I thank my God, making mention
of thee always in my prayers,
hearing of thy love and faith,
which thou hast toward the
Lord Jesus, and toward all
saints; that the communication
of thy faith may become effectual
by the acknowledging of every
good thing which is in you in
Christ Jesus. For we have great
joy and consolation in they love,
because the bowels of the
saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Philemon 4-7
Paul seems to be overjoyed at the news towards Philemon, and that of Onesimus and held them in his prayers always. I am convicted, and maybe you as well, that I am deficient in this matter. I hear, know of, those who have changed their hearts and become Christians and by their faith their lives are changed for the good, and yet, I do not hold them in prayer thanking God for all the work that He has done for them. Oh, I am grateful, in words, and in heart, but do not always go to prayer thanking God, and I do not always bring my joy to them. This has to change, my heart needs to change, and the exercise of my faith has to change, to include in prayer, in action, towards my brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul sets forth for us this example, and now we must take and put that example into action. What refreshing joy must come to those who have our love shown in action towards those who are exercising their faith. Take time to pray, intercessory prayer, not just prayer asking from God something, but thanking Him for all His good works.
All good works come from Jesus Christ, our faith in Him, and by applying His words in our life, becoming an image of Him, we give to our world good communication about our faith and towards our God and Savior. Our good works, our prayers, are a refreshment for others, what joy we should have to do this work. For to many who call themselves Christian are doing "work" that is for themselves by becoming almost, if not actually, in a trance shouting, euphoric as if they were at a rock band concert. Speaking in some gibberish noise, or language, all to make themselves feel holy and godly as though God is pleased with such antics. He is not! Our communication, our witness is to be sober and we ought to live quiet lives: "Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread" (2Thessalonians 3:12). "Ad that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands,as we commanded you" (1Thessalonians 4:11). "For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1Timothy 2:2). "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1Peter 3:4). It is clear, plain, not confusion, but of truth, we as Authentic Christians are to live quiet lives, sober, doing our work as towards the Lord and this will manifest, communicate the Gospel in ways that cannot always be seen, but are a good and commanded work.
Authentic Christians do not separate faith and good works form their exercise of life. In our justification by faith we are acquitted by God and by this we love God for it is His gift to His children, and as love is love, and faith is faith, alone and separate actions, they are joined together in our persons. In our practice they are joined. Our faith is not giving us justification, for our faith is a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9), so then our joining together love and faith they become the means that we apprehend God and receive mercies from God and those mercies are by means of the merits of Jesus Christ and the promises of the Gospel.
As you prepare for worship this Sunday take time to meditate upon this and to apply this to someone, maybe that one that God puts on your heart. In any case pray for someone even if that person is not put on your heart, be one who intercedes for another. This is Jesus Christ pragmatically living through you. What a communication of the Gospel this is, what a manifest of our Great God and Savior. And you and and I, chosen to be a worker for God, what a blessing.
The LORD is good unto them
that wait for Him, to the
soul that seeketh Him.
It is good that a man should
both hope and quietly wait
for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:25-26
Become a prayer warrior
Richard L. Crumb
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