“I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.” Philemon 1:4-7
As I was reading the book of Philemon, I was inspired and challenged by Paul’s observation of Philemon because he was a man who refreshed the hearts of the saints. When I think about what it means to be “refreshed” I think of being renewed, replenished, energized, and revived.
I was immediately introspective and asked, “Oh Lord, is this what my life does for others?”
God immediately reminded me that the only way I can refresh those around me is BY His love and THROUGH His strength and wisdom. I cannot refresh anyone else—not even myself—without Jesus being the dominant reason for my life. This passage says that Philemon operated in “love and faith” towards Jesus and he was effective because he acknowledged that EVERY good thing that was in him was—because of Jesus!
What does this remind you of???
Wow—those powerful, powerful Beatitudes of Jesus where He first taught us the attitude of being poor in spirit, which is being completely dependent upon Him for everything. The more I study God’s Word and discover the amazing capacity we have to live in our glorious purpose, the more I realize just how remarkable the Sermon on the Mount lays the foundation for everything good we can experience in THIS life and into eternity.
When we are consistently acknowledging that every good gift and every perfect gift is from the Father, our life refreshes the hearts of those around us.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17
If we want to be a force that energizes and renews each person who comes into contact with us, we must be energized by Christ. We cannot give away what we do not possess. Christ gives us all the best gifts—the greatest of which is His presence.
