Philemon 1:1-7: a reflection

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, 2to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. 7For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul opens his short letter to Philemon with warm thanksgiving. He thanks God for Philemon's love and faith, and he names something Philemon was known for: I have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Philemon was the kind of person whose love refreshed others; the people of God came away from him encouraged, restored, their hearts lifted. His love was refreshing.

Notice the beautiful thing said of Philemon: he refreshed the hearts of the saints. Some people, by their love and kindness, leave others refreshed, encouraged, restored; being with them lifts the heart. Philemon was such a person, and Paul gives thanks for him. It is a quiet but wonderful gift, to be someone through whom others' hearts are refreshed, someone whose love encourages rather than burdens, restores rather than drains.

That is worth aspiring to. We can be, to those around us, either a drain or a refreshment; some people leave others weary and discouraged, while others, like Philemon, leave them refreshed and encouraged. Ask what you are to the people around you. Aim to be a refresher of hearts, one whose love and kindness lift and restore others, so that people come away from you encouraged rather than drained. It is a great gift to give: to refresh the hearts of others, as Philemon did. Let your love be a refreshment to those around you, and become the kind of person for whom others give thanks, because their hearts are lifted through you.

Lord, Paul gave thanks for Philemon, whose love refreshed the hearts of the saints, so that people came away from him encouraged and restored. Make me such a person. I can be, to those around me, either a drain or a refreshment; some people leave others weary and discouraged, while others, like Philemon, leave them refreshed and encouraged. Show me what I am to the people around me. Help me aim to be a refresher of hearts, one whose love and kindness lift and restore others, so that people come away from me encouraged rather than drained. It is a great gift to give: to refresh the hearts of others. Let my love be a refreshment to those around me, and make me the kind of person for whom others give thanks, because their hearts are lifted through me. Fill me with a love that refreshes, for your sake.