...live for Christ...

“1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother.To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith towards the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. 7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother” Philemon 1:1-7.

Dear friends, this little book, consisting of a single chapter and just 25 verses, was written by Paul to Philemon, a wealthy Christian, a follower of the apostle Paul, who hosted a house church in Colossae. He is known through this New Testament letter written by Paul to him, which concerns his runaway slave, Onesimus. In the letter, Paul asks Philemon to forgive Onesimus and to receive him back not as a slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ.

The key sentence in this opening passage, in the middle of all the fine things Paul says about Philemon, is verse 6: “I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ.”

Here Paul is praying that the partnership which he and Philemon share in the gospel will be productive, and have the effect it’s meant to. The partnership in question is the partnership Paul and Philemon have in the gospel. That is, they are loyal colleagues. It is the partnership that goes with our faith: that is, when you and I and other people believe the gospel, they are brought into that partnership with all others who believe it. This is what all the partners want. So, when Paul puts it like this, Philemon will be agreeing with him. Whether he will still agree when he sees what Paul has in mind is another matter.

The effect will be in realizing every good thing that is at work in us.

Perceiving means not only recognizing and knowing but also putting into practice. The gospel itself is at work in Christians by the power of God’s spirit. As it does its work, it produces new things, good things, new ways of living for individuals, households and communities.

These new things that are at work in us lead us into Christ. This is perhaps the hardest idea to grasp, but it’s central to what Paul intends. We live for Christ, and do all things for Christ.

When people believe in Jesus Christ and join his family through baptism, they become “part” of Him; and the sign of that is that they grow together in love, cutting right across all traditional barriers that separate one human being from another. We do everything for Christ!

What Paul wishes to say to Philemon is this: There are no more slaves and free — only Christians who live for Christ, and do all things for Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Today’s Prayer

Oh Lord, my greatest desire in life is to live for You,

and you alone, and to do all things for You, Jesus Christ, Our Lord!

Let this desire, this prayer, be enough for this day.

May I be a faithful, prayerful, and gracious person this day,

and may your loving mercy and grace fill my heart and soul,

as I share my faith with others.

In Your Holy name, I pray,

through Jesus Christ, Your Lord, amen.