Philemon 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Paul was very encouraged as he was under house arrest in Rome by the love and kindness of Philemon. He gave his home so that the church would have a meeting place. The communal edification of followers and believers in Christ Jesus indicates that the church members become filled to overflowing with the love Christ Jesus has taught us that we should have for all people. Jesus tells us in scripture that we should be an encouragement to others, as God encourages us (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Our
text verse today says that Philemon refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people,
and it is also the desire of our Lord and Savior that we restore the hearts and
souls of those around us. Christ Jesus will lead people into our lives when
they desperately need a simple word of encouragement, a refreshing of their
body, mind, soul, and spirit. There will be times when we need a spiritual
refreshing, and there is nothing sweeter than someone reaching out and lifting
us from a dark valley we find ourselves in (2 Corinthians 7:13).
It
is exciting to see others around us happy because of some encouraging words
they received from another. This joyfulness and excitement are contagious;
Satan will have difficulty spreading his discouragement and despair once it
starts to build momentum. God lifts our hearts and refreshes us when we realize
that we are loved and supported by an encourager in Christ Jesus, God's Holy
Spirit.
Just
imagine what joy and rejoicing fill the heart of our Lord and Savior, Christ
Jesus when He sees all His children encouraging and lifting one another up.
There is no more tremendous excitement and encouragement than when we gather
together as followers and believers in Christ Jesus and sing praises to His
holy name. Holding the name of Jesus up in honor and glory is encouragement in
and of itself. It reminds us of the great and wonderful promises we have from
God.
Promises
like He will never leave or forsake us, promises, as we will never know a
milli-second that He is not holding on to us, promises as the eternal life
spent with the creator of all in heaven and all on earth.
Let
us commit to being an "encourager" who refreshes the hearts and souls
of all around us, not just this week but always. Let our prayers include a
request from God to send people into our lives that need some encouragement and
thanks to God for leading those into our lives when we needed encouragement.
But, most of all, let us ask God to open our spiritual eyes to see and give us
the heart to serve those in our midst who might require our encouragement.
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