05 July 2026

Not Just for Ourselves, But Others Part 2 (TMF:2915)

Friday, July 10, 2026

Peace to Live By: Not Just for Ourselves, But Others Part 2 (TMF:2915) - Daniel Litton
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But it must be doing something if Epaphras spends so much time at it. That’s what Paul has witnessed anyway, and has partaken in himself. And we note that Epaphras wasn’t only spending time in prayer for his own church, but also for the churches in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. We haven’t even likely heard of this second church. But it’s interesting to note that, even though he wasn’t the pastor of these churches, that he nonetheless prayed for the believers at the churches in those cities. It rings in the verse that Paul spoke to the Philippians believers, when he stated, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4, ESV). That’s interesting; that’s interesting. To show interest not only for what we want but also for the wants of others. That truly is self-less. Thus, it’s time well spent, paying tremendous dividends, and still yet if we don’t directly see them.

Not Just for Ourselves, But Others Part 1 (TMF:2914)

Thursday, July 09, 2026

Peace to Live By: Not Just for Ourselves, But Others Part 1 (TMF:2914) - Daniel Litton
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Paul continues. Verse 13: “For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis” (ESV). The same language that Paul had used of himself in the beginning of Colossians 2, he now expounds upon in referring to Epaphras. Again, the insinuation is that of prayer—that it is concretely prayer which is the “hard work” being undertaken. Probably pretty foreign to us, in twenty-first century America. It doesn’t appear that many of us spend so much time in prayer that we would call it “hard work.” Perhaps there are a few noble souls out there who really do effort in prayer a great deal. But it must be doing something if Epaphras spends so much time at it. That’s what Paul has witnessed anyway, and has partaken in himself. And we note that Epaphras wasn’t only spending time in prayer for his own church, but also for the churches in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. We haven’t even likely heard of this second church.

Needing that Assurance, Part 2 (TMF:2913)

Wednesday, July 08, 2026

Peace to Live By: Needing that Assurance, Part 2 (TMF:2913) - Daniel Litton
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All of us have a sin-nature, and all of us could live following that sin-nature. A lot of us used to live that way. And not to mention that the people of the world have even justified that way of living, the way of following the sin-nature, by taking God out of things. The Creation account is rejected and replaced with the theory of Evolution. If everyone has evolved, it is believed, then there really isn’t any right or wrong. We’re all simply animals living on a planet spinning through space, going nowhere really. If that’s the mindset, then what we do doesn’t matter. Epaphras wants his church members on the right track. Paul continues. Verse 13: “For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis” (ESV). The same language that Paul had used of himself in the beginning of Colossians 2, he now expounds upon in referring to Epaphras.

Needing that Assurance, Part 1 (TMF:2912)

Tuesday, July 07, 2026

Peace to Live By: Needing that Assurance, Part 1 (TMF:2912) - Daniel Litton
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Everyone needs that from time to time, that of assurance. Assurance that we are going in the right direction. Assurance that what we particularly believe is the actual truth. There is a lot of competition these days, unfortunately, to the truth. Other avenues are presented before us as alternatives, as different ways we could go instead of following what God has told us. That’s, again, why Paul spent so much time in chapter 3 going over maturity of character. The world has its ways, ways of usually just following impulses within the flesh without regard to any aspect of holiness. All of us have a sin-nature, and all of us could live following that sin-nature. A lot of us used to live that way. And not to mention that the people of the world have even justified that way of living, the way of following the sin-nature, by taking God out of things.

The Impact of Prayer on People, Part 2 (TMF:2911)

Monday, July 06, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Impact of Prayer on People, Part 2 (TMF:2911) - Daniel Litton
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If people really believed that prayer made a difference, wouldn’t they pray regarding more things? Epaphras obviously believed that prayer indeed made a difference, that God was persuaded by his prayers, and that’s why he spent so much time actually praying. We only know what the answers are that we see with our eyes, but what many answers are there that we don’t see with our eyes? What if it is that God saves us from bad circumstances we never even know of from our prayers? What if a lot of prayer we don’t believe is being answered, but in reality, it truly is. We merely don’t see the answers. Anyway, taking all this roundabout back to what Paul said, he finished the verse here after talking about the Colossians maturity and went on to talking about the assurance in the will of God. Everyone needs that from time to time, that of assurance. Assurance that we are going in the right direction. Assurance that what we particularly believe is the actual truth.