“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Philemon 1:25)

We used to respond to this, “And also with your spirit.”  Re-instill in your mind that You are saved by grace and that grace is Christ Himself.  Know that He abides in you and you should abide in Him when Christ is with your spirit through faith.  You were born flesh and blood and the Lord makes your spirit alive.  In the mystery of the faith, the Lord is making of you more than you can imagine.

Yes, Lord, come with your Spirit and dwell in me!  The Lord is the author and finisher of our faith and unless He acts, nothing can or will be done.  Receive the grace of Christ that you may be made alive in Him.  Apart from Him you can do nothing, but in Him you can do all things.  Come then and be truly alive (for He is the life) and receive the grace of Christ in a living faith.  Know by grace through faith  that He is always ready to forgive your sins when you repent and confess them.

Lord Jesus, You won from the cross all that is need for my redemption, but that is the beginning.  Help me abide with You now and walk in this grace You have given me.  Enliven my spirit that I would be alive in You.  Guide me according to Your goodness that I would now and always abide humbly in the truth You have revealed once for all to all the saints.  By Your grace, count me among their number.  Amen.

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers” (Philemon 23-24).

Is this Mark who wrote the Gospel?  Is this Luke who wrote the Gospel?  The church has always been very connected.  You are a part of a fellowship that has been strong throughout history.  The communion of saints is a very real thing.  You have been grafted in by the grace of Christ.  Do you consider yourself a part of this continuity and family?  You should, for you are.  Send greetings to one another.

Lord, I think of my local fellowship as the church.  And sometimes I do not think of these things at all.  Help me realize that You are knitting together Your church.  You have brought together people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.  Lead me, Lord, in the way You know I need to go and guide me according to Your word to be an encouragement to others, knowing that we are eternally connected through faith in You.

Lord Jesus, You died for the church, Your bride, in order that we may be eternally connected.  Guide me, knowing that I am a part of the eternal fellowship which You have created through the grace and mercy You have given from the cross.  Lead me, Lord, now and always to live in the love You are teaching me so that I may now and always be guided by Your goodness.  Be with me, Lord, this and every day.  Amen.  

“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” (Philemon 1:22).

Despite life’s circumstances, the one thing that is consistent with our life of faith is hope.  Even in prison, Paul had hope.  Ultimately, what we really have been given is hope in Christ.  Though the world may pass away, we have been given the hope that because Jesus lives, we too shall live.  Live then in this hope which you have been given and do not fall into the snares of this world which would strip you of hope.

You have been promised salvation through the grace of Christ.  You have been promised that through this faith You have been given, you would do many things.  Do you live by faith, or by  sight in this world of woe?  Go into all the world as Jesus said in the confidence of hope you have through Him knowing that He is working all things together for good for those who love Him.

Lord Jesus, You have come into this world so that as many as would be joined with You would not perish but have everlasting life.  Lead me, Lord, in order that I would now and always go in the way You lead.  Help me through all obstacles to put these things You teach into place.  Through Your goodness, I am more than able to conquer the obstacles that will get in my way.  Be the only One who leads me, Lord.  Amen.

“Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say” (Philemon 1:21).

If you were in the position of Philemon, would someone like Paul be able to say that they were confident in your decision?  Do you trust the Lord enough to put into place the principles He teaches you?  These are important questions, for they speak of what the Lord is doing in you through the salvation he gives.  Be confident and give confidence, for the Lord’s will is being done in you.

Lord, guide my life such that I do the things You would have me do.  Lead me in the right way of living life so that I put into practice the things You are teaching me.  Help me to not just be a hearer of Your Word, but one who does what You say.  Grant me confidence so that I may give others the confidence through faith You would have me give them.  Help me to be one who does more than just what I say.

Lord Jesus, You said that if we had faith a small as a mustard seed, we could do great things.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of this faith You have given me so that I would do what You ask.  Guide me through my doubts and frustrations in order that I would continue to grow in faith such that I become like You.  Through all things, guide me, Lord Jesus, in the narrow way that You have established.  Amen.

“I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.  Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ” (Philemon 1:19-20).

Where did this idea that a Christian has no obligations to practice his faith, and may do nothing nor ask for anything, come from?  Straight from the pits of hell.  It is okay to ask for righteousness’ sake.  The worker is worthy his wages.  Philemon owes and Paul is collecting for the sake of the church.  Let this principle become a part of your thinking.  The world thinks everyone selfish.  Perhaps we are. The Lord always provides.

Lord let me see that just because someone is demanding something, it means nothing, unless they are righteous in their demand.  Show me, with clarity, the difference between selfish and righteous requests.  Guide me to learn how to avoid disappointing my heavenly Father.  Lead me according to Your goodness to grow in faith and to be thankful for those who have invested themselves in my life and given so that I may receive Your Gospel.

Lord Jesus, You have asked of nothing less than the whole of me to follow You.  Keep me from the devilish game of withholding from You even one small piece of who I am.  Guide me in Your goodness to learn these things and put them into effect in my life.  Help me now and always to look to You, the giver of all good gifts, and by Your example, live out the grace You have given me unto eternal life.  Amen.

