08 January 2023
Two-Minute Features | 15 January 2023 | 01 January 2023

Discussing Faith & Works Together, Part 1 (TMF:2005)

Friday, January 13, 2023
Peace to Live By: Discussing Faith & Works Together, Part 1 (TMF:2005) - Daniel Litton
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       Next, verse 18: "But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works” (James 2, ESV). Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” As James is trying to make clear here, this is not about one person having ‘faith’ and another having ‘works.’ I think the implication here is that one cannot just have faith without works. It’s not that one can just have works apart from faith. You either have faith and works, or you have nothing at all. You can’t just have faith, and you can’t just have works. The second of these two, just having works, is what we identify as the secular person—the person who does this good thing and that good thing, but it’s not in the name of God. This is the humanitarian or just good person. However, without knowing God one cannot be with him for all eternity. One cannot transcend into peace after this life without that proper relationship.

Wondering Who Gets In vs. Who Doesn't, Part 2 (TMF:2004)

Thursday, January 12, 2023
Peace to Live By: Wondering Who Gets In vs. Who Doesn't, Part 2 (TMF:2004) - Daniel Litton
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       Now, there’s no way for me obviously to know for certain, but just be mindful that the appearances of the greatest aren’t always what they seem. On the flip side of this, what about people we would label as secular people whom we are certain won’t be in the kingdom of Heaven? Yes, the surprise. Those people who are famous in the world perhaps. People look at these kind of people and say, “There’s no way she’ll be there. She supports this and that.” Or, “Look, that actor has been divorced four times. His moral life is a joke.” Yes, both you and I can look at the Hollywood folks or famous politicians, or popular singers, or famous YouTube personalities, whatever, and say, “Yeah, I don’t think that person is going to be in Heaven when I get there.” And yet, surprise, surprise. We notice when we get there that there are people who are actually there that we didn’t think would be. And then we look around at those whom obviously we know are there but can’t find them. Where are they? And we look and look and look.

Wondering Who Gets In vs. Who Doesn't, Part 1 (TMF:2003)

Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Peace to Live By: Wondering Who Gets In vs. Who Doesn't, Part 1 (TMF:2003) - Daniel Litton
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       Another way we could read this text from Jesus is to perhaps paraphrase, “Many you think won’t be Heaven will be, and many you think will be there won’t be.” Now it’s getting ever scarier. This is pride in it’s full manifestation, its top-level power. It is the pride of the Scribes and Pharisees during Jesus’ time. Who displays this kind of pride during our time? I have thought about this from time to time as I have know several evangelical leaders on a first-hand basis. These are people that no one would question their faith—no one would even give it a second thought about their right standing with God. But, for one or two I have known personally, I have grown to question whether they really are in right standing with God. Something just doesn’t seem right. Something is amiss. All is not surrendered. Now, there’s no way for me obviously to know for certain, but just be mindful that the appearances of the greatest aren’t always what they seem.

Are We Full of Self-Righteousness? (TMF:2002)

Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Peace to Live By: Are We Full of Self-Righteousness? (TMF:2002) - Daniel Litton
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       Remember what Jesus said on one occasion: he said, “the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16, ESV). It can be easy to forget this important truth. One of the concepts behind Jesus’ parable there in Matthew chapter 20 is that it doesn’t matter how much we have worked—how much we have done, as pertains to arriving at, getting into, the kingdom of Heaven. The guys who only worked one hour get in, along with the guys who worked all day. What is behind the outcry of the people who’ve been there all day? Easy enough, it is pride. It is self-righteousness. It is the belief that, “We are better than you because we have worked all day. We have spend our whole lives keeping the commandments and doing good works. Yes, we are superior.” Notice that God doesn’t see things this way. As a matter of fact, Jesus said on another occasion those with that kind of attitude will what? They will get less. So, those of us who are self-righteous better wake-up.

What is Proceeding from Our Hearts? (TMF:2001)

Monday, January 09, 2023
Peace to Live By: What is Proceeding from Our Hearts? (TMF:2001) - Daniel Litton
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       We can get all caught up in who we want to say is a real Christian versus who we want to try to label as not a real Christian. It’s definitely tempting to go that route. Therein lies self-righteousness, however. The point is that we can know if we are a real Christian by what is proceeding from our hearts. Jesus told us the bad things that can proceed from our hearts. We are familiar with those things. Hopefully, we have been giving up control of those bad thoughts, which is begetting better and better actions in our lives. When we surrender those bad thoughts, we gain victory over them. But, as we evaluate our own behaviors, do we see genuine good coming from ourselves? Be honest, and definitely don’t be too hard on yourself. Honestly look at your own outward actions. Do good things come from your heart toward others? Remember what Jesus said on one occasion: he said, “the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16, ESV). It can be easy to forget this important truth.