Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 358

December 24;      Philemon 7;       203/260(III);        ‘Joy & Comfort’

Philemon 7 I myself have gained much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because your kindness has so often refreshed the hearts of God's people.      NLT

Paul is in jail (jail was not in him).  Paul is writing to a man named Philemon concerning a servant Onesimus, who Paul led to Jesus.  Paul, who knows Philemon, and it seems like Paul led Philemon to the Lord also, is asking Philemon to accept Onesimus now as a Christian brother, not a servant.  Philemon has brought great joy and comfort to Paul because of his kindness to Christians.  Paul, an apostle and teacher has had an incredible life starting churches and receiving great revelation to bless and help the church, is blessed by Philemon.  We all have different talents, given to us by the Lord and when used the body of Christ is blessed by those talents.  Paul cannot be everything to everyone.  Only Jesus is that.  Paul did what he was called to do and recognized the gift in Philemon that was a great blessing.  How wonderful that is, that the talents given to us by the Lord, can be and should be used to bless and help the Church.  Teaching the Word of God is the greatest joy of my life, the greatest privilege.  There are those in the church, talented by the Lord to teach God’s Word to the children on a level the children can understand and be blessed by.  This no less a gift of the Lord and if stewarded properly will lay a life-long foundation in those children.  How fair the Lord is.  No one has it all.  Together, a church can have it all as each member, knowing and using the talent given by the Lord shares it with the congregation.  All are blessed as it should be.