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: WHAT TYPE OF CHRISTIAN ARE WE? So, imagine I asked each of you for a list of three Christians who know you well. They have observed and interacted with you in public and private. Lives have been shared – the highs and lows, the challenges as well as the calm seas in life.  They have seen you in your best of times and worst.  Now that I have the list, I make an appointment, individually, with each one.  I start the conversation like this, “I am going to read you a description from the Bible describing what Christians are supposed to be in relationships with other Christians. After I am finished, I want you to say with completely objective truth based on your relationship with (your name), does this describe (him) or (her)?

The greatest testimony of the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ, the truth of the Bible, and the power of the Gospel is our relationships with other Christians.  Jesus tells us, in what is known as the Great Commandment, of the impact of these relationships – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).  It matters a lot how our relationships are with other Christians, and in today’s scripture, we have the model, not of a believer who is an exception, but what is expected of every believer in relationships with other believers. Philemon is living the normal Christian life, and we should examine ourselves in light of him.

First, Philemon is recognized for his love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and other believers.  Here is the starting point.  Faith and love are inseparable. Where true faith in Christ is found, active love will follow.  Faith works. Faith produces labors of love and that particularly toward other believers. The Apostle John writes, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:14, 18). Are we known by other Christians for our faith and love?  I hope so. Those are foundational virtues in the Christian life.

Next, Philemon was an oasis of refreshing encouragement, not a desert of dreary discouragement – For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you (Philemon 7).  Do Christians enjoy our presence or endure our presence?  Are we those type of Christians who bring refreshment into the lives of other by way of encouragement in our words, actions, and fellowship?  It should never be that we leave the presence of another Christian and they are downcast, discouraged, or have a negative view of us. That is not the Philemon model.

Well, I am almost through your list of three Christians.  Are you confident they would affirm you are a Philemon Christian?  If so, praise God for making you one.  If not, ask Him to do this necessary work in your heart and life.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to always be an encouraging Christian, not a discouraging one.”

QUOTE: “The greatest thing we give in all our relationships is our Christlikeness.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim