peace to live by

The Example of Epaphras, Part 1 (TMF:2905)

Friday, June 26, 2026
Peace to Live By: The Example of Epaphras, Part 1 (TMF:2905) - Daniel Litton
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       Starting in verse 12 of Colossians chapter 4: ‘Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God” (ESV). Back in chapter 1 of Colossians, we read the following about Epaphras: “He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit” (1:7-8, ESV). So, today, we learn that Epaphras is physically with Paul in Rome, as Paul of course is in prison while he is writing this letter to the church at Colossae. Paul heaps even more praise on Epaphras than what he already has—in saying that he is a “faithful minister of Christ.” Undoubtedly, Paul had to be greatly encouraged to receive as a visitor someone who was representing the body in Colossae, and not only that, the actual likely founder of that church.

Paul Brings Up His Jewish Brothers (TMF:2904)

Thursday, June 25, 2026
Peace to Live By: Paul Brings Up His Jewish Brothers (TMF:2904) - Daniel Litton
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       Now, Jesus who is called Justus—he is named along with Aristarchus and Mark as the only Jewish men who were currently working him for the sake of the spreading the Gospel along. Thus, Paul had other workers, which were Gentiles workers, but these were the only three Jewish guys, at least, at the time of his writing of Colossians. He probably comments, “they have been a comfort to me” because they shared this same kind of background that Paul himself had—that of being a Jew. The way Paul says it, that these were “the only men of the circumcision among [his] fellow workers” shows that Paul had more success in working with the Gentiles versus the Jews. Of course, he was the Apostle to the Gentiles, but we remember what he remarked to the Roman believers, who were Gentiles themselves, concerning his fellow kinsmen in the flesh. There, he said, “Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (10:1, ESV). Paul always had his mind on his people, and yet interestingly, God had called him to go to the Gentiles.

Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 3 (TMF:2903)

Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Peace to Live By: Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 3 (TMF:2903) - Daniel Litton
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       Yet, Paul hadn’t approved of John Mark all along. This obviously raises some questions, and they are questions that we really cannot answer. But it goes to show that by this time in Paul’s writing to the Colossians that he was willing to correct within himself whatever incorrect behavior had taken place of his part, or incorrect assumptions regarding Mark. It shows that Paul himself wasn’t hardly perfect, and he wasn’t always correct in his own, personal deductions concerning things. No matter how highly we might think of him, he was a human. He was a Christian with flaws, and a Christian who had to correct himself at times. Now, Jesus who is called Justus we really don’t know anything about. Anything that could be remarked here would be mere speculation. Perhaps he took the name Justus because he did feel worthy to be called Jesus, or felt funny about it. Nonetheless, we do know what Paul states in the verse in that he was a Jewish man who had converted to Christianity.

Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 2 (TMF:2902)

Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Peace to Live By: Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 2 (TMF:2902) - Daniel Litton
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       Nonetheless, by the time Paul is writing to the Colossians, he mentions to them referring to Mark, “concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him.” This verse looks to insinuate that perhaps in the past Paul had surprisingly spoken bad about Mark to the church in Colossae, in some way, shape, or form, or perhaps word had spread from other churches. Anyhow, Paul apparently has to correct himself because he now says Mark is to be welcomed which implies there was a point in time where he wasn’t to be welcomed. Pretty unsettling this becomes considering the fact that Barnabas himself had approved of Mark all along. Yet, Paul hadn’t approved of John Mark all along. This obviously raises some questions, and they are questions that we really cannot answer. But it goes to show that by this time in Paul’s writing to the Colossians that he was willing to correct within himself whatever incorrect behavior had taken place of his part, or incorrect assumptions regarding Mark.

Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 1 (TMF:2901)

Monday, June 22, 2026
Peace to Live By: Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 1 (TMF:2901) - Daniel Litton
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       Yet the Scripture tells us they weren’t. They ended up separating into different directions. And third, we could note that perhaps Paul suffered from a pride issue, and this is the manifestation of that. We can recall what Paul told the Corinthians in his second letter to them: “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9, ESV). It seems that perhaps Paul struggled with pride, and this instance in his disagreement with Barnabas was a manifestation of that.

