God’s Hope for Your Heart from Philemon
GOD REVEALS HIS BLESSINGS THROUGH COMMUNITY
And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. (Philemon 1:6)
When we hear the phrase, “sharing your faith,” we likely think about evangelism. Certainly we should share our faith with those who don’t have it, in hopes that they might believe. Yet, there is another kind of sharing that is vitally important, too.
We must share our faith with other believers, not in the sense of only telling them about our experience, but listening to theirs, too.
The greek word used here for sharing is “koinonia,” a word we often translate in english as “fellowship.” It’s a picture of the Christian life as a family potluck dinner.
So, here’s a question. Can you survive by only eating what you cooked up yourself? Sure, but you’ll miss the fulness and beauty of enjoying what other people bring to the table.
God’s plan for your life in Christ was never about you and Him in isolation together. He has wired your heart in such a way that the only way you will receive the fulness of His blessings is by being in fellowship regularly with His people.
God uses people to accomplish His work, so as you structure your life and your schedule, let this truth direct your priorities: God reveals His blessings through community.
-Pastor Phillip
