Closing Remarks of Paul to Philemon (Philemon 23-25)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-01-02

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Paul’s closing remarks to Philemon

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 23-25

 

            Message of the verse:  “23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.  25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”  (NAS95)  “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.  So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”  (NLT)

            Paul, as his practice, mentions names at the end of his letters and this letter is no exception.  He mentions Epaphras who was probably in prison with him at this time, he is the one who started the church at Colosse and this is where Philemon lived.  Aristarchus was a traveling companion of Paul’s and was in the riot mentioned in the book of Acts that happened at Ephesus.  Luke is the famous Dr. Luke who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, and he to was a traveling companion of Paul.  Paul also mention Demas who latter deserted him, (see 2 Timothy 4:10.)  John Mark is also mentioned and it could be that the reason Paul mentions him is because of the problems that he and Paul had on Paul’s second missionary journey.  Paul had to work through his problem with Mark, as he did and latter says that Mark was profitable to him.  This could encourage Philemon to do the same with Onesimus.  Verse twenty-five is similar to closing verses that Paul has written in other letters where he prays that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  It is wonderful to have the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ minister to our spirits.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Paul mentions a lot of people in his letters, especially in the closing portions of his letters and at times it is easy to just read their names and go on to the next verse without thinking too much about them.  However I am sure that God knows all about these people and the contributions that they have made for the cause of Christ in their life times as believers.  God knows about all people, good or bad, and it strikes me that I too should learn more about people too.  People that God brings into my life, and not just tell them about myself, but listen to their stories, their struggles and good times, to befriend them for the cause of Jesus Christ.

 

The Word of God did bring conviction to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith For Today:  By the grace of the Lord I will become a better listener to others for the cause of Christ, which is the best cause of all.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Ephesians 2:10:  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”