10 May 2026

The Mystery of Christ in You, Part 2 (TMF:2875)

Friday, May 15, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Mystery of Christ in You, Part 2 (TMF:2875) - Daniel Litton
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In Genesis 12, we see a small glimpse into this, when God says to Abraham, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, ESV). This is merely the beginning of the whole foreshadowing. And it tell us, had Israel not rejected the Messiah, had things gone differently (for, again, God does not foreordain sin and individuals have freedom), if things had gone differently, God still would have blessed the Gentiles and included them. It shows the beautiful hand of God in the whole thing, how from the very beginnings he planned to bless everyone, to take care of everyone. But circumstances in the world are different from what God had planned, and from what the Apostle Paul himself even wanted, for Paul says he is “in prison” on account of the mystery. In prison? Wow, that doesn’t sound like things are going the direction they should. It’s particularly sad.

The Mystery of Christ in You, Part 1 (TMF:2874)

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Mystery of Christ in You, Part 1 (TMF:2874) - Daniel Litton
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“…that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison” (Colossians 4:3, ESV). What is this mystery of Christ that Paul wants, desires, to proclaim to others? If we recall, he discussed this in chapter 1. There he said, “the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26, 27, ESV). So, the mystery is “Christ in you.” “Christ in you.” We talked about this at length in chapter 1. It’s not only the Jewish people, then, who can, do, and will have Christ live in them (through the Holy Spirit), but it also includes the Gentile peoples. Unquestionably, God prophesied this all the way back toward the beginning.

Asking for Prayer, Part 3 (TMF:2873)

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Peace to Live By: Asking for Prayer, Part 3 (TMF:2873) - Daniel Litton
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But he wants there to be opportunity. This is something that has to be brought before God. The implication then is that if the church doesn’t pray for this, that in not fulfilling Paul’s request he could actually be delayed, or that there could actually come no opportunity at all. Paul certainly believes that prayer affects the future in the way one wants. Otherwise, he wouldn’t ask the Colossians to pray. And we’ve already gone over the fact, early on in our study, that raising our petitions to God does produce a difference in our lives and in the lives of others, that we can genuinely sway God’s hand when it comes to things. It’s not that everything is already predetermined, or that God’s will is always done, or that what happens is automatically God’s will, as many, many will state. No, prayer can and does have an effect, and it matters whether or not we pray, and what we pray for.

Asking for Prayer, Part 2 (TMF:2872)

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Peace to Live By: Asking for Prayer, Part 2 (TMF:2872) - Daniel Litton
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In this case, Paul has asked that the church in Colossae pray that God would open a door. Specifically, a door that the Gospel may be spread. That seems best how to understand what the word “word” truly represents because it is what he has been talking about in this entire letter in one way or another. Thus, opportunity to evangelize is what he requested. Notice that the prayer is that God “open to us a door.” At the moment Paul is writing this, there apparently isn’t opportunity, but he wants there to be opportunity. This is something that has to be brought before God. The implication then is that if the church doesn’t pray for this, that in not fulfilling Paul’s request he could actually be delayed, or that there could actually come no opportunity at all. Paul certainly believes that prayer affects the future in the way one wants. Otherwise, he wouldn’t ask the Colossians to pray.

Asking for Prayer, Part 1 (TMF:2871)

Monday, May 11, 2026

Peace to Live By: Asking for Prayer, Part 1 (TMF:2871) - Daniel Litton
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“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word” (Colossians 4:3, ESV). Paul asks for prayer. Asking for prayer. An important element of the Christian life, and one which we seem to do a good job at practicing. That’s why we shouldn’t ever be alone. This is just one verse of many verses that can be pointed to establish that fact. How can a Christian ask other Christians to pray for him or her if they are living their life independent of a group of believers? Even if you can’t find a church you completely agree with (for who truly can?), one in which you at least half agree with is better than none at all. You don’t have to agree with everything a church states in order to go there, to attend there, to fellowship with other believers. So, we can and should pray for each other—pray for the needs that we have, those which we actually present to each other.