17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I WILL REPAY IT. AND I WON’T MENTION THAT YOU OWE ME YOUR VERY SOUL!
20 Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.
21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! 22 One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.
Paul’s Final Greetings
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.
25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Tori's Comments:
It's amazing at how much confidence he is placing in this guy, even so much as to outright say he is.
And onto James :)
Terrie's Comments:
Paul is asking Philemon to extend practical grace to Onesimus. Paul feels so strongly about extending this grace that he is willing to repay anything that is owed on Onesimus's behalf. And he goes on about being confident that this grace shown towards Onesimus will go beyond just forgiving what he owes. How do we practically show grace to those around us?
I LOVE that Paul is telling Philemon to act on his prayers and by faith prepare a guest room for him. Paul had hope that God would answer Philemon's prayer for his return. Are we confident that God hears our prayers and is answering them enough to prepare and make room for the answers before we see them arrive?
JAMES IS GOING TO BE A BLAST! We are Jammin' Through James!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Showing posts with label Philemon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philemon. Show all posts
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Day 8 - Philemon 1:8-16
8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. 9 But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.
10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. 11 Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.
13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. 15 It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. 16 He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
Terrie's Comments:
I love the way Paul speaks of Onesimus here. The power of a new life in Christ! Onesimus didn't sound like he was a great guy before and kind of useless. But now he has been mentored by Paul while in prison and has become a brother and dear friend. This is the power of the cross to transform a life that was dead and useless into one that is new and very much alive.
Tori's Comments:
Perhaps this explains the meaning of gentleness (verse 9). Choosing to do something in love ALWAYS.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. 11 Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.
13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. 15 It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. 16 He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
Terrie's Comments:
I love the way Paul speaks of Onesimus here. The power of a new life in Christ! Onesimus didn't sound like he was a great guy before and kind of useless. But now he has been mentored by Paul while in prison and has become a brother and dear friend. This is the power of the cross to transform a life that was dead and useless into one that is new and very much alive.
Tori's Comments:
Perhaps this explains the meaning of gentleness (verse 9). Choosing to do something in love ALWAYS.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Friday, March 3, 2017
Day 7 - Philemon 1:1-7
1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house.
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.
Tori's Comments:
"understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ" This is something he describes as process, almost like a journey of discovering that won't end (at least in this lifetime). I know this is true from my own personal experience, and how just when I feel like Christ couldn't surprise me any more....he does. :)
Terrie's Comments:
Philemon sounds like the kind of person I would want to meet. His faith is placed in Jesus Christ and he loves all of God's people. His kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God's people!
In the middle of this complement sandwich Paul is encouraging Philemon to put into action the generosity that comes from his faith as he understands and experiences all good things WE have in Christ. Paul mentioned this in Titus briefly as well. Generosity, love and kindness towards everyone, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ should be an overflow of all that we are experiencing in Christ.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house.
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.
Tori's Comments:
"understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ" This is something he describes as process, almost like a journey of discovering that won't end (at least in this lifetime). I know this is true from my own personal experience, and how just when I feel like Christ couldn't surprise me any more....he does. :)
Terrie's Comments:
Philemon sounds like the kind of person I would want to meet. His faith is placed in Jesus Christ and he loves all of God's people. His kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God's people!
In the middle of this complement sandwich Paul is encouraging Philemon to put into action the generosity that comes from his faith as he understands and experiences all good things WE have in Christ. Paul mentioned this in Titus briefly as well. Generosity, love and kindness towards everyone, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ should be an overflow of all that we are experiencing in Christ.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
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