◄ What Does Philemon 1:6 Mean? ►

What a beautiful opening prayer we discover Paul writing to his beloved friend from his restrictive prison cell, and what wise instructions he gave - wisdom we all need to heed.

Paul was praying that his dear friend Philemon would be an effective witness as he shared his faith with others. He further prayed that he would come to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the incredible riches of God's unfathomable grace that are discovered in Jesus Christ alone.

It was the Lord Jesus Himself that demonstrated how to live in spirit and in truth, by the leading of the Spirit of God. Jesus lived a perfect life by looking to the Father, day by day, and learning obedience through the things He suffered.

It was Paul who revealed the mystery that was hidden from the ages and from the generations, but has now made known to his sanctified people. It was a mystery kept hidden from past ages and generations, but has been unveiled to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. We will never understand the full extent of the incredible riches of God's unfathomable grace that are discovered in Jesus Christ our Lord, but the more we know Him the more effective will be our Christian ministry and witness.

We need to pray for one another, just as Paul prayed in the book of Philemon, that the fellowship of OUR faith may become increasingly effecting as together we all grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Let us never forget that all we are and all we have is ours by Christ alone. The more we come to know Jesus and the blessings that flow to us from Him, the more we will desire to share these blessings with others until we can pray: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Let us pray for our fellow believers that the fellowship of our faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in us, for Christ's sake.

Heavenly Father, thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ, knowing that we are all one in Him. I pray that the fellowship of our faith may become effective, through knowing every good thing that is in us, for the glory of Christ Jesus our Lord, AMEN.