"Christ makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing. 9 However, I would prefer to make an appeal on the basis of love" (Philemon 8-9). In all that we do, we need love. We learn this love from Jesus "who loved us and gave himself for us" (Galatians 2:20).
Category: Philemon
The Kingdom Of God: The Prison Letters – Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon - These letters are known, collectively, as the prison letters. They were written by Paul during his time of imprisonment in Rome. In Philippians, we see God's kingdom as a kingdom as a kingdom of joy: "Rejoice in the Lord always, and, again, I say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). When the …
Do You Feel Useless? You Can Become Useful.
Philemon 1-25 ‘He was useless... now he has become useful’(11). This is the story of Onesimus (the name means ‘useful’). A runaway ‘slave’, he became ‘a beloved brother... in the Lord’(16). It appears that Onesimus had stolen from his master, Philemon (18-19). He landed up in prison - and there, he was converted! This is …
Continue reading Do You Feel Useless? You Can Become Useful.
Be zealous for good deeds … but never forget this: “He saved us …not because of deeds done by us” (Journey through the New Testament: Titus and Philemon).
Titus When we live in a Christlike way, ‘those who oppose’ Christ and His Gospel will be ‘put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us’ (2:8). God wants us to live as ‘a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds’ (2:14). If we are to be ‘zealous for good deeds’, …
Sharing our Faith Effectively
Philemon, verse 6 – “that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus”. These words bring to mind several other verses of Scripture. * “acknowledging every good thing … ” indicates that we are to share our faith in the spirit …
Let us love another – and show the love of God to one another.
Lamentations 2:7-3:39; Philemon 1-25; Psalm 119:121-128 At the heart of the book of Lamentations, there is this great declaration concerning the love of God: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22). His love reaches us not only directly but also through the love of His people - “Your love, dear …
Continue reading Let us love another – and show the love of God to one another.
How are we to live … and become useful servants of the Lord?
TITUS 1:1-2:10 - How are we to live? We are not to be ‘empty talkers’, people who ‘profess to know God’ and ‘deny Him by their deeds’ (1:10,16). We must give no one the opportunity to ‘speak evil of God’s Word’. We must be ‘a model of good deeds’, showing ‘the beauty of the teachings …
Continue reading How are we to live … and become useful servants of the Lord?
One Year Bible: Days 274-304
Day 274 Jeremiah 2:31-4:9; Philippians 2:12-30; Psalm 115:12-18 The Lord calls us back from our backsliding: “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding” (Jeremiah 3:22). The returning people say, “Yes, we will come to You, for You are the Lord our God ... surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel” …
Praying Through God’s Word: Philemon
Often, Lord, we feel so useless. Make us useful – Your faithful and fruitful servants.
