Thursday, January 24, 2008

Philemon

I Paul's letter to Philemon concerning Onesimus
A. vs 1-3 Opening greetings
B. vs 4-7 Paul thanks God for Philemon
C. vs 8-11 Paul appeals to Philemon for Onesimus
D. vs 12-16 Paul explains why he is sending Onesimus back
E. vs 17-21 Paul tells Philemon to welcome back Onesimus as he would welcome back Paul
F. vs 22-25 Paul will return to visit Philemon later

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
Philemon 6

God uses the act of sharing our faith to more fully open up our understanding of the good things we have in Christ. I have had it happen several times where I am sharing my faith and God gives insight on what to say, or prompts me to take a conversation to a place I normally don't. I always walk away from those encounters with a special sense of peace about what happened and a better understanding that it is God working in me as I am obedient to His Word. I remember the first time something like this happened. We were at Youth Camp in Florida and had taken a trip down to the beach with all the teenagers. Some of my youth had struck up a conversation with two older boys that were already there. When I noticed this I went over to kind of eavesdrop to make sure they weren't in over their head. Eventually I got dragged in to the conversation and in the course of it I was able to answer questions I had never previously given any thought to, and came up with new explanations for what God required of us. It was really a unique time and I knew that God was holding my hand in a sense, walking me through that witnessing encounter. At the end I had a better understanding of the fact that He will never leave or forsake us. That's not just a promise for the here-after but a reality for everyday. As we are bold to obey His Word, he is faithful to give us the ability to see it through.

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