Refresh the Hearts of the Saints

Isaiah 6,7; 2 Chronicles 26,27; Philemon 

“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”

Philemon 7

The network of churches in Paul’s day was linked by relationships and letters. Letters were delivered by church representatives who then brought with them the personal updates and needs from the congregation they represented and those they had visited. Philemon hosted a house church in his home and would have welcomed many visiting Christians. His runaway slave, Onesimus, had found Christ in prison with Paul. Paul’s appeal to Philemon was to forgive and welcome back Onesimus. The same love and hospitality which refreshed many saints is what Paul was appealing to in this test of Onesimus’ response to a returning slave, now a brother in Christ. Paul closed by writing Philemon’s grace-filled response to Onesimus would in turn “refresh my heart in Christ” (Philemon 20). When we extend forgiveness and grace in our relationships, we, too, refresh the hearts of God’s people by our example of humility.

In what relationships is the Lord inviting us to “refresh the hearts of the saints”?

“Lord Jesus, you have refreshed my heart repeatedly through your mercy toward me. I pray for grace to live the same way toward others, for your glory.”