“So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.  If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account” (Philemon 1:17-18).

Paul is trusting Philemon to do what is right in the sight of the Lord.  Listen carefully to what Paul is teaching us.  At the end of the day, the other will do what they do.  Just because someone has received the Gospel does not mean they will live it.  The church is filled with those who are both faithful and those who go back on their word.  Trust the Lord, but verify others who claim faith.

Yes, it is okay to trust and verify.  Somehow or other, many Christians believe that other Christians are sinless.  They are not.  We live in the reality that we all need Christ and what He alone can do.  Come then, learn the lesson and be one like whom Paul trusts to do the right thing.  Charge everything to the account of grace, but still be prudent and a good steward of these things.

Lord Jesus, You are growing me up to be a child of the Father.  There are many facets of grace and the depth of faith is never-ending, just as the breadth of the reality of who You are is never-ending.  Guide me, Lord, that I would not simply rest in the faith I have obtained by grace but continue to grow in the knowledge of who You are.  Lead me in the mysteries of the faith such that I become Your trustworthy servant in living out the Gospel.  Amen.

“For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 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” (Philemon 1:15-16).

Paul points to that place where all we can do is wonder.  We know that everything is in the Lord’s hands.  We know that He is working everything together for good.  Does He stoop to this level?  Yes, yes He does.  All things means all things.  Do not be led by the ways of this world, but by the truth and goodness of the Lord.  Know that in Him alone is the ability given to join in His goodness.

Lord, You have come that all who believe, see the light and come into Your presence might be guided into Your goodness and mercy.  We begin life in one place, but, if we follow the Lord, end up in an entirely different place.  What should we say to this?  If God be for us, who can be against us?  Come then into the provision of the Lord and leave behind worldly conformity to live into Christ our Savior.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save us completely.  You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  When pressed into a corner, as we will be, between what is right in Your eyes and what I do according to the world, help me live into the Christ-life and do what is right in Your eyes.  You have set these things up so that we may walk into the life You offer by Your grace.  Lead me, Lord, into this new life.  Amen.

“[B]ut I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord” (Philemon 1:14).

For love to be love, there must be freedom.  Paul is asking Philemon if he can do what is being requested for love’s sake.  Note that feelings have nothing to do with this.  As we deal with brothers and sisters, we should seek their assent and not just assume it, as many do.  You see, our goodness must not be by compulsion, for then it is not goodness, but only the grudging response of an unwilling heart.

Lord, first, help me to see this and then help me to do these things.  It is hard because I often do not have the right heart.  I often am driven by compulsion and not by a willing spirit.  Lead me away from selfish ambition, Lord, to the place where I willingly love my neighbor and seek always to do the right thing.  Gracious Lord, help me not just come to the place of consent, but to willingly become a gracious giver transformed by Your love.

Lord Jesus, You died on the cross for us all willingly.  Though we do not know (nor do we yet) all that You have done, we do know that You have done this willingly so that we might be with You forever.  Guide me, dear Lord, that I would forever hold fast to Your promises, letting nothing get in the way.  Let me do away with all selfishness motives and be guided by the example of Your true goodness.  Amen.

“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” (Philemon 1:13)

Here is a second principle that is often brushed aside in the church.  We have a hard time being honest.  It is not outright lies, but dishonesty when we conveniently ignore what is true.  We are given a principle that, even if it will cost us, we be truthful about the matter.  Look at the need, look at the truth, and then speak both boldly and with respect and grace.  The Lord is in control.

Lord, this is a difficult thing to do.  On the one hand You call for me to be gracious and on the other hand, You ask that I be bold.  Here is an example of the tension between these two in that moment.  Help me to learn so that when if is my time to make this kind of decision, I may be bold in the right way of speaking and acting.  Grant me passion for Your church and a willingness to live according to Your precepts.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way through all of the turbulent waters that will come my way in this age.  Teach me to always look to You first.  Guide me to know that in You alone is all hope.  Help me confess where I am weak and to walk cautiously when I am unsure.  Through all things, guide me to know that You are the One who is leading me and that Your grace is sufficient.  Amen.  

“Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.  I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart” (Philemon 1:11-12).

Do you focus upon what was?  Conveniently we often do.  Do you think about what you had and then get mad because it is no longer yours?  Whether an item of little or much worth, it makes no difference.  What is your attitude of stewardship?  What really does matter?  Paul is asking Onesimus to think in terms of reality.  His slave had been gone a long time.  Only now, he knew what happened.

Do you want to take things into your own hands, or are you able to place them in the Lord’s hands?  I suppose if Onesimus wanted to, he could had made a case of this.  With this letter in Scripture, it appears he listened to Paul.  What then?  Be one who looks to the Lord and when the Lord calls for your decision contrary to what you would make without Him, honor the Lord.  This is one of the lessons of this Epistle.

Lord Jesus, You always honored the Father, even unto death on the cross.  You did things I cannot imagine were enjoyable, but you did them for our sake.  Help me to move from being an owner of things to being a steward of things.  Guide me in understanding that all things were created by You and for You.  Lead me in the way of knowing that in You Lord is all hope.  Amen.