Paul Brings Up Mark, Part 2 (TMF:2900)

Friday, June 19, 2026
Peace to Live By: Paul Brings Up Mark, Part 2 (TMF:2900) - Daniel Litton
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       In reading this passage in Acts 15, it has some particularly interesting points to note. One thing that can be pointed out is that Paul and Barnabas actually had “a sharp disagreement.” This appears to show that no matter how high up a person may be on the Christian ladder, or serving-God ladder, they can disagree with another important person on what should be done. Strange as it may seem, Paul, as great as he perhaps was, was not immune to these types of issues. Second, it shows that a resolution between Paul and Barnabas couldn’t be met. That’s interesting. One would think that with two Christians as leader-worthy as these two fellows were, certainly they would have been able to come to an agreement between themselves. Yet the Scripture tells us they weren’t. They ended up separating into different directions. And third, we could note that perhaps Paul suffered from a pride issue, and this is the manifestation of that.

Paul Brings Up Mark, Part 1 (TMF:2899)

Thursday, June 18, 2026
Peace to Live By: Paul Brings Up Mark, Part 1 (TMF:2899) - Daniel Litton
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       Now, the second man here we have a lot of knowledge about, for this is Mark, who wrote the Gospel of Mark, and had even had a falling out with Paul at one point. If we remember, Paul and Barnabas got into a disagreement about Mark in Acts 15. In fact, why don’t we go ahead and turn there and read that passage. Acts 15, starting in verse 36: “And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches” (ESV).

Aristarchus, Paul's Fellow Prisoner (TMF:2898)

Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Peace to Live By: Aristarchus, Paul's Fellow Prisoner (TMF:2898) - Daniel Litton
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       “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me” (Colossians 4:10, 11, ESV). Let’s start first in talking about Aristarchus. We first meet him in Acts 19 where he is among Paul’s companions who are seized with Paul at the riot in Ephesus. That was when the idol-makers came against him because of what he was preaching, and they feared they were going to be put out of business, He is also with Paul when he sets sail to Rome in Acts 27, wherein, in verse 2, Luke says, “we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica” (ESV). Now, the second man here we have a lot of knowledge about, for this is Mark, who wrote the Gospel of Mark, and had even had a falling out with Paul at one point.

Paul Discusses Onesimus (TMF:2897)

Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Peace to Live By: Paul Discusses Onesimus (TMF:2897) - Daniel Litton
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       Continuing on; “I have sent him to you for this very purpose… and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here” (ESV). Paul describes his intent in sending these men to the Colossians, both Tychicus and Onesimus. We should be aware of who Onesimus is, for he is the person who is the topic of conversation in Paul’s Letter to Philemon. Philemon, of course, was the slave-master who owned Onesimus. And Paul refers to Onesimus as a “faithful and beloved brother.” So, again, there is no distinction in what race individuals are in Paul’s mind, and this strikes at the heart in those in the past who have wanted to say the Bible supports slavery, or something in that vein. Thus, Paul thought highly of Onesimus, and kept him on broad with his ministry till toward the end.

Traveling Ministers, Part 2 (TMF:2896)

Monday, June 15, 2026
Peace to Live By: Traveling Ministers, Part 2 (TMF:2896) - Daniel Litton
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       This is a far cry from the use of technology, as in the case of some kind of video software on a computer or tablet whereby a ministry is just digitally brought up to talk to everyone. And that includes our presentation today. It’s not the same thing—not nearly. But when the person is physically present it truly brings real encouragement to the church. And sometimes, depending on the group in question, the person will stay with a family at the church, actually in their house, and thus hospitality is practiced. And the minister will then be able to dine with that family, and probably also other families, folks from the church, and truly have fruitful one-on-one interactions. Appears like something that is needed more in our current world, and it should not be thought that such a practice is surely out-dated and shouldn’t be done anymore. The total dependence on that which is digital can be our downfall.