|
Philemon 4-7 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
THE Bible’s message is very clear about our response to receiving God’s gift of eternal life: we are to share the good news with everyone. Paul underscores this reason for the sharing in Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? With love for God and for our neighbors, we must speak God’s wondrous love, “Jesus saves!” This is how the good news has moved throughout history from continent to continent, from heart to heart, to this very moment. Paul gives Philemon another reason for sharing your faith in verse 6: I pray you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. It’s true, isn’t it? When we talk of the people we love, we more deeply experience the love in our hearts. The relationship becomes more real as you tell someone, “I love you.” or you tell another, “My _______ is such a blessing.” Speaking love deepens your own convictions of the relationship. Sharing your faith, offering your testimony of how you love God will deepen your own understanding of God. Speaking the good news brings God’s love to the surface. The words, in effect, move from your mouth to your heart to a world who needs a Savior. You experience more personally the good of the good news. Your faith is more secure and real for you when you speak it. And it becomes more real for others around you. Sharing your faith, you will refresh the hearts of the saints as others in the church also begin to see more deeply, “Jesus saves!” Life Thought: Speaking of Jesus deepens your love for him. Philemon 1-3 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
PAUL begins his letter to a man Philemon as he concluded Colossians. He address and affirms several people. Learning about these people can help us understand more about being a Christian. First, Paul refers to himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. We can understand this in two ways. Paul is a prisoner of Rome because he stood firm stand for Jesus in Jerusalem. One can also understand Paul is Jesus’ spiritual prisoner. Jesus’ life-changing power holds Paul firmly to be a fervent apostle for Jesus’ Great Commission. Surrendering our lives to Jesus means we are held captive to God’s Word, power and authority. We praise God he will never release us from his saving grace. Timothy and Apphia are referred to as our brother and sister. Jesus’ blood connects all who confess he is Savior. You see this in Jesus’ command to Mary on Resurrection Day: Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Brother and sister mean Jesus has raised you up into a full family relationship under God our Father (v.3) with him. Christians honor men and women as equal with one another in their gifts for the Lord. Consider this intimacy God has called you to. Love one another. Philemon is our dear friend and fellow worker. Philemon has worked diligently to build up the Colossian church. Paul recognizes his good work . He does the same with Archippus, as our fellow soldier. Archippus worked with Philemon for the church. Church workers must be soldiers of Christ, disciplined in their Master’s commands. God soldiers are committed to a cause and to one another. So must the Christian be. Verse 3, then relates the greatest descriptions of all. Jesus is our Christ. He is our Messiah, our Savior, our Redeemer. He is the foundation of our faith. And, again, God is our Father. He loves us as we are his. A Christian honors the Father in heaven and keeps his name holy in all manner. In these few words, a profound view of the church comes from Paul’s inspired pen. May we all see we are to be united under our Father, Lord, Brother and Savior, working diligently as brothers and sisters in Christ. Life Thought: Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called. |
AuthorBob James Archives
January 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed