26 July 2020
Two-Minute Features | 02 August 2020 | 19 July 2020

Being Kind & Forgiving Instead, Part 2 (TMF:1425)

Friday, July 31, 2020
Peace to Live By: Being Kind & Forgiving Instead, Part 2 (TMF:1425) - Daniel Litton
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       We can conclude then that Jesus is talking about how unbelievers treat us, for he says, “Do not resist the one who is evil.” Wherefore, let’s look at the first example here from our Lord. He says that we are to turn the other check, as the expression goes. The slapping on the cheek by the person who is evil could be manifested in a variety of ways. Perhaps someone says something against us to our face, insults us, hurts our feelings, or even teases us in front of others. The point is that we are not to retaliate to the person at all. Not with an equal repayment, and not even with a lesser reaction. We are to forgive the person, even if we feel hurt. Turning the other check in response to the offense doesn’t mean we ask the person to hurt us more. It just means we don’t show any retaliation. As a matter of fact, the Apostle Paul told us we are to do good to others who hurt us, and by doing so we can actually make them feel bad for hurting us. When we do good to others who don’t like us or have hurt us, that can go a long way.

Being Kind & Forgiving Instead, Part 1 (TMF:1424)

Thursday, July 30, 2020
Peace to Live By: Being Kind & Forgiving Instead (TMF:1424) - Daniel Litton
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       In the Old Testament, God had commanded the Israelites many things in how to live and conduct themselves as a nation. One of these things was that they were to repay back a wrong for a wrong committed. This is how their justice system worked. On the other hand, Israelites in one-on-one relationships were never to practice this law individually themselves, as if they were to carry out the force of law as a vigilante. When it came to one-on-one relationships, people were supposed to be kind to one another, and forgiving of each other. Apparently, by what Jesus tells us here, the Scribes and Pharisees had perverted the Jewish law by teaching that people individually should retaliate against each other when wrongs were committed. They had taught that people, on a one-on-one level, should take matters into their own hands. So, Jesus here goes completely against their teaching. We can conclude then that Jesus is talking about how unbelievers treat us, for he says, “Do not resist the one who is evil.”

Should We Repay a Wrong Committed? (TMF:1423)

Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Peace to Live By: Should We Repay a Wrong Committed? (TMF:1423) - Daniel Litton
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       He says it’s not worth going to Hell for all of eternity because a person is unwilling to endure some discomfort in this life, like the loss of practicing a certain sin, or the loss of family members or friends who believe in a different religion. He is telling people that he is worth far more than those things. Now, for the third hard saying. Jesus says in Matthew 5:38-42 the following: ”You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you” (ESV). In the Old Testament, God had commanded the Israelites many things in how to live and conduct themselves as a nation. One of these things was that they were to repay back a wrong for a wrong committed. This is how their justice system worked.

Rejecting Sin or People to Accept Jesus (TMF:1422)

Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Peace to Live By: Rejecting Sin or People to Accept Jesus (TMF:1422) - Daniel Litton
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       The other way to look at this passage is with unbelievers in mind. In that case, it may be that a particular sin is causing someone from accepting Jesus and becoming a Christian. It could be that a person is involved in some type of sexual immorality, and doesn’t want to acknowledge that that way of life is in fact sin. He or she wants to keep that sin. Or, perhaps a person is involved in another religion, and was even raised in that religion, and accepting Jesus will mean that he or she has to give up that belief system. And, of course, that’s a big deal for the person. A person may not want to take that step of faith and believe he has been in the wrong all of his life. And, to complicate matters, a person would have to go against family members who still believe in the other religion. And the person feels he can’t do that. But Jesus encourages everyone today that they should take that big step in believing in him, and what he says is true, so that they can save their own lives, and accept the truth of the world.

Avoiding Things that Cause Us to Sin (TMF:1421)

Monday, July 27, 2020
Peace to Live By: Avoiding Things that Cause Us to Sin (TMF:1421) - Daniel Litton
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       Therefore, for the believer in Jesus, we can note in the most basis sense that God wants us to avoid anything in our lives that causes us to sin. Sounds pretty simple right? Well, this may be simple on paper, but we can make it hard when applying it in our lives. Really, in reality, it is simple though. So, what are some things that might cause us to sin? Let’s think about some ways this passage might be applied for the believer. For some people, for instance, certain movies might be too much for them, and perhaps lead them to sin. Thus, a person might want to avoid certain movies. Another thing could be music. Or, let’s think a little outside the box. It could be that hanging out with certain groups of people causes you to sin. In that case, you’re going to have to avoid those people. Maybe going to certain stores, or even the mall, is a stumbling block for you because you tend to spend money you don’t have. Whatever it is, if it is a problem for us particularly, we need to avoid those things or people that can cause us to sin.