Message for the Week

Reading Portion: The Epistle of Philemon vs 4 to 11

Its possible to do a character study of three persons from this Epistle - Paul, Philemon and Onesimus

Philemon:

vs 5 -Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

Paul thanks God for the love which he heard Philemon had towards the Lord Jesus.This is a testimony of Philemon which must have been heard by Paul while he was in prison. Love to Christ, and faith in him, are prime Christian graces.This is a saving grace, and the very principle of Christian life and of all good works.Do we have the same kind of Testimony among the people around us? Do we love our Lord more than 'these' ?(¶ lovest thou me more than these? John 21:15).

Paul praises God likewise for Philemon’s love to all the saints. These two must go together.These two things bear the image of Christ, which will be loved by every Christian.

vs 7 -For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother

The good that Philemon has done is abundant matter of joy and comfort to Paul and others. This is an example for us to follow.. Comfort and encourage our fellow brothers.

Let's try to enhance and increase our love and faith towards our Lord and also to all our brothers in the coming days.

Onesimus:

vs 11 - Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

Paul says "In time past unprofitable, but now profitable, inclined and fitted to be so, and will be so to Philemon. Paul is assuring Philemon that It will now be for his advantage to receive him: thus changed, as he is, that you can expect him to be a dutiful and faithful servant, though in time past he was not so.Whereupon, Onesimus has become a new creature.

Are we still turning back to our old lives ? Remember that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.2 Corinthians 5:17.

- Br. M.M Zachariah.