18 November 2018
Two-Minute Features | 25 November 2018 | 11 November 2018

We are to Think the Best of Everyone (TMF:1025)

Friday, November 23, 2018
Peace to Live By: We are to Think the Best of Everyone (TMF:1025) - Daniel Litton
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       There is time for correction and redirection, but sometimes we just need to put up with, or ignore, other people’s troublesome or bothering traits. When we look at people, we should be focusing on what is good about them, and not just on what we perceive to be wrong, or what actually is wrong with them. This also allows us to display our attitude of humility. By focusing on the good in them, that leaves us no time for the bad. This is what love does. It thinks the best of everyone. If we see something that we feel a person needs to work on, one thing we can do is pray for them and confess good things for them. This will allow God to lead and help them to make whatever change is necessary over time. Our job is not to be a faultfinder in everyone and tell them what they need to correct or do differently. Think of it this way. If you have to correct something in someone, or something they say, every time you go to church or Bible study, then you have a problem of your own that needs corrected.

We Should Not Have Unrealistic Expectations (TMF:1024)

Thursday, November 22, 2018
Peace to Live By: We Should Not Have Unrealistic Expectations (TMF:1024) - Daniel Litton
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       But we have to remember that there is more than one way to do a lot of things, and all lead to the same end result. Your way of doing something may not be the same way another person does something, but either way may be fine in completing the task at hand. When we create unrealistic expectations for other people, it can cause us to become harsh and impatient toward others, thus losing our gentleness toward them. So, the more critical of a mindset a person has, the harder it can become to be gentle toward others. There is time for correction and redirection, but sometimes we just need to put up with, or ignore, other people’s troublesome or bothering traits. When we look at people, we should be focusing on what is good about them, and not just on what we perceive to be wrong, or what actually is wrong with them. This also allows us to display our attitude of humility. By focusing on the good in them, that leaves us no time for the bad. This is what love does. It thinks the best of everyone.

We are to Walk Overall with Gentleness, Part 2 (TMF:1023)

Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Peace to Live By: We are to Walk Overall with Gentleness, Part 2 (TMF:1023) - Daniel Litton
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       Paul told the Ephesians, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3, ESV). There is much that could be said about these verses, but our focus here is on gentleness. God calls us to be gentle toward one another in the body of Christ, and even to be gentle toward people who do not belong to Christ. Really, as Paul noted, humility and gentleness work together; they go hand-in-hand. You have to be humble if you want to be gentle. If you are proud, odds are you are going to show less gentleness toward others. That’s because you believe you are the only one who is right, or you believe that your way of doing something is the only right way of doing it.

We are to Walk Overall with Gentleness, Part 1 (TMF:1022)

Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Peace to Live By: We are to Walk Overall with Gentleness, Part 1 (TMF:1022) - Daniel Litton
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       Most things in our lives are our own responsibility. For example, my personal peace and happiness is my own responsibility; they are attitudes I choose to have based on my own, internal thinking and perspective. It is not the responsibility of other people to give me a peaceful life, or to make me feel happy. These are choices I have to make. Once you realize that, that it’s up to you, that can really change your life. In other words, in regard to our conversation today, you can choose to be gentle toward others regardless of people’s actions or your current circumstances. Paul told the Ephesians, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3, ESV).

God Does Not Provoke Us, But is Gentle (TMF:1021)

Monday, November 19, 2018
Peace to Live By: God Does Not Provoke Us, But is Gentle (TMF:1021) - Daniel Litton
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       So, our next Fruit of the Spirit is gentleness. God is gentle with us as believers; he is not harsh or demanding in his approach to us as his children. The Holy Spirit provides us with gentle correction and direction, as this is one of the benefits to being in right relationship with God. Paul wrote, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21, ESV). And it is no different in God’s relationship with us, as his children. The Spirit of God does not provoke us, or constantly correct us, because if he did, we would definitely become discouraged and may even give up. We might quit trying. He will gently tell us what to do, and it is our responsibility and in our best interest to follow what he tells us. Most things in our lives are our own responsibility. For example, my personal peace and happiness is my own responsibility; they are attitudes I choose to have based on my own, internal thinking and perspective.