Week 50 Devotions

December 10 - - Paul wrote the letter to his Christian brother, Philemon, while he was imprisoned in Rome (Acts 28:30&31). Philemon was living in Colosse so this letter was probably penned about the same time he wrote the Colossian letter and both were delivered at the same time. Paul was obviously a close friend of Philemon’s, having been instrumental in his conversion to Christ (vs.19). Apphia is probably the wife of Philemon and Archippus their son. Having been at the home of Philemon before, Paul might have known some of Philemon’s slaves. One of them, Onesimus, has escaped and fled to Rome. We don’t know the timing of Onesimus’ trip to Rome. Did he know that Paul was there and so he purposely went to meet with Paul in Rome? Or, was Onesimus already in Rome and he sought a meeting with Paul when he heard Paul was a prisoner in that city? Or, was Onesimus in Rome and he and Paul had a chance meeting? What we do know is this; when God begins His work of redemption and transformation in us at our invitation, He aims to finish what He’s begun no matter where we go and no matter what we do. “I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again” (Philippians 1:6). In this process of changing our character so that it resembles the character of Christ himself (Phil.3:12-14; I John 3:2; II Corinthians 3:18), God will use many people, many unusual circumstances, and the power of His Word to mold us and shape us as He wills. We have the promise that “all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). God’s plan for our lives simply will not be deterred, no matter what turn our lives take, and regardless of whether we always make the right decisions or not. God had begun a good work in the life of a slave named, Onesimus, in the city of Colosse. We don’t know whether Onesimus was a Christian before he was purchased to be a slave in Philemon’s house or if Onesimus found Jesus while employed by his Christian master, Philemon. What we do know is that God aimed to complete His project in Onesimus, regardless of where this slave went or what he did. If God took such careful consideration to bless Onesimus and help him find the Lord, than God would also take care to make sure that Onesimus grew in his relationship with the Lord. “Since God did not spare even His own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else (we need to live and grow)?” (Romans 8:32). The answers God gives to all His promises, confirm the answer to this questions is a resounding, ‘yes’! What is true of Onesimus, is also true of us. God has a plan for each of our lives (Jeremiah 29:11-14). He has predetermined that when we begin searching for spiritual answers to our lives, we will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29; Matthew 7:7&8; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 8:29). And when we find the Lord and commit our lives to Him, He begins a transformation in us that will ultimately be completed when we leave this life for the one beyond. December 13 - - The largest war began somewhere in the heart of one person. “What is causing quarrels and fights among you?” James asks (4:1). It’s wanting something we don’t have. It’s when we are jealous of someone and desire something that doesn’t belong to us. And in our selfishness, we determine to get what we want, whatever the cost to anyone else. That’s how wars begin. And then we convince others to help us in our quest. We need to realize that if there is something we legitimately need, then we should begin by asking the God who is able to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19). He is the God who freely gives to His children because that’s just the way He is (1:17; Matthew 7:7-11). Part of our problem is that we’ve never truly gone to our Father in faith and asked, believing that He could and would grant our requests (James 4:2). And part of our problem is that our motive in what we are asking for is purely selfish and wrong. A good parent is not going to supply everything his/her child asks for because the parent is wise enough to know that some things a child asks for would be a disaster for them to receive. That is where trust comes in. We have to believe that the God who created the entire Universe, the God who knows our every need because He knows everything about us, is the same God who will supply everything we truly need and withhold those things He knows we don’t need. Prayer is powerful because it accesses the very riches and powers of heaven. Prayer touches the divine power which is able to heal people physically (James 5:13-15). Prayer can change the outward conditions around us (5:16-18) and prayer can change the inward conditions of the heart that result in people finding their way to God. So, consider carefully what you ask for. Some things aren’t nearly as important bringing before our Father as we think, and other things should be brought before the Father that we think are too trivial to bother Him with.