"I REMEMBER YOU IN MY PRAYERS" Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings - 29/5/14

“I REMEMBER YOU IN MY PRAYERS”

            The short letter of Paul to Philemon has some valuable lessons for us in the area of spiritual relationships of believers with one another.  Paul is writing as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” [v.1] and Timothy is with him – and other visitors support him, “Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke” [v.24]. He tells Philemon, “I remember you in my prayers.” (v.4)

            We meditate on what filled Paul’s hours and days in his imprisonment, his mind was very much occupied with thoughts about the believers he knew and the news he hears about them. We  remember the dramatic night when he and Silas sang hymns while in prison, and we surely imagine him singing hymns with “Epaphras my fellow prisoner” [v.23].

            How do we compare, we who are free to do as we please – does how we spend our time help or hinder our spiritual life?  We have to admit that, unless we are at some spiritual gathering, the events of our daily lives rarely help us spiritually; it is vital that we ask ourselves – do they hinder, do they undermine? 

Paul is pleased with Philemon “because I hear of your love and the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints (fellow believers), and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective …” [v.5,6]

            Would others hear the same sort of thing about us?  If not, what would they hear?  Would it have any effect on them in the sense of a good (or bad) example we set them? Paul is able to say to Philemon, “I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”

[v.7] 

 Do we shed abroad a spirit that refreshes the hearts of other believers – so that we are a light that really shines in the increasing spiritual darkness of this world – the effect of that light being so good that even some unbelievers will notice?    Let us live so that we do this, it maybe that we do it unconsciously, only realizing the effect we have had as we look back on events.  And in communicating with fellow believers – and those who do not yet believe, which may include some of our children, we can state, “I remember you in my prayers.”

Philemon 1:4
"I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers"

Paul gives thanks in his prayers for his brethren's love and faith they have towards the Lord Jesus and the saints.

When was the last time we gave thanks in our prayers for our brother of our sister.

Paul gives thanks in his prayers for his brothers and sisters:
- love they show unto all their brothers and sisters
- unceasing work of faith in the truth
- labour of love, and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ
- their fellowship he is able/has been able to have with them
- and asks God give them wisdom and the unveiling of knowledge in the Lord Jesus Christ

Let us remember to be aware of of brothers and our sisters works of faith in their discipleship, and give thanks for them in our prayers unto our Heavenly Father.

And let us strive to be like those brothers and sisters who Paul felt compelled to give thanks unto God for.