By Jeff Cranston

Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it. Many families will gather over the holidays and, for some, instead of a Currier and Ives/Hallmark/Norman Rockwell holiday, old wounds and deep tensions will bubble to the surface. Harsh words and manipulative behaviors will aggravate existing frustrations. 

Alienation penetrates our society, our homes, families and personal lives. Instead of alienation, however, there can be intimacy and fellowship and love. The gospel radically reconstructs our relationships to one another within the body of Christ.

Read Philemon 1-7. Philemon was a wealthy man of influence who had come to faith in Christ as a result of apostle Paul’s ministry. While Paul was under house arrest in Rome, he met Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave who also became a follower of Christ. As Onesimus prepared to return to Philemon, Paul wrote this letter to pave the way for his return and to secure a welcome for him. Let’s take a closer look at these verses.

The importance of strong relationships

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – Philemon 1-3

Paul’s greatest priority in life was to serve Jesus Christ through preaching the gospel and encouraging the church to do the same. As such, he understood the importance of forging strong interpersonal relationships and partnering with other believers. Paul wasn’t a one-man show. He was connected to other believers as a member of Christ’s body. So are you. When you understand the significance of your role, both as an individual believer and as part of the corporate body, it impacts how you relate to others and how you challenge and encourage others in the faith.

Refreshing others

 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. – Philemon 4-7

Paul commended Philemon for his faith, love, and ministry to the believers. Philemon had refreshed the hearts of the saints. The implication was that Philemon would continue to be a source of blessing through a positive response to Paul’s desires concerning Onesimus.

One of God’s purposes for every believer is that he or she be refreshment to others. We do not need to have a vibrant personality for this. We do not need to read “How to Win Friends and Influence People” to do this.  All we need is a little courage that comes from God’s Word, which will enable us to extend this refreshment to others. Is your life a refreshment to others? Be a cool drink of water to a fellow Christian in need. God calls upon us to have a ministry toward God’s people. We should be sources of love and joy and comfort and refreshment to those around us. Who is your love benefiting?

When you practice loving people well—when people are refreshed from your love for them—then there will be a second-hand impact where the whole church receives joy and comfort. So, go ahead! Love well!

Jeff Cranston is lead pastor of LowCountry Community Church in Bluffton, S.C.

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