peace to live by

Rooted in Christ, Part 1 (TMF:2635)

Friday, June 13, 2025
Peace to Live By: Rooted in Christ, Part 1 (TMF:2635) - Daniel Litton
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       Real life changing truth is found in aligning with the truth of the Jewish God, rather than some other lesser known god. Interestingly enough, Paul doesn’t leave us empty handed, and we probably didn’t expect that he would. Verse 7: “so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught” (ESV). Given to us, then, are basically three pointers about walking in Christ, and two of which we will talk about first because they go hand-in-hand. Let us note the first one” “rooted… in him.” What does it mean to be rooted in Christ? Let’s consider the visual. Roots going into the ground. Think of roots of a tree, for instance. We know that the roots of the tree travel down into the ground to give that tree a firm standing, a ‘firm foundation.’ Ah, there it is. It’s what we’ve already been talking about. The roots allow the tree to stand up in general, and then against the elements of the world. They allow of the tree to take its place in the world.

Being True Friends of Christ, Part 2 (TMF:2634)

Thursday, June 12, 2025
Peace to Live By: Being True Friends of Christ, Part 2 (TMF:2634) - Daniel Litton
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       It could be viewed that walking in Christ is good because it saves a person from Hell—and it appeases God’s anger versus a person walking in sin. That’s one way to look at it. Or, it could rather be viewed that walking in Christ is the best way to walk for multiple reasons. One, we could note that being in Christ’s consciousness is the foundation of love, of love. For sure. That’s what we find in and around Christ. “For God so loved the world…” John tells us. Or, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” the Golden Rule. Or, that which we just read, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” Yes, in and around Christ is found love. Pretty good foundation then. Or, we could say that walking in Christ saves us from the struggles, the hardships, that practicing sin brings into people’s lives. It’s easier to marry once, rather than twice. Things work out better, way better, when a person doesn’t steal.

Being True Friends of Christ, Part 1 (TMF:2633)

Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Peace to Live By: Being True Friends of Christ, Part 1 (TMF:2633) - Daniel Litton
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       There in John 15, verse 14 says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (ESV). It often seems we read this verse as if it's an obligation. We read it like Jesus is saying, “I will count you as my friends if you do what I say—and you’d better do it or else!” That, however, seems to miss the point. It seems better understood when the underlying tone is just a statement of fact. That is how we will know we are friends, if we do what it is that he has commanded us. That’s how the world will know. Otherwise, and it seems commonsensical, what’s the point? Why would one call themselves a Christian, a Christ follower, and not do anything which the Bible says to do? Indeed, this leads to the despair and criticism that certain folks have over Christianity, in seeing those who are supposed to be different, supposed to be better than world, supposed to be sin-free, acting like the rest of the world. This becomes the problem.

Life's Origin Back to Christ, Part 2 (TMF:2632)

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Peace to Live By: Life's Origin Back to Christ, Part 2 (TMF:2632) - Daniel Litton
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       All life stems its origin back to Christ—it was from him it came. John 1:2 "He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (ESV). And, verse 17 from Colossians 1: “in him all things hold together” (ESV). All of this is the basis as to why Christ is the path that should be chosen, the path among all the paths, the path above all the rest. The mystery Paul alluded to is summed up in the verse, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, ESV). Also understood in reading the “Greater Love” verse, is what comes right after it. There in John 15, verse 14 says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (ESV). It often seems we read this verse as if its an obligation. We read it like Jesus is saying, “I will count you as my friends if you do what I say—and you’d better do it or else!” That, however, seems to miss the point.

Life's Origin Back to Christ, Part 1 (TMF:2631)

Monday, June 09, 2025
Peace to Live By: Life's Origin Back to Christ, Part 1 (TMF:2631) - Daniel Litton
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       Colossians 2, starting in verse 6: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (ESV). We discussed last time the fact that in Christ are “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Wisdom and knowledge. That was the emphasis of the our last paragraph, which was the first paragraph of Colossians 2. That being the case, that explains why the “Therefore” is present in this verse—because it is telling us why we should “walk in him,” walk in Christ. Christ is our bedrock, our foundation. And what a wonderful foundation he is, because really that is the essence of life. All life stems its origin back to Christ—it was from him it came. John 1:2 "He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (ESV). And, verse 17 from Colossians 1: “in him all things hold together” (ESV).

