The Blessing of Refreshing (Philemon 4-7)

“…the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”

Paul wrote a letter to Philemon during his first imprisonment in Rome, perhaps around 60-61 AD. Out of the four prison epistles, Philemon is without question the most personal.

Paul had won Philemon to Christ during his third missionary journey while he was evangelizing Ephesus. Even though Philemon was from Colossae, he must have traveled to Ephesus where he heard the transforming message of the gospel through the Apostle.

While being held captive in Rome, Paul met Onesimus, a runaway slave from Colossae, who left the house of Philemon abruptly and secretly where he had served. Onesimus had most likely stolen some money on his way out the door (vs. 18-19) and may have continued stealing from others. Then, Onesimus meets Paul in prison, is led to Christ and discipled by the Apostle.

Paul talks Onesimus in to returning back to Philemon to make things right, only this time he will enter the house of Philemon with a hand-written letter from his mentor, Paul, urging his Colossian friend to receive Onesimus now as a brother in Christ. Paul gladly and generously offers to pay whatever Onesimus owes to make things right.

Paul begins his letter with some heartfelt affirmation of the refreshing way that Philemon treated Paul and others in his life. His statements of Philemon’s life give us a clear pathway of how we tool can share with others the blessing of refreshing (vs. 7, 20).

Resources for the Labor, v. 6

Expressions of Love, v. 5

Faith in the Lord, v. 5

Rejoicing during This Life, v. 7

Encouragement for the Load, v. 7

Sharing with the Lost, v. 6

Hearts with a Lift, v. 7

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/