PHILEMON 3-7 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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.”
It is a fact of life, even a fact in the Christian life. People talk about people. When in a group of people including Christians more often than not, the topic may shift to people. Hopefully, for the Christian, the conversations are not gossip, slander, or “slicing up” other believers with negativism and unedifying words. So, let’s paint this picture. A group of believers are sitting around a living room and your name, my name, is dropped into the conversation. What will be said of us and our reputation as a believer? Will the words be encouraging and uplifting, acknowledging we are known for our love and faith in Christ that brings encouragement, joy, comfort and refreshment to other believers? Would we be recognized as a believer others enjoy being in the company of? Or, are we known as complainers, grumblers, critical and judgmental of other people and anything else under the sun? When our name is shared is there an immediate negative connotation associated with us that makes us a believer people would rather avoid? Before we move into this topic, it is important we realize that we are one of the two. There is no neutrality in any area of the Christian life. We are either hot or cold (Revelation 3:15-16); obeying or disobeying (Luke 6:46); or spiritually growing or digressing (2 Peter 3:18). And we are either refreshing Christians or draining Christians; encouragers or discouragers.
In today’s scripture, we find a wonderful model of the uplifting Christian. Philemon is a believer that when his name is dropped in a conversation, the reports and words are glowing, affirming, and point to a follower of Jesus who represents Him well. As we look at him, there are some traits we are to pray for and pursue in our lives so when our name is mentioned, how Philemon was described is how we will be also.
First, Philemon was known for his love for the Lord and people. Twice Paul mentions this brother’s love. And to have such a reputation, well, we have to love. In the Bible, love is not defined as a feeling or emotion. It also goes beyond words. It is defined by action; sacrificial action given to others without any thought of return or attention drawn toward the one loving. It is modeled by Christ, applied impartially, and never based on the merit or worth of the people being loved. Build this reputation and the Lord will use us for His purposes far and wide. Lack this reputation and our impact for Christ will be minimal, if not non-existent.
Another trait in the Philemon-type Christian is we refresh other believers with words and service of encouragement bringing them joy and comfort. Listen to what the Apostle Paul received from this Christ-like brother-For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love. Would other Christians say that of us? Are we an oasis of refreshment to weary and parched souls of other believers? That is one of God’s goals for us in our relationships with each other.
Well, we are ending today’s nugget now because I am going into a meeting (not really) and will drop your name in the conversation with the question, “What type of Christian do you think (your name) is?” If this meeting was really going to happen, what response would I get? I hope one word–“Philemon-like.”
PRAYER: “Father, may I always strive to have a reputation that never brings dishonor or discredit to You and Your Son.”
QUOTE: “We are either going to be discouraging or encouraging; uplifting or down casting Christians. The choice is ours.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim