Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Oct 4, 2024 - How Love Works”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsHow Love Works
Reading: Philemon 1-7
This deeply personal letter from Paul to Philemon does not tell us a lot about the particular situation that prompts it. Paul and Philemon know each other, yet now Philemon’s slave Onesimus has come to Paul (perhaps as a runaway?) and obeyed the gospel (Philemon 10). Paul writes this letter as he sends Onesimus back to Philemon, hopeful that he will receive him as a brother (Philemon 16, 17).
We gather a sense of Philemon from this first section. He is “our beloved fellow worker”(Philemon 1) who hosts “the church in your house”(v. 2). This probably implies that he is a wealthy man who uses his means for spiritual purposes. Paul prays for him specifically “because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints”(Philemon 5). Philemon has shown kindness to others and this thrills Paul. “For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you”(Philemon 7). The good Philemon has done for other believers has spread joy to them and even given comfort to Paul in his chains (Philemon 9-10). But there is one more prayer: “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”(Philemon 6). As Philemon has shared his goods with others who share his faith, so Paul has hope that one more time he will be willing to “share” the acceptance and love of a brother with Onesimus.
Philemon shows us that Christian love shows itself in doing for others. When he has a house, he uses it to the good of his Christian brothers. We do not know the specifics of what he has done, but Philemon’s love has refreshed the hearts of the saints and been spread abroad. Philemon’s love is more than mere words. Love works by taking whatever we have and using it to bless, provide for, and encourage our brothers.
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One Thing to Think About: What skills, possessions, opportunities, or connections do I have that might bless others?
One Thing to Pray For: My love for others to “become effective” in real action
