Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Philemon 1:4-6

Philemon 1:4-6    "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,  (5)  Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;  (6)  That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

The Apostle Paul had a very strong prayer life. He had concerns for the Lord's people wherever he went.  Most of his letters begin with prayers for those to whom he was writing. He tells Philemon that he is praying for him and giving thanks that his faith is strong. Not only is Philemon's faith strong within, he is strong in sharing that faith "toward all saints". He is diligent in sharing his faith with other people.  It is apparent that this man is strong in giving all glory and praise unto the Lord for "every good and perfect gift".

How can you and I share our faith with others? We sometimes try to make it complicated, when in reality we share our faith oftentimes by a simple, "thank you Lord".  It makes my faith bolder when I hear people with great talent giving credit to the Lord. I would much rather see someone bowing in the end zone to thank the Lord than to run in front of the stands and beat their own chests.  When I see musicians speak of their "God given" talent, my faith is bolstered. When I hear people out in public speak of the Lord and how He has blessed them, my faith is made stronger.

Again I ask how can you and I better share our faith with others?  Paul gives us the answer in his prayer for Philemon. By acknowledging every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus, my faith is made stronger and I am communicating that faith to others. Another way to say it would be, "not I, but Christ in me."  We do not have to be flamboyant; rather we just need to be consistent with our faith.


Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Psalm 88:1-4

Psalm 88:1-4  A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. "O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:  (2)  Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;  (3)  For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.  (4)  I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength" I've said this before and I will say it again (and probably more times before we get to the end of the Psalms) - I love the Psalms because I can surely identify with them. Most Psalms start in a low place and as the writer expresses his thoughts, the Lord begins to lift him up out of that dry place.  Though this entire Psalm is a fervent cry unto the Lord, the Psalmist tells us specifically in three verses that he cried daily unto the Lord. Just a few Psalms ago, we were reminded that God always hears our prayers. ...

Daily Devotion (Video): I Will Fear No Evil - Psalm 23:4

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top!  It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.  Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...