24 November 2024

Wishing Grace & Peace, Part 2 (TMF:2495)

Friday, November 29, 2024

Peace to Live By: Wishing Grace & Peace, Part 2 (TMF:2495) - Daniel Litton
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So, this grace and peace is something that is granted to those of the body of Christ. It is interesting that Paul picks these two things. One would wonder why he didn’t pick love, for instance, as a primary thing to be received from God. Rather, his calling card is grace and peace. Grace makes sense as it is something that believers always need from God, who, appropriately, is noted as “Father.” Since nobody can be perfect at all times with anything, grace is always needed. It is what completes our characters where they are lacking. If we recall, Jesus told Paul on one occasion “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (see 2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV). This isn’t to say that God wants us to be weak, as Christians, but rather it is the natural state of all of us in our fallen, sin-affected world. Again, it is impossible to be perfect currently in our lives. At times we can conclude, God allows weakness to abound in us instead of victory as really, it is abounding anyway.

Wishing Grace & Peace, Part 1 (TMF:2494)

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Peace to Live By: Wishing Grace & Peace, Part 1 (TMF:2494) - Daniel Litton
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“For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel” (Philippians 2:21, 22, ESV). It was also Timothy to whom Paul chose to write his final letter to, right before he was executed for the faith. That’s how highly Paul thought of Timothy. Colossians 1:2 states, “To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” This is the familiar greeting we see from the Apostle Paul in all of his letters, namely, that of the use of “Grace” and “Peace.” So, this grace and peace is something that is granted to those of the body of Christ. It is interesting that Paul picks these two things. One would wonder why he didn’t pick love, for instance, as a primary thing to be received from God. Rather, his calling card is grace and peace. Grace makes sense as it is something that believers always need from God, who, appropriately, is noted as “Father.”

Timothy Alongside Paul (TMF:2493)

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Peace to Live By: Timothy Alongside Paul (TMF:2493) - Daniel Litton
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Nevertheless, going back to verse 1 of Colossians chapter 1, we read, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother” (1, ESV). The text, at this point, brings Timothy into the picture. It should not be supposed that Timothy was in prison with Paul, but rather that Timothy continued to work alongside Paul even in Paul’s unpleasant and unfortunate circumstances. Indeed, Timothy was faithful to the Gospel message, and wasn’t deterred by what had happened to Paul. We see Paul’s true thoughts on Timothy if we read a portion of Philippians chapter 2. Paul says, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel” (Philippians 2:19-22, ESV).

The Two Primary Heads, Part 2 (TMF:2492)

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Peace to Live By: The Two Primary Heads, Part 2 (TMF:2492) - Daniel Litton
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The will of God for Paul then was to be the apostle to the Gentiles. This is interesting when we come to read his writings because we find that he had a great heart for the Jewish people, as he specifically talks about in Romans chapters 9 through 11. In one view it has been noted, and this as a result from Peter’s friendliness with the Jews who sought to keep Jewish tradition alongside Christianity (remember, Paul rebuked Peter for his actions in Galatians chapter 2), it is supposed that Paul eventually became the primary apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ for both groups, the Jews and the Gentiles. And this would be due to Peter’s failure in doing the work God had set aside for him to do. This would also explain why, when reading the Book of Acts of the Apostles, we see Peter is fazed out about halfway through the book, and Paul afterward becomes the primary focus in the historical account. It would seem that due to Peter’s worldly attraction in keeping his fellow Jews happy, he was lead astray, and under these circumstances God had to adjust his plans and use Paul to reach the Jewish population.

The Two Primary Heads, Part 1 (TMF:2491)

Monday, November 25, 2024

Peace to Live By: The Two Primary Heads, Part 1- Daniel Litton
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We know that God basically chose two men to be the primary heads of the work he sought to accomplish: the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul. Now, Peter was with Jesus during his earthly ministry, all the way from the beginning and all the way through the end. He was there for the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit breathed tongues of fire on him and the other Apostles. He is the Apostle that is called to bring the Gospel to the Jewish people, God’s original chosen people from the Old Testament times. Paul here, he was not with Jesus during his time here on earth. As a matter of fact, Paul would refer to himself as “one untimely born” (see 1 Corinthians 15:8, ESV). That is, he came after the original eleven and then twelve Apostles, or disciples of Jesus. The will of God for Paul then was to be the apostle to the Gentiles. This is interesting when we come to read his writings because we find that he had a great heart for the Jewish people. They were his brothers and sisters in the faith, as he specifically talks about in Romans chapters 9 through 11.