peace to live by

Being Steadfast in Prayer, Part 2 (TMF:2860)

Friday, April 24, 2026
Peace to Live By: Being Steadfast in Prayer, Part 2 (TMF:2860) - Daniel Litton
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       It has been discussed in the past how a good mental state to be in is one of which one is in continual conversation with God. That’s because that kind of mindset can make it more difficult for us to sin. Think about it, It’s harder to sin if you are constantly keeping God in the forefront of the mind. But our verse today doesn’t necessarily mean we always have to be talking with God, every moment of the day. It simply means that we need to keep supplication to God as a priority, and not come to the conclusion that it really doesn’t matter whether we pray or not, that it really doesn’t affect much. Now let’s read the verse in full: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2, ESV). We see in the second part of the verse that there is a watchfulness that is supposed to take place from us. And interestingly enough, if going through various Bible translations, trying to gain further insight wondering what this might mean, we find that the translators are kind of divided.

Being Steadfast in Prayer, Part 1 (TMF:2859)

Thursday, April 23, 2026
Peace to Live By: Being Steadfast in Prayer, Part 1 (TMF:2859) - Daniel Litton
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       Colossians chapter 4, starting in verse 2. We pick up today with a study on the privilege of prayer—on the ability to bring things to God and have him hear us. Verse 2 states: “Continue steadfastly in prayer” (ESV). Our sentence begins with the word “Continue.” “Continue.” Paul certainly was aware, and certainly had been expecting, that the Colossian believers were faithful when it came to prayer—the practice of prayer. And so, they are instructed to “Continue steadfastly in prayer.” Coming to mind, as it probably is for many of us, is the scene of the early church at the beginning of Acts, where it says regarding the original Eleven Apostles, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 1:14, ESV). What we are looking at is a continual, steadfast process, one in which there is devotion. It has been discussed in the past how a good mental state to be in is one of which one is in continual conversation with God.

Earthly Possessions vs. Eternal Rewards (TMF:2858)

Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Peace to Live By: Earthly Possessions vs. Eternal Rewards (TMF:2858) - Daniel Litton
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       Whatever our earthly condition, all of us “are serving the Lord Christ,” as Paul stated. And he talks about Heavenly rewards in the passage, which is shifting our focus toward the life after this one, to those rewards that all of us will hopefully receive to some degree by our obedience to God here on the earth as we live out our lives. Important stuff. It appears often times we lose sight of this in our modern times. We are often so focused on what we can get in this life. We hear the phrase, “You only live once,” and even the speaker has said it to others at times. While that is true, it can, if we are not careful, imply that all that really matters is what we get out of this world. The implication can be that, “We better get all we can in the here and now because we won’t be coming this way again.” Paul presents us with a different perspective, a different view, the view that the good things that we do now accrue for us eternal rewards which we aren’t going to lose.

Paul & The Issue of Slavery, Part 2 (TMF2857)

Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Peace to Live By: Paul & The Issue of Slavery, Part 2 (TMF2857) - Daniel Litton
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       The Spirit of God address slaves here since, undoubtedly, there were enslaved people who had believed in the Gospel and thus were part of the body of believers. The Apostle says elsewhere that in the body of Christ there is not distinction on whether one is enslaved in the earthly sense or not when it comes to one’s position in the church (see Galatians 3:28 for example). All were considered equal. Paul would also encourage elsewhere for slaves to become free if given the opportunity (see 1 Corinthians 7:21). Regardless, people in this bondage need also to act in ways which were proper the be a follower of Jesus, and thus Paul lays out his prescription. And the foundation of that is that slaves were to obey those who ruled over them (those who owned them) in everything. This certainly would not have included anything that was against the New Testament, against God, anything that was sin. Peter had said in Acts that man should be obeyed unless it contradicts what God wants, in essence.

Paul & The Issue of Slavery, Part 1 (TMF2856)

Monday, April 20, 2026
Peace to Live By: Paul & The Issue of Slavery, Part 1 (TMF2856) - Daniel Litton
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       “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven” (ESV). First, let’s point out the common observation that is made when coming to this passage that Paul did not confront the issue of slavery when talking to the church. That wouldn’t have been conducive for the time, as God didn’t send him to abolish slavery in the physical sense, though, through his message spiritual slavery was abolished in anyone who believed, regardless of earthly conditions. The Spirit of God address slaves here since, undoubtedly, there were enslaved people who had believed in the Gospel.

Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 4 (TMF:2855)

Friday, April 17, 2026
Peace to Live By: Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 4 (TMF:2855) - Daniel Litton
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       But another way to tell if the father has been too overbearing, it has been personally observed, is that generally the male children will sometimes bully peers or siblings. This is unfortunate, and when it is seen, it is often also noticed that the father appears to be strict. Certainly, there would be others reasons that bullying by children could occur. And one more thing on this subject, it can be quickly noted that just as earthly fathers should not provoke their children, this would also mean that God does not provoke us, as his children. Some Christians feel God is strict, and constantly correcting them, but this verse goes to show us that isn’t the case. If one believes in internal promptings from the Holy Spirit, this would also mean that the Holy Spirit does not constantly correct with internal promptings or even external signs. These would be feelings generated by the old-self, and that old-self can lead people to believe God is correcting them constantly when he isn’t.

Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 3 (TMF:2854)

Thursday, April 16, 2026
Peace to Live By: Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 3 (TMF:2854) - Daniel Litton
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       This seems to happen more often in a stricter church, where the father is strict. But again, it seems to be becoming less common in our current time. Also, it can happen when the father is over-ambitious in that he wants his kid to be the best, say, in a certain sport. Probably more common for us to understand. Whatever the reason for this kind of attitude on the part of the father, it is Biblically incorrect. And it has always boggled the mind that in stricter churches fathers have justified their strict upbringing of their children. Of course, it depends on one’s view of strictness in what one allows for their children. But another way to tell if the father has been too overbearing, it has been personally observed, is that generally the male children will sometimes bully peers or siblings. This is unfortunate, and when it is seen, it is often also noticed that the father appears to be strict. Certainly, there would be others reasons that bullying by children could occur.

Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 2 (TMF:2853)

Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Peace to Live By: Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 2 (TMF:2853) - Daniel Litton
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       What is meant is that generally the struggle in our day and age is the reverse, in that fathers are too lenient on their children. That is, they sometimes don’t discipline them enough, so that children become not as structured as they should be or could be. This has been the observation made in many instances. Obviously, this would be a result of fathers themselves not being disciplined, or caring too much about themselves that they don’t pay enough attention to their children. Of course, if the father is absent, that puts the burden on the mother for all the discipline that is needed. What happens when the fathers are unreasonably strict on their kids? The observation has been that generally the kids become rebellious as they get older, and sometimes this rebelliousness is in secret. This seems to happen more often in a stricter church, where the father is strict. But again, it seems to be becoming less common in our current time.

Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 1 (TMF:2852)

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Peace to Live By: Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 1 (TMF:2852) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 21 of Colossians 3: “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (ESV). The call from the Apostle Paul in this verse is for fathers (and really, this could be said for mothers as well), not to be excessively hard on their children. We know, or should know by now, that being unreasonably hard on children causes them to not want to try anymore. It appears, in our current time, that generally it doesn’t seem this is so much of a problem in our society. It definitely used to be, say anywhere from thirty years ago on back, but in the same way as the marital relationship has undergone renovations in many individuals minds, so has the parental relationship. What is meant is that generally the struggle in our day and age is the reverse, in that fathers are too lenient on their children. That is, they sometimes don’t discipline them enough, so that children become not as structured as they should be or could be. This has been the observation made in many instances.

Children Obeying their Parents, Part 4 (TMF:2851)

Monday, April 13, 2026
Peace to Live By: Children Obeying their Parents, Part 4 (TMF:2851) - Daniel Litton
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       Let’s imagine for example that God showed up at your house one day, and he asked you, the child, how things were going. What are you going to say? “Well, my parents are just too overbearing. My dad makes me help cut the grass on Saturday mornings, and he doesn’t even pay me a fair amount. Sometimes he won’t let me go hang out with friends because he says there is work to do around the house. Then, on top of that, during the week my mom makes me sometimes spend two hours on my homework, not just one.” What do you think God would say to that? Aren’t they giving you everything you need to live? Don’t they sometimes let you see your friends? Isn’t your schoolwork important? Don’t you think you should do what they say? Suppose God asks another child what he thinks. Suppose that child responds, “Well, my parents really are fair to me. My dad only asks me to help him Saturday mornings, which isn’t even that much. He even pays me for what I do. Then, my mom helps me with my homework, and usually I don’t have to work on it that long, maybe an hour a night.” Which child do you think God will be happy with?