06 April 2025

The Freedom of Ministers & Missionaries, Part 2 (TMF:2590)

Friday, April 11, 2025

Peace to Live By: The Freedom of Ministers & Missionaries, Part 2 (TMF:2590) - Daniel Litton
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Ministers and missionaries are more free than they a lot of times realize. Free to make good choices which will benefit the kingdom of God—good choices on where to lead, and even what to focus on. If God has put a person in that position to begin with, he trusts them. This idea of stewardship seems to be understood among us, as Americans, easily when thinking of, like corporations, or even sports teams, for instance. With a cooperation, a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is entrusted with making good and wise business choices. He or she oftentimes doesn’t even need to consult others when making those choices. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they don’t. Coming to mind, in keeping corporations in focus, and using a specific example here, was when Steve Jobs, of Apple Inc, was handing off the reigns to Tim Cook. Steve trusted Tim from working with him over the years, and he knew he would lead Apple well. And that puts Apple in Tim’s hands, so that he makes the decisions to best lead the company.

The Freedom of Ministers & Missionaries, Part 1 (TMF:2589)

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Peace to Live By: The Freedom of Ministers & Missionaries, Part 1 (TMF:2589) - Daniel Litton
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“…[F]or the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known” (Colossians 1:24, ESV). It is interesting how Paul calls himself a minister of the church. We often think of him as a missionary, and rightfully so, for he even mentions that in saying “to make the word of God fully known.” (Word of God representing the Gospel rather than the Bible as might come to our minds here in the twenty-first century when hearing that phrase). Paul then is both—a minister and a missionary. What is of key focus is what he says this calling from God means, and that he has been entrusted with the job. He has a stewardship. That invariably implies that God is not meticulously controlling Paul, as might be presumed. Rather, Paul has been entrusted with the work. It implies freedom. Ministers and missionaries are more free than they a lot of times realize. Free to make good choices which will benefit the kingdom of God—good choices on where to lead, and even what to focus on.

Paul Under Persecution, Part 2 (TMF:2588)

Wednesday, April 09, 2025

Peace to Live By: Paul Under Persecution, Part 2 (TMF:2588) - Daniel Litton
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And so, killing Jesus off wasn’t enough for these leaders, who we know as the Scribes and Pharisees, the teachers of the Law (that is, the Jewish Law). They were the original offenders, and they came after the church. Remember, Paul himself, as Saul, was one of them. Paul said of himself on one occasion, “as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church” (Philippians 3:5, 6, ESV). So, in writing to the Colossians, Paul is referring to his current imprisonment in Rome. He was currently under persecution for the Gospel’s sake. The Jews themselves oftentimes led secular leaders to persecute the church, which really needs no explanation. And we know that secular people had opposed Paul as well, like when he was in Ephesus and the idolmakers came against him (see Acts 19). But the overarching point Paul is trying to make is that it wasn’t enough for everyone to take Jesus out, but now, just like he had been himself, they were focusing on his followers.

Paul Under Persecution, Part 1 (TMF:2587)

Tuesday, April 08, 2025

Peace to Live By: Paul Under Persecution, Part 1 (TMF:2587) - Daniel Litton
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There were those who hated Jesus, mainly the leaders of his day, because really, they were jealous. He was stealing their worldly glory. The crowds were going after Jesus instead of going after them. Perhaps their teachings, which had been that which the crowds followed, those teachings were no longer the ‘thing.’ There were new teachings, as it was perceived, and the new teachings were doing-in the old. And we could say this revealed the Jewish leaders’s true hearts, that they were selfish and prideful. Jealously was just the surface emotion that lead back to deeper problems. And so, killing Jesus off wasn’t enough for these leaders, who we know as the Scribes and Pharisees, the teachers of the Law (that is, the Jewish Law). They were the original offenders, and they came after the church. Remember, Paul himself, as Saul, was one of them. Paul said of himself on one occasion, “as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church” (Philippians 3:5, 6, ESV).

Personal Problems vs. Gospel Problems (TMF:2586)

Monday, April 07, 2025

Peace to Live By: Personal Problems vs. Gospel Problems (TMF:2586) - Daniel Litton
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To put it another way, he would say to the Corinthians, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18, ESV). Thus, we need to be mindful to distinguish between personal problems and Gospel problems. Continuing in the verse; “and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” Paul brings Christ into the picture here. Christ—remember—the great healer of the problems of the world. The one who went round and round the various parts of Israel alleviating personal suffering. Yet, he himself would suffer for his ministry of reliving suffering. How ironic. But, certainly, there was more to it than that.