[Linux4christians] B7 - Friday - Philemon 1:17-21

[dcolburn at bibleseven.com]

    Friday


      Philemon 1:17-21


1:17 Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.

1:18 Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, 
charge what he owes to me.

1:19 I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay 
it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self.

1:20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. 
Refresh my heart in Christ.

1:21 Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because 
I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.



      Prayer


Lord, I owe You my very self. May I repay You even more than the minimal 
obedience You ask of me.



      Summary & Commentary


Paul continued his mentoring of Philemon through the teachable case of 
Onesimus.


He knew that Philemon held him in high-esteem so he asked him to view 
Onesimus in the same way.


Paul wanted to remove any financial considerations that might burden 
Philemon and cloud his judgment of Onesimus, so Paul offered to cover 
any expenses he may have incurred while in the service of Philemon prior 
to fleeing to Paul and coming to faith.


He reminded Philemon that was he (Paul) who had led him to faith and 
mentored him, so for all that was important Philemon owed Paul for his 
sacrifice on his behalf.


Paul asked Philemon to refresh his soul with beyond-expectation faith 
and love-driven choices.



      Interaction



        Consider

Every fellow believer is a brother or sister in-Christ.


        Discuss

Would you be willing to pay the debts of someone whom you led to Christ, 
mentored, loved dearly as a brother or sister in-Christ -- in order that 
they might be reconciled to another brother or sister in-Christ whom 
they had previously wronged?


        Reflect

We all owe a debt of gratitude to the one who made themselves available 
to the Lord and became His instrument to lead us to faith and through 
discipleship.


        Share

When have you appealed to a brother or sister to change their view of a 
new brother or sister in-Christ whom they had previously viewed badly as 
an unsaved person?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who needs you to speak-up 
for them within the fellowship of believers.



        Action:

Today I will come alongside a fellow believer who is either somewhat new 
in faith or is recovering from a poor choice or choices. I will invest 
in their discipleship and walk with them through the process of 
reconciliation, and hopefully, restoration with the person (or persons) 
whom they have previously offended.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Saturday's text will be:


      Philemon 1:22-25



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
Have an Ultrafidian.com Day!
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Bible Resources: bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Personal Site: bibleseven.com
I don't google I SEARCH! ddg.gg
1Cor. 15:22 "For just as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all will be made alive."
Savannah-Statesboro needs a Bible College/Seminary!
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