Prayerfully Re-Center Around God
Philemon 1
The Apostle Paul writing to his friend Philemon: I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.
~ Philemon 1:6
Greeting
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon's Love and Faith
4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
Paul's Plea for Onesimus
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
Final Greetings
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Pondering Point
Two weeks ago, we asked you to think about whom you partner with in Gospel living and sharing.
This week we hear a prayer about the impact of such a partnership. The connection between Paul and Philemon has produced beautiful ministry in the past. Now Paul leans into his partner again while addressing a sensitive issue with Philemon.
Read the letter and see what Paul is doing. Sacrifice is being asked for; bridges are hoping to be built; forgiveness is being sought. Such actions are often needed in partnerships.
How is your partnership in faith (at church, small group, micro group, etc.) serving to deepen your view of life under God?
Review
Whom do you partner with? For whom do you make sacrifices? With whom are you looking to build bridges?
Repent if Necessary
Repent if necessary of being overly independent (versus interdependent)? of not investing in others for their growth? for refusing to forgive or partner with certain people due to past hurts? Do you need to forgive to be a better partner?
Return (as necessary)
Come to God with a commitment to be more dependent on others to as a way to enhance your spiritual journey of discipleship. Commit also to forgive and invest in others for their sake. And for God’s glory.
Prayer
Borrowing from the Apostle Paul’s prayer for his friend Philemon, here is our prayer:
Lord God, like Paul, we also seek such partnerships to deepen our walk with You and each other in faith, in grace, in understanding, in service, and in glory to You; In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.