THREE GOOD THINGS
Philemon 4-7 NKJ
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
Paul was writing to a brother in the Lord, Philemon, concerning a slave named Onesimus. Onesimus had run away from Philemon and was won to Christ by Paul. Paul was writing to Philemon to ask him to show mercy to Onesimus, who was now more than a slave; he was now a brother in the Lord.
In the first part of his letter, Paul commends Philemon for his love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints. Saints referred to the believers in that area. This is a very simple statement that carries a great deal of weight. Paul was thanking God for Philemon in his prayers because he had heard of his love and faith toward Jesus and his fellow believers. This indicates that our love and faith toward the Lord Jesus is something visible and tangible. We can understand that love for fellow believers is much easier to observe. Someone walking in the divine kind of love, Paul uses the word agape, will exemplify the kind of love Paul lays out in 1 Corinthians 13. This love is patient and kind and not self-seeking. Believers have the capacity to live in this love, and Jesus made it His number one commandment.
To have love and faith toward the Lord Jesus would be visibly displayed by keeping His commandments. Jesus said if you love Me, you will keep My commandments. So, a person who loves the Lord and has faith in the Lord will stand out as someone who obeys the Lord obeys His Word and lives a life that is pleasing to Him.
Verse six contains another powerful truth. It is good to love and have faith in the Lord and His people. And faith is energized by the acknowledgment or full knowledge of every good thing that is in us in Christ. There are many verses, especially in the letters of Paul, John, and Peter, that reveal the good things that are in us in Christ. The letters of Paul contain most of these 'in Him' revelations. For example, in the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul writes that we are blessed, accepted or favored, chosen, redeemed, and forgiven because of our union with Christ. We are not only to know about these verses, but we are to come to a full knowledge of them. That full knowledge or acknowledgment of these truths takes place as we read, think about, speak, and act on these scriptures. As we do, we make these powerful truths a part of our lives, and our faith is energized. Energized faith is strong faith. And strong faith enables us to face and overcome the world and all the junk the world throws our way.
Three good things to pursue in our lives: faith and love toward the Lord Jesus and His people, and the full knowledge of every good thing that is ours because of our deep connection with Christ. Because these three things were a part of Philemon's life, he was able to refresh the hearts of God's people.
PRAYER
I do love you, Lord Jesus, and I believe in You. I love Your Body, the church, and believe in the future of Your people. I choose to focus on the good things that I have because of my connection with You. And I want to be one of those who refreshes the believers around me.