31 May 2026

Good Words Before Outsiders, Part 4 (TMF:2890)

Friday, June 05, 2026

Peace to Live By: Good Words Before Outsiders, Part 4 (TMF:2890) - Daniel Litton
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Thus, our conscious becomes our friend in how we act toward outsiders, and we wish to be walking in a way in which our conscious isn’t regularly violated. We desire to have that peace within our hearts, ruling in our hearts, as Paul mentioned in the last chapter. This verse would appear to imply, then, if we take a reverse side look at it, that we aren’t to go around and rebuke unbelievers for their sin, at least, on a one-on-one basis. What is meant by this is, is that it isn’t wrong for the minister of God or the Bible teacher to call out sin for what it is, as in the case of delivering a sermon. That should be done; that is necessary and definitely needed. But what we are discussing are one-on-one interactions in the outside world. If we are trying to get or make non-believers to act like Christians we are going to find ourselves in real trouble. And this may be more of a temptation for those who are recent coverts, as, for the speaker, it definitely was in the year or two after becoming saved.

Good Words Before Outsiders, Part 3 (TMF:2889)

Thursday, June 04, 2026

Peace to Live By: Good Words Before Outsiders, Part 3 (TMF:2889) - Daniel Litton
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Let us bring to mind what the Apostle Peter has told us in his first epistle. He noted, “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:14-16, ESV). So, even Peter emphasized the “gentleness and respect.” This just isn’t a Paul thing—a thing that we can try to somehow maneuver around or get ourselves out of. Peter’s addition of “having a good conscience” helps us to gauge perhaps when we have said something we think we shouldn’t have, or when we have crossed the line. Thus, our conscious becomes our friend in how we act toward outsiders, and we wish to be walking in a way in which our conscious isn’t regularly violated. We desire to have that peace within our hearts, ruling in our hearts, as Paul mentioned in the last chapter.

Good Words Before Outsiders, Part 2 (TMF:2888)

Wednesday, June 03, 2026

Peace to Live By: Good Words Before Outsiders, Part 2 (TMF:2888) - Daniel Litton
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Yet, continuing in our higher calling here, we are to have speech that is loving, pleasant, and kind. Paul goes the extra mile by saying that it should be “seasoned with salt.” So, it should be appealing to others, drawing them in in a way (a good way), where they care to ask more, where they have the inclination to question what is behind it. We should have a pleasant taste about us, where, when individuals experience what we have to say, they aren’t left with a bad taste in their mouth, a bitter taste, and where they wouldn’t mind if they didn’t so much as see us again. And notice, Paul expects that people are going to ask us questions due to our commendable behavior, due to our out of the ordinary pleasantness. For Paul states, “so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” People are going to want to know what our drive is—why we are the way that we are. And they will set out to ask questions.

Good Words Before Outsiders, Part 1 (TMF:2887)

Tuesday, June 02, 2026

Peace to Live By: Good Words Before Outsiders, Part 1 (TMF:2887) - Daniel Litton
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Verse 6: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (ESV). It’s seems that Paul certainly cares about the reputation of the church, for he emphasizes how are speech is to be—to be “always” gracious. That’s a tall order, isn’t it? To always say the right things in front of those who don’t believe, of those who are outside the church? That’s what he says, nonetheless, and it would seem likely that most of us, if not all of us, fail at one point or another when it comes to this. A lot of people have short tempers, for instance, and blow their stacks before those who don’t believe. A lot of people might find it difficult to not laugh at a joke they know they shouldn’t laugh at. It can be hard to be kind toward others even when they aren’t treating us how we think they should be. Yet, continuing in our higher calling here, we are to have speech that is loving, pleasant, and kind.

Walking in Wisdom Toward Outsiders, Part 5 (TMF:2886)

Monday, June 01, 2026

Peace to Live By: Walking in Wisdom Toward Outsiders, Part 5 (TMF:2886) - Daniel Litton
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No, we are to shine our lights well, so that when we do explain Christian ways, again, making the best use of our time—for that is how we do that—that folks actually benefit from being in our presence. Each of us has a presence before others, a way that we are before others. We want that presence to be truly admirable. This leads us to make the best use of our time before others. If we are a person that others admire, a person of which they wish to be around, then when we are around them we will be able to tell them why we are the way that we are. They will want what we have. When they see our peace, our lack of worry; when they see our good work ethic, when they see our kindness, when they witness our speech as encouraging, they will ask questions. And because we have walked in wisdom, because we have acted like a proper Christian, we will be able to tell them why we are peaceful, kind, and all the rest. We will be able to make the best use of the time because we have set ourselves up for the moment.