I hear of your love and the faith you have ~ Philemon 1:5.
Paul briefly mentions that he is in prison, a.g.a.i.n.
This past week, we read of Daniel's prison-exile to Babylon, now Paul's continual imprisonment. What did these young men know that we do not when we are betrayed? Daniel wrote, let's honor the God Who gives us breath, three times a day and all the moments in-between. And Paul does.
And, still, we are wronged, day-in/ day-out.
What do we do with hurled ugly words?
It happened to me this very day.
May I move only in love!
And, if anyone has wronged you at all ...
or owes you anything,
Paul says: Charge that to his account.
Since Paul isn't here ...
I guess that means we charge it to God's account.
I'm charging!
Bonhoeffer wrote:
"The success of the sermon is utterly dependent
on the God Who breaks through
and grasps us, or
we cannot be grasped."
God broke through on Paul's sermon ...
God, please show up in our messes today.
We are all fickle fleeting like Onesimus!
"partnership with us in the faith may be effective...
ReplyDeleteThe term partnerships has been so overused in particular with people asking for money commitments. "Partner with us..." We are bombarded with the concept, but here Paul says though you are many miles from me, we share in the same Gospel truth and mission. I, a prisoner for the Gospel, and you, Philemon, (or Annette, or Pearl) a partner sharing in the cause for Christ alone, owing nothing except your very self for the sake of His Grace.
Partner with God in grace and prayer with the unity of His flowing Spirit, wherever you are, Philemon, wherever you are, Annette, wherever you are, dear Pearl. The privilege of partnership with the Most High God to be a part of His mighty Plan, His worthy Work, connects us to matters of eternal importance. Partner with Him alone, with the freedom owing nothing to another (even in chains like Paul), but the joy of being forever indebted to Him because of lavish Grace.
How you and Bev bless me, Annette and how you both bring me closer to the Throne of Almighty God. Praise Him for His lavish, amazing Grace...so freely bestowed....what a gift.
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