PHILEMON 4-7 – “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”

THEME OF THE DAY: A CHRIST-HONORING LIFE.   Examples in life. They matter. They are important. We may even call them role models.  They are valuable in life lived in this world, but also in the Christian’s walk with the Lord Jesus.  That is why reading good Christian biographies is a good discipline to develop.   I am also sure in each of our lives we have examples or role models of Christians we look toward as encouraging examples.  The Bible, too, has examples and role models for the Christian life.  Obviously, the Lord Jesus stands tall as the ultimate, but also, we have the Apostle Paul, and in today’s scripture another in the rather obscure believer named Philemon.  I don’t write obscure because he is of less importance. We simply don’t know much about him.  Yet, in today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul has a lot to say about this godly brother. He becomes a wonderful example and role model for us.  As for Philemon, here are three truths about him worthy of our attention and application.

First, Philemon had a Christ-honoring reputation far and wide – “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.”  Don’t gloss over the word hear.  Remember, no social media, no email, no smart phones. Word of mouth and observation were how things were passed on. For Philemon, his reputation of being a Christian who exemplified love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and all other believers was so strong, it was spread around.  The moment someone said, “Philemon”, this was the response.  Strive for such a reputation.  It gives credence to the Gospel.

Next, Philemon models a people-impacting witness for the Lord Jesus with His Gospel – “and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”  Paul doesn’t encourage Philemon to share the gospel.  He is affirming that he does and that the Lord would make his proclaiming effective.  Healthy, Christ-honoring Christians who are examples regularly share the good news of the Lord Jesus.

Finally, Philemon exercises the Christian’s privilege and responsibility to spiritually invest in other Christians – “For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”  Nothing brings more joy into the Christian life than to lead a person to Christ and invest in the spiritual growth of other Christians by loving them, encouraging them, comforting them, and being a source of joy to them.  This was Philemon.

We just witnessed a Christ-honoring life modeled by a rather obscure believer named Philemon.  Yet, on the other hand, to those who knew him, he was anything but obscure.  May his life be a model for ours.

PRAYER: Father, may my life constantly present Your Son in speech and conduct before all people.

REFLECTION:  Reputation, influence, and investment in people are the pursuits in a Christ-centered life.