Thanking God For Everybody!

WORD COUNT: 36,331

 

[My reminders today that I need to do this WAY more often. -- David]

 

...We also need to be thankful for our brothers and sisters in Christ, whether they are down the street or on the other side of the world.

 We also need to give thanks for individuals and recognize their faith.

“I thank my god, making mention of thee always in my prayers” (Philemon 1:4).

Paul was about to ask something of Philemon that was difficult. Philemon had a slave named Onesimus who had stolen money from him and then ran away. Philemon was a Christian and along the way Onesimus also became a Christian. Onesimus needed to face his sin and that required him to return to Philemon.

Paul wrote a letter to Philemon and was able to say that he indeed thanked God for Philemon’s faith, and now he was asking Philemon to put that faith into action. He needed to forgive a man who had wronged him but who now was a fellow Christian. If Paul hadn’t been faithful in his prayers of thanks he could not have told Philemon that he prayed for him.

We need to pray for our fellow Christians. We need to thank God that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who are faithful and have a desire to please God....

 

-- Nathele Graham, "Thank God", appears on Rapture Ready on website

 

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

And to beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

If he hath wronged thee, or oweth ought, put that on mine account;

I Paul have written with mine own hand, I will repay: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

 

(Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.)

 

-- Paul's letter to Philemon, who's the owner of Onesimus, and at this time all three are followers of Jesus Christ (as it appears in the New Testament, King James Version of the Bible)