Understanding Christian Growth, Part 3 (TMF:2790)

Friday, January 16, 2026

Peace to Live By: Understanding Christian Growth, Part 3 (TMF:2790) - Daniel Litton
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Peter has said in his epistle, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter, 2:2, ESV). Therefore, when we become saved, we are like newborn infants in regard to the understanding of spiritual things, in regard to the understanding of the Bible. And thus, we learn, learn, and learn, more and more regarding Biblical things, and we grow in knowledge. This spiritual milk causes us to grow, and then eventually, after a long time, we get into the spiritual meat. Peter didn’t even talk about that. But that seems to be a fair assessment. Going back to what Paul told the Colossians, the knowledge, as we learn it, actually renews us day after day into being in the image of our Creator, into the image of God, into the image of Christ. We are called Christ-ians, so we should resemble Christ in some manner, right?

Understanding Christian Growth, Part 2 (TMF:2789)

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Peace to Live By: Understanding Christian Growth, Part 2 (TMF:2789) - Daniel Litton
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Students learn knowledge in school by going through the grades. In first grade, they are taught this or that, and then in third grade something else, and then in fifth grade still something else. It all builds upon what was previously learned. Generally grade-schoolers aren’t put through suffering to get them to grow, but they are taught. Now, they may see it as suffering, but hopefully not. In the same way, God doesn’t want and desire for us to suffer. He will use suffering if it comes along to cause us to grow, but he doesn’t want it for us. Sometimes we may willingly put ourselves through unpleasant things in order to grow, but generally learning knowledge doesn’t include a whole lot of suffering, at least physically. Peter has said in his epistle, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter, 2:2, ESV). Therefore, when we become saved, we are like newborn infants in regard to the understanding of spiritual things.

Understanding Christian Growth, Part 1 (TMF:2788)

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Peace to Live By: Understanding Christian Growth, Part 1 (TMF:2788) - Daniel Litton
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Going to verse 10, and reading part of verse 9 again, “seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (9, 10, ESV). The idea, then, we have come to, has the appearance of growth. Christian growth. And this growth we are talking about isn’t something that is to be dreaded. That’s often the feeling that comes on the inside. That feeling of dread. The feeling, “Oh, God is going to put me through this or that to get me to grow. He’s going to cause hard times in my life.” However, that doesn’t seem to really be the picture. Think about it. Paul used the word “knowledge” in our verse. Students learn knowledge in school by going through the grades. In first grade, they are taught this or that, and then in third grade something else, and then in fifth grade still something else. It all builds upon what was previously learned. Generally grade-schoolers aren’t put through suffering to get them to grow, but they are taught.

The Problem of Lying, Part 2 (TMF:2787)

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Problem of Lying, Part 2 (TMF:2787) - Daniel Litton
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Lying is what Satan did when he deceived Eve in the Garden. It’s almost as if lying is what signifies being in the old self versus the new self. The personal experience was right after becoming converted, lying was one the first things to go. It is so freeing not to lie, to not be bound by the slavery that lying produces. When we lie, it creates a domino effect where it becomes apparent that one lie leads to another lie. If a person tells a fib, they have to back that fib up with another fib. It creates a big mess. It’s amazing how much trouble can be avoided by just telling the truth from the get-go. Yeah, depending on the situation, it may sting for a moment, but then it is over. However, when we lie, we escape the initial sting, but then set ourselves up for a much bigger sting later. Besides, folks won’t trust us if we have a reputation of lying.

The Problem of Lying, Part 1 (TMF:2786)

Monday, January 12, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Problem of Lying, Part 1 (TMF:2786) - Daniel Litton
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Verse 9: “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self” (ESV). It is interesting how Paul separates lying as the final sin on his lists. He singles it out. The mind is definitely wondering why that would be the case. Remember, Paul told Titus that God never lies (Titus 1:2). In contrast, Jesus stated in reference to Satan, “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44c, ESV). In essence, and again violating a Ten Commandment, we are becoming more like Satan instead of God. Lying is what Satan did when he deceived Eve in the Garden. It’s almost as if lying is what signifies being in the old self versus the new self. The personal experience was right after becoming converted, lying was one the first things to go. It is so freeing not to lie.