Sunday 2 Nov 2014

November 2: Philemon 1:4-7

Key Verse: Philemon 1:5
hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

Devotion:
This letter to Philemon describes the love and faith that he had not just for and of Jesus Christ but also to all the people of the church as well. Why was it mentioned at the beginning of the letter? We need to encourage one another to lift up our faith and love toward each other to make sure that people notice we are different and not just like everyone else in the world. Christ has set us apart from the world and we need to show people that we are set apart because of this love!

Philemon had set an example to the people of his household and to the people around. He was clearly looked up at by the people because word had got back to Paul about the joy the people felt to have Philemon and company with them and teaching them. Philemon had a servant heart whereby he made sure the people around him knew what it was like to know and love Christ; Christ being the ultimate example of a person with a servant heart to start with.

It was not the fact that Philemon had this heart that was impressing Paul here but the fact that there was a direct trail of faith and attitude pointing toward Christ and not to the people. If we gain a name for ourselves and not for Christ then we have clearly failed at doing our work. I don’t like to get praise when I am trying to tell people about Christ or direct people towards the ways of Christ because that means that I am not succeeding in my mission to promote and glorify Christ first of all.

Now whether the people around Philemon saw this or whether they just saw a man who was doing all the right things is not clearly mentioned; though Paul knew this is what was actually happening in the background. When we know in our own hearts that we are serving our Living God by making sure we follow His ways and His will in our lives, then we are being more like Philemon and people will notice!

Points to Ponder:
Do you make a difference?

Do you lift up Christ?