Daily Manna: Lowliness Not Grandstanding

Monday 19, August 2013

TEXT: PHILEMON 1-9

KEY VERSE: “Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ” (Philemon 9).

Frederick Brotherton Meyer, a contemporary and friend of D. L. Moody, once noted that the way to get God’s best gifts is not from self-exaltation, but through humility. He said: “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other and the taller we grew in Christian character, the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not the question of growing taller, but of stooping down, to get His best gifts.”

Paul’s description of himself as a prisoner of Christ in this epistle to Philemon reveals much about his character as a man who left all for the Lord. For him, Jesus Christ had captured his soul. This indicates that Christians must wave their rights and relinquish their freedom to Jesus Christ as Lord. Christ must dictate everything about their lives.

The epistle seems to have been designed to teach us the principle of forgiveness. It is basically to appeal to Philemon to forgive Onesimus, who defrauded him and ran away. But out of the mercy of God, he got converted. Though Paul was instrumental in the conversion of both Philemon and Onesimus and could use his authority as an apostle to compel Philemon to forgive Onesimus, he chose a courteous approach to handle the situation.

Paul, who would not impress people about himself, appealed to Philemon’s character and earnestly besought him to forgive Onesimus. Yet, today, with little position, influence, wealth and gift, some Christians flaunt themselves unduly. They will want to impress others with their spirituality, maturity, training or effort. What will people know you with – a lowly heart or a proud look?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Meekness and lowliness of heart are virtues of a true Christian.

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