50 Days of Prayer for Fellowship CRC

Philemon 4-6, “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” (The Epistle to Philemon is so short, why not read the entire letter right now?)

We wish we know more about the characters in this story.  Onesimus was a runaway slave who had become a Christian who took care of Paul's physical needs; did they meet in prison? Philemon seems to be a man of some social standing.  Were Apphia and Archippus his wife and son? What of the church that met in their home?  When had he and the Apostle Paul worked together?  Even though this letter is brief, clearly the two men had a close relationship. Paul expresses prayers of gratitude for Philemon based on what he remembered from their shared past, the present reports he was receiving about Philemon’s practical love and lived faith, and for all the benefits that would come to Philemon’s life as he shared his faith.  

Paul writes to Philemon regarding a specific way that Philemon needed to share his faith. It was not a minor issue; it was the freedom of the slave, Onesimus.  Philemon had Roman law to back him up in whatever he chose to do to Onesimus the slave, but Paul “made his appeal for action on the basis of love rather than law” (Andrew Purves). Paul prayed that Philemon would receive Onesimus back as a Christian brother, not as a slave—not because he “should,” but become love made it possible. 

Who do you think of with gratitude to God for your shared past, present and future? What is it that you pray today that God’ love, expressed through their faith, will motivate them to do?

So we pray,
Father God, thank you for the spiritual sisters and brothers that you have given us in your family.  As we think of specific people now, we thank you for our shared faith and the benefits we have in sharing that faith.  Show us today the demands of love on our lives, and help us to fulfill them for your sake. Amen.