Satan's Working Against the Church (TMF:2630)

Friday, June 06, 2025
Peace to Live By: Satan's Working Against the Church (TMF:2630) - Daniel Litton
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       But it also comes from warning. That also was part of Paul’s job, and with the great threat that was present, it is necessary. That’s also part of the minister’s job, whether he likes it or not. Satan has power, and he seeks to use that power against the church. And he seeks to use that power to prevent people from even believing in the message of the cross, from believing in Christ’s death and resurrection from the dead, in his payment for people’s sins. That’s Satan’s greatest victory, right, when he can do that? Unfortunately so. But really, at the end of the day, for the hearer—for the one who actually gets to hear the message, it is his or her choice. It’s one’s choice whether to believe in the Gospel message or not, whether to join in the church in having that firmness of faith in Christ.” Anyone can have it. Anyone can decide to build their house on the rock instead of the sand. That’s the beautiful thing. It’s never too late. One can start right now.

Good Order in the Church, Part 2 (TMF:2629)

Thursday, June 05, 2025
Peace to Live By: Good Order in the Church, Part 2 (TMF:2629) - Daniel Litton
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       Good order among the members. That that which is being taught is actually being followed. That lives are being helped. That they are being improved. That there is a closer relationship with God among each of the members. This is what the minister wants. This is certainly what Paul, Timothy, and Epaphras wanted. And there is also that “firmness of faith” which Paul mentioned. A firmness of faith among the body of believers. Faith comes in proclaiming what is good. There’s no doubt about that; we understand that. That’s what Paul spent the majority of his time doing. But it also comes from warning, like was discussed in chapter 1, and from dispelling that which isn’t true, like was talked about today. That also was part of Paul’s job, and with the great threat that was present, and still is present, it is necessary. That’s also part of the minister’s job, whether he likes it or not. Satan has power, and he seeks to use that power against the church.

Good Order in the Church, Part 1 (TMF:2628)

Wednesday, June 04, 2025
Peace to Live By: Good Order in the Church, Part 1 (TMF:2628) - Daniel Litton
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       Good order is necessary for success; that seems so obvious. Yet, people often go against order and still try to be successful. It seems so unreasonable to try that and yet people do it. They do it all the time. Yet, what Epaphras has laid out for his group of believers (remember Epaphras was the founder of the church), what he has laid out, which could have come from Paul’s ministry, for we aren’t really sure, but wherever he originally got his information, his church order information, the church seems to be headed down a good path. And Paul desires to see this. It’s what every minister of a church desire to see—good order among the members. That that which is being taught is actually being followed. That lives are being helped. That they are being improved. That there is a closer relationship with God among each of the members. This is what the minister wants. This is certainly what Paul, Timothy, and Epaphras wanted.

Paul's Prayers for the Church (TMF2627)

Tuesday, June 03, 2025
Peace to Live By: Paul's Prayers for the Church (TMF2627) - Daniel Litton
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       It certainly is true that the commonness shared, that of being serious about the Christian life had caused a mutual connection that was from the heart. That's what it looks like Paul is referring to among the church. And though he had never met this group of believers, the Colossians, he loved from afar, a love that was based on that shared commonness. And as he discussed in chapter 1, he prayed for the them. What better way could there be to connect to someone, or a group of people “in spirit,” right? Especially when we believe that our prayers are having a direct impact, actually making a difference which will materialize in the physical realm. Undoubtedly, what Paul wanted to see with his eyes when he got out of prison was the tangible results of his prayers. Again, he says, “rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” This good order and firmness of faith would definitely be helped along by these prayers.

Paul's Hope for the Church (TMF:2626)

Monday, June 02, 2025
Peace to Live By: Paul's Hope for the Church (TMF:2626) - Daniel Litton
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       The presence of negative thinking comes for a spirit that lacks hope—one of which doesn’t see much good happening in the future. And yet, Paul in his unfortunate circumstances, even those which were directly caused by Satan himself, still retained hope. And even though he couldn’t be with the Colossians on the physical level, yet he had them in his heart and on his mind. We are familiar with this. We are aware of what it is like to be away from a person, the family, or a group of individuals, like a church, and still wish to be with them. In fact, this was the experience when departing from the church that was afore to mentioned, the Amish-Mennonite church. After getting to know the church members more and more, and various individuals on a more personal level, it was difficult. Lots of quality time had been spent eating at their homes, spending one on one time with friends, and the like. It certainly is true that the commonness shared, that of being serious about the Christian life had caused a mutual connection that was from the heart.