Philemon

Thanking Jesus  

dwm   

Philemon 1

¹Thank You for Paul, Your prisoner, O Christ Jesus, and Timothy his brother, who wrote to Philemon, their beloved fellow worker, ²to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, their fellow soldier, and to the assembly in his house.

³Thank You for the grace and peace sent to me from God our Father and from You, Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴I thank You, my Jesus, always, making mention of Christians in my prayers, ⁵hearing of their love, and of the faith which they have toward You, Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints. ⁶Thank You that the fellowship of their faith has become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in You.

⁷Thank You that I (like Paul) have much joy and comfort in others love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through my brothers and sisters.

⁸Therefore, I thank You that Paul had all boldness in You, O Christ, to command Philemon that which was appropriate, ⁹yet for love’s sake Paul had rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also Your prisoner, O Jesus Christ. ¹⁰I appreciate that Paul begged Philemon for his child, of whom he had become the father in his chains, Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave, ¹¹who once was useless to Philemon, but now was useful to both Philemon and to Paul.

¹²I am appreciative that Paul send Onesimus back asking that Philemon  receive Onesimus, like he would receive Paul. ¹³I appreciate Paul’s desired to keep Onesimus with him, that on Philemon’s behalf Onesimus might serve Paul in his chains for the Good News. ¹⁴But I appreciate even more Paul’s willingness to do nothing without Philemon’s approval, that Philemon’s goodness would not be by compulsion, but of free will.

¹⁵I also appreciate Paul telling Philemon that perhaps Onesimus was, therefore, separated from Philemon for a while, that he would have him forever, ¹⁶no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to Paul, but also to Philemon , both in the flesh and in You, Lord.

¹⁷Thank You that Paul wrote, “If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. ¹⁸But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account. ¹⁹I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). ²⁰Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord. ²¹Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

²²Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.”

²³Thank You for Epaphras, Paul’s fellow prisoner in You,

Christ Jesus, who greeted Philemon and also greets me, ²⁴as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, Paul’s fellow workers.

²⁵I am thankful for Your grace, O Lord Jesus Christ, that is with my spirit. Amen.

 

JESUS, THANK YOU THAT BECAUSE OF WHO YOU

ARE…

I am sent grace and peace from God and from You.

I am mentioning other Christians in my prayers.

I am hearing of other Christians love and faith.

I am joyful and comforted in other believers’ love.

I am not longer useless.

I am useful.

I am good to others not by compulsion but of free will.

I am refreshed in my heart in You.

I am a fellow prisoner in You.