28 May 2023
Two-Minute Features | 04 June 2023 | 21 May 2023

The World's Operation vs. Our Own, Part 2 (TMF:2105)

Friday, June 02, 2023
Peace to Live By: The World's Operation vs. Our Own, Part 2 (TMF:2105) - Daniel Litton
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       Yes, I would say the main channel by which the world operates is off of working hard to achieve what one wants. Psychologists commonly call this the ‘Protestant Work Ethic’ or ‘Protestant Ethic Virtues.’ The problem is that even though this is the way that a lot of our society is set up, and even though a lot of people follow this path of working hard, it’s not the way God works. It’s being a friend of the world’s self-righteous system. The higher we are on the levels of consciousness, the higher God’s power flows in our lives, and good things naturally occur. Life flows with ease and comfort. As I stated at the beginning of our study, this is because we are no longer going against the current of the river but with the current. God’s grace toward us depends on how we view him. Certainly, there are all kinds of ‘external’ ways we can be a friend of the world and then find ourselves an enemy of God. We can have bad thoughts toward our brothers or sisters, be angry with them, be jealous of them, compare ourselves incessantly with them on Facebook.

The World's Operation vs. Our Own, Part 1 (TMF:2104)

Thursday, June 01, 2023
Peace to Live By: The World's Operation vs. Our Own, Part 1 (TMF:2104) - Daniel Litton
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       James also says that by being this way, we are being like the world, and thus becoming a friend with the world. We are acting like people who were never saved in the first place. So, we become like those who are not in proper relationship with God, and God doesn’t like that. We know that James is telling us to avoid the bad things of the world. The world, in and of itself, as God has made it, is very good, as Moses tells us in Genesis chapter 1. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a wonderful world. We also know that the people made in God’s image, which is every human, are also good, again, as Moses tells us. So, what is the problem? We are aware that there’s this thing called ‘sin.’ Sin is doing things in a different way from the way God wants them done. Therefore, when we choose to make major life decisions, take positions, go in particular ways, any of those things that aren’t approved by God are going after the ‘world.’ It is going about life without reverence to what God desires from us.

Giving Up the Strong Desire for Something, Part 2 (TMF:2103)

Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Peace to Live By: Giving Up the Strong Desire for Something, Part 2 (TMF:2103) - Daniel Litton
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       Yes, we have to give up the desire and by okay with whatever happens. This is the best way of achieving what we want in life. Next, we read: “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4, ESV). When we have passions and desires that are too strong, we are busting up the commandments of God. First of all, we are in violation of the first commandment, recall, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, ESV). Second of all, we are breaking the tenth commandment, “You shall not covet” (Exodus 20:17, ESV). But James also says here that we are violating number seven, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14, ESV). And depending upon what are request is, we may be violating even more. The point is, is that we are really messing up with our strong passion and desire.

Giving Up the Strong Desire for Something, Part 1 (TMF:2102)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Peace to Live By: Giving Up the Strong Desire for Something, Part 1 (TMF:2102) - Daniel Litton
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       The fear is, is that we think that by giving up the passion, giving up the strong desire, that we will prevent ourselves from getting that which we want. But if you stop and think about it, that really doesn’t make sense. How does desiring something strongly get us what we want? It cannot. Have you ever noticed that very successful people, whether they have a beautiful lady or a good career, have you noticed what they lack? A lot of times they lack the strong desire. By not having that inner passion, they can identify what they want and then get it because they don’t get in their own way. Let me take an obvious example that we all know. We know that a lot of times at the end of a football game, a kicker is called upon to make that winning field goal. What happens? If he wants to make the kick too badly, he ices himself. However, if he plays it like a normal kick, with little pressure, what happens? Usually he makes it.

Strong Desires for Ourselves & Others, Part 4 (TMF:2101)

Monday, May 29, 2023
Peace to Live By: Strong Desires for Ourselves & Others, Part 4 (TMF:2101) - Daniel Litton
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       You don’t want to be controlled, do you? Well, God doesn’t want to be controlled either, and when we have strong emotions about something, God doesn’t feel free. The same is true for the person who wants to advance in their career. We say, “God, please help me to get this position at work. It would really advance me up the ladder. I really want you to do this.” However, our proper response should be, “Well, if God does it, I will be happy. And if he doesn’t, I will still be happy.” That’s giving up the attachment of wanting the new position. This frees up God to help us if he decides to. The other way, by wanting it too much, in doing that we are cutting off God’s power. Even if we do end up with the job, it will have been obtained through unnecessary struggle and sacrifice, by doing things we didn’t have to do in order to get. When we use our own power, things are hard. When we allow God to work on our behalf, things are easy. Remember, Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30, ESV).