18 September 2016
Two-Minute Features | 25 September 2016 | 11 September 2016

Isaiah 53- Jesus Faced the Same Struggles We Do (TMF:500)

Friday, September 23, 2016
Peace to Live By: Isaiah 53- Jesus Faced the Same Struggles We Do (TMF:500) - Daniel Litton
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       As far as our own personal sin goes, we understand that Jesus, in his earthly life, faced the same trials and temptations that we face in our lives, yet he did not falter—he did not go against God. He went through them without sinning, and never sinned at all. His life was perfect before God the Father. So the writer of Hebrews encourages us to feel safe in God's presence when we go to him in prayer because God understands where we are coming from. He totally understands our problems in life, even if it’s not that exact same situation that Jesus went through. He understands it, and he will give us both mercy in forgiving our sins and grace that will help us deal with whatever it is and press forward. Going back to our text in Isaiah, we read continue to read of Jesus, “yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4, ESV). At the time of Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Israelites had surely “esteemed him stricken, smitten by God.” But that wasn’t the beginning of these harsh feelings against Jesus.

Isaiah 53- Jesus Understands our Weaknesses (TMF:499)

Thursday, September 22, 2016
Peace to Live By: Isaiah 53- Jesus Understands our Weaknesses (TMF:499) - Daniel Litton
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       First, let us consider, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4, ESV). So, we start here with a summary, which is a basic understanding of what Jesus has done for us, as people. Jesus even said in the Beatitudes that the mourning person should be happy. That is, the person who mourns over sin—both his or her own sin and how sin has affected the world. But we could also, and I think this gets more at the point, understand this text to be talking about the fact that Jesus can relate to grief and sorrow that we face in our lives. Remember, grief and sorrow in and of themselves are not sinful. Just several verses up we saw that Isaiah called Jesus the “man of sorrows,” for he definitely knew what sorrow was all about in his life. To further understand Jesus’ acquaintance with our griefs and sorrows in this life, let’s consider a couple verses from the Book of Hebrews. The writer of Hebrews penned the following at the end of Hebrews chapter 4: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, ESV).

God Wants & Gives the Best for His Children (TMF:498)

Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Peace to Live By: God Wants & Gives the Best for His Children (TMF:498) - Daniel Litton
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       God isn’t a cosmic killjoy. He wants what is best for his children, and gives rest to anyone who will come into a personal relationship with him. He gives rest and real life now, and sets you up for eternity. He gives eternal life for whoever will believe in him. Great are the promises of God. Great is his power toward those who believe in him! Wonderful is his love for all his children—for those who believe in Him. If you would like to come into a personal relationship with God today, then follow my lead in this simple prayer: God, I have sinned against you and against others in my life. I have not followed a right way of living. Today, I want to give my life to you since you know what is best for me. I do believe that Jesus came to the earth, and that he died on the cross for me, for my sins. I believe he rose from the dead and is now in Heaven with you. I believe you really want to give me a new life, and that you want to show me your goodness. Father, please help me to change, and make me become like Jesus. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Are You Feeling a Change of Heart Toward Jesus? (TMF:497)

Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Peace to Live By: Are You Feeling a Change of Heart Toward Jesus? (TMF:497) - Daniel Litton
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       Perhaps today, in closing, you are one who has rejected the Messiah—who had rejected Jesus. Maybe, though, you are feeling a change of heart. Maybe you don’t want to be on the wrong side anymore. Perhaps you don’t want to be one of the people who rejects Christ, who despises him for the sake of loving this current world. If who I am describing is you, they today I have good news for you. Jesus welcomes you to his side. Indeed, God wants everyone to be on his side, as he wants to be on their side. God showed his love for everyone in the world in that he sent Jesus to the earth, who died on the cross for us—for our sins—and rose from the died so that we can have a new life. Indeed, God freely gives new life, real life, to whoever will believe. He makes each individual who believes in him a new creation, and wipes our sin debts—the things we have done wrong in our lives—he wipes those debts clean. He remembers our sins no more.

Isaiah 53- Jesus Was Sorrowful in His Life, Part 2 (TMF:496)

Monday, September 19, 2016
Peace to Live By: Isaiah 53- Jesus Was Sorrowful in His Life, Part 2 (TMF:496) - Daniel Litton
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       He was sad to see the dramatic and life defying elements of sin. Surely, though, this picture we see hear at the tomb of Lazarus can give us a ‘big picture’ view into the thoughts of Jesus, into his psychology, a man of sorrows. He was one, who like Isaiah said, was “acquainted with grief.” He was already familiar with these feelings. You see, people hide their faces from the Messiah because of what he represents. People despise him because he represents Truth, and they don’t want to be faced with the truth. Jesus showed people their true colors—he showed people the reality and grievous parts of sin, and the grievous effects that sin causes in people’s lives. Many people, though, don’t want to face the truth. They don’t want to face the reality that the way they are living their lives in their current state is wrong. They don’t want to change, for they love their sin. They love the glory that comes from their peers more than the glory that actually comes from God (see John 12:43). And even as Christians, we have to be careful that we don’t fall into these traps.