part 3 (TMF:2533)

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Peace to Live By: The Four Areas of Effect on the World, Part 3 (TMF:2533) - Daniel Litton
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       So, now, we have three causes for the negative things in our world. One, Satan. Two, ourselves. Three, randomness. All these things cause for negativity in the world that has to be endured, and often with trusting patience. But before we move away from discussing this, there are still yet two more areas. But before we move away from discussing this, there are still yet two more areas, but actually one more area, one casual agent, we can discuss. Yes indeed. That’s God, and also his angels. They too can bring negative things on the world in the form of judgment. We need no explanation about God doing this, as that’s obvious from reading the Old Testament. Even in the New Testament we see it during the church age with the negative example of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 (as as an aside, notice there’s goodness behind this negativity). But it would also seem that God’s angels, acting of their own will and by their own choice, can make negative decisions (and, of course, their choices always align with God’s will).

The Four Areas of Effect on the World, Part 2 (TMF:2532)

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Peace to Live By: The Four Areas of Effect on the World, Part 2 (TMF:2532) - Daniel Litton
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       What is a basic example of randomness? Well, I wish this specific example didn’t have to be brought up, but recently, in driving home late one night from the workplace, out the left-side of the window, in a flash of the moment, was seen a rabbit running across the road. Unfortunately, it was too late for this little fellow. He transcended. Now, taking a pause, and a breather, for it did bother the mind, it could be said that God preordained this event of the rabbit’s leaving the world Or would it be better said that this event took place as a result of the randomness that is often present in the world? And what factors are behind this randomness seems to be incredibly complex. So, now, we have three causes for the negative things in our world. One, Satan. Two, ourselves. Three, randomness. All these things cause for negativity in the world that has to be endured, and often with trusting patience. But before we move away from discussing this, there are still yet two more areas.

The Four Areas of Effect on the World, Part 1 (TMF:2531)

Monday, January 20, 2025
Peace to Live By: The Four Areas of Effect on the World, Part 1 (TMF:2531) - Daniel Litton
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       Things get messed up when we either don’t follow God’s will for our lives by acting in sinful ways, or when we make unwise choices, say out of ignorance (which aren’t necessarily sin, just unwise), and then things get messed up. So, since we are beings too, and have a part to play in the grand scheme of things, in God’s world, we also can make choices that affect the world negatively. For now, for the negative conditions, we have first listed Satan and his demons, and now second we have listed us. But, there’s more. It simply isn’t these two things that can cause issues. There is a third area. The third area may not be as obvious, or it may be. Really, it depends on how a person views things. What we are talking about now is chance—the randomness or arbitrary-ness that comes with the natural world. For the person who believes everything, and literally everything, is predetermined, then this third area might fall on deaf ears. For the person, however, who doesn’t feel everything is predetermined, then this point seems helpful.

Our Needed Endurance in Life, Part 2 (TMF:2530)

Friday, January 17, 2025
Peace to Live By: Our Needed Endurance in Life, Part 2 (TMF:2530) - Daniel Litton
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       Let’s pick the most obvious one first. You guessed it, it’s Satan. Satan and his demons. That one seems obvious. He was the angel who rebelled against God (of which it appears that betrayal occurred right after God created the world) and he took one-third of the angelic hosts with him. We generally call them the demons, though some think that demons are different evil spirits from the rebellious fallen angels that followed Satan. Whatever the case, for our purposes, we note that they work against God, which means they also work against us. But there is more. It isn’t just Satan and the demons who are responsible for the need “for all endurance and patience with joy” on our parts. What else could we cite? Sticking with persons, let’s consider the fact that humans, individuals (and even sometimes us), screw things up. Things get messed up when we either don’t follow God’s will for our lives by acting in sinful ways, or when we make unwise choices, say out of ignorance (which aren’t necessarily sin, just unwise), and then things get messed up.

Our Needed Endurance in Life, Part 1 (TMF:2529)

Thursday, January 16, 2025
Peace to Live By: Our Needed Endurance in Life, Part 1 (TMF:2529) - Daniel Litton
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       And these righteous characteristics are needed so that we can live, continuing along in verse 11, “for all endurance and patience with joy.” Why is endurance needed? Endurance from what? Well, basically, this verse tells us if we weren’t aware of this fact already that not everything is going to go our way in life. That’s what endurance is for. Now, if we were to listen to some Bible teachers exclusively, that might not become so obvious. That’s why it’s always important to be realistic—to not get too dreamy in what we are hoping in or hoping for. For basic understanding, then, what are the things in the world that stop things from going the way we want them to (or on a deeper level even, the way God wants them to go)? Let’s pick the most obvious one first. You guessed it, it’s Satan. Satan and his demons. That one seems obvious. He was the angel who rebelled against God (of which it appears that betrayal occurred right after God created the world) and he took one-third of the angelic hosts with him.

Our Needed Power from God, Part 3 (TMF:2528)

Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Peace to Live By: Our Needed Power from God, Part 3 (TMF:2528) - Daniel Litton
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       It isn’t that all this working power is directed toward actions within the boundaries of ministry, but it is also, and probably more so, in the development of our individual characters. That’s why on other occasions, and coming to mind specifically is Galatians 5, Paul lists what should be done in contrast to what should not be done. It is spelled out simply. And because we know that a person who is not enlightened, who has not tasted of the heavenly gift, that is, of salvation, has no real power over sin or the ability to carry out even the good character traits across the board, we know that the conversion experience is necessary. This is how a person then has new life, a born again is-ness, by which the person can then live out the Christian character, which, in reality, is how all people are really supposed to live in character. It is as Paul said in Galatians 5, that against such character traits there is no law.

Our Needed Power from God, Part 2 (TMF:2527)

Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Peace to Live By: Our Needed Power from God, Part 2 (TMF:2527) - Daniel Litton
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       Power is simply our ability to accomplish what God desires for us to accomplish in these areas. If they could be done by simply human means, there would be no need for a conversation process and Christian experience of life to begin with. In this imaginary case, it would simply be that anyone could be a Christian by simply walking a path following certain principles. Though, we know that’s not the case—but the case is that a conversion experience is necessary. And that’s not to say this ‘experience’ happens at one, singular moment (though most often it seems to), but sometimes it can happen over a period in one’s life. All this power bestowed into the Christian’s life is according to God’s “glorious might.” Paul would say the familiar verse elsewhere, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13, ESV). It isn’t that all this working power is directed toward actions within the boundaries of ministry, but it is also, and probably more so, in the development of our individual characters.

Our Needed Power from God, Part 1 (TMF:2526)

Monday, January 13, 2025
Peace to Live By: Our Needed Power from God, Part 1 (TMF:2526) - Daniel Litton
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       Working things for the kingdom then creates an experience with God that then increases our knowledge about God. That is, knowledge about how God works in our lives—how he accomplishes things, takes care of us, relates to us, etc. In the experience with God, what is needed for that experience also becomes manifest. Paul prays that the Colossians, in verse 11, are “being strengthened with all power, according to his [God’s] glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (ESV). Along the whole life journey, whatever that life journey may be, is needed power. That’s obvious. To have spiritual wisdom, to have understanding, to have every good work, and to increase in knowledge—with all of these things, power is a must have. Power is simply our ability to accomplish what God desires for us to accomplish in these areas. If they could be done by simply human means, there would be no need for a conversation process and Christian experience of life to begin with.