Philemon (6)

Pray Psalm 113.1, 2.
Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
Praise the name of the LORD!
Blessed be the name of the LORD
From this time forth and forevermore!

Read Philemon 1.21-25.

Prepare.
1. How did Paul affirm and encourage Philemon in these verses?

2. What can we learn about prayer from Paul’s instructions to Philemon?

Meditate.
Philemon was to understand that, while Paul wanted him to act out of love rather than compulsion in receiving Onesimus, the apostle was in fact giving him a commandment. Philemon was to obey (v. 21), but he was to do so out of love. The two are not contrary ideas. These days, obedience is thought to be wrapped in the fist of compulsion. No one wants to have to obey anyone. Obedience to anything external to one’s self is considered to be the very negation of freedom and love.

But the Scriptures teach otherwise. Obedience motivated by love is what God seeks. It’s what Jesus did when He came to earth to redeem His people from their sins. It’s not enough to love God with deep feeling and gratitude. And it’s not enough to obey God because we think we should. Love issuing in obedience, and obedience motivated by love: these are what God wants from His people.

To encourage Philemon, Paul told him he was confident that he would not only obey, but would do even more than he commanded.

Paul also encouraged Philemon to pray for his release and return to Colossae (v. 22). We note that the instruction to pray was coupled with instructions to act as if God were already moving to answer the prayer: Philemon should get a room ready for him. We pray in faith when, having prayed, we begin acting in ways that indicate we believe God will answer our prayer.

Though he was in prison, Paul had friends and co-laborers with him who wanted to be remembered to Philemon. And mentioning them as privy to the contents of this postcard from Rome would perhaps have strengthened Philemon’s resolve to carry out what Paul commanded.

It will take grace for Philemon to obey; and Paul invoked the grace of Jesus to be with Philemon in the inner man, in his spirit. For true love and complete obedience arise from the soul, when the grace of God sets our thoughts, desires, and priorities to do His good and perfect will.

Reflect.
1. Why must obedience always be motivated by love to be true obedience? Why must true love always be expressed as obedience in some form?

2. “We pray in faith when, having prayed, we begin acting in ways that indicate we believe God will answer our prayer.” What are the implications of this, for example, in praying for the salvation of lost people in your Personal Mission Field?

3. Paul regarded his friends as “fellow laborers”. Why is that a good way to think about our Christian friends? Is this how you think about your Christian friends?

He has finished his epistle with a prayer. And indeed prayer is a great good, beneficial, and preserves our souls. But prayer is great when we act in line with our prayers and do not undermine by our behavior the very thing for which we pray. And you, too, therefore, when you go to the priest, and he says to you, “The Lord will have mercy on you, my son,” do not trust in the word only but add works to your trust. Mercy is an excellent thing! Why, then, haven’t you shown it to another? John Chrysostom (344-407), Homilies on Philemon 3

Give me grace for this day, Lord; help me in working my Personal Mission Field to…

Pray Psalm 113.1-6.
As you pray, settle it in your mind to praise God throughout the day for His many blessings and the evidence of His glory all about. And as you pray about meetings, tasks, or work to accomplish, seek His grace and strength, that He might be glorified in all you do.

Sing Psalm 113.1-6.
Psalm 113.1-6 (Amageddon: Who Is On the Lord’s Side?)
Praise the Lord, O praise Him, all who know His Name!
From this day forever, magnify His fame!
From the time each morning when the sun is raised,
to its evening waning, let His Name be praised!
Refrain vv. 1, 2
Praise the Lord, O praise Him, all who know His Name!
From this day forever, magnify His fame!

High above the nations, on Your glorious throne,
who is like You, Savior, ruling all You own?
Sovereign and all-knowing, over all above,
praise to You is owing for Your perfect love!
Refrain

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).