December 20, 2022

Hello Advent Family,

Can you think of a person, who when you are around them you just feel better?  That have a way about them that just refreshes you.  I can think of several people like this in my life and the key seems to be their love for Jesus that comes through their life.  Paul noticed that Philemon had this affect on others.  Let’s look at his words together today. 

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and 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. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Paul writes this letter to make a request of Philemon but his words in the introduction are significant as well.  Philemon has a church that meets in his house and of which he seemingly is serving as the leader.  Paul takes particular notice of Philemon’s affect of refreshing the hearts of others in his life.  This is a goal that we should all strive for.  How can we help to refresh the hearts of those in our life?  Sometimes it is a simple word of encouragement.  Other times it may be sharing something that God is teaching us in our own life that can help someone else.  It could be by asking someone how we can pray for them.  I find that sometimes it is as simple as listening to another person. Today and every day may we seek to be people of refreshment and encourage each other along this journey of faith and life. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave


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