Bible Study Plan 2019

Today we read:
1 Samuel 3-4
John 11
Psalms 62

-Food for thought day 138-

• Philemon 1:8-20
• Galatians 6:1

The reason why you must forgive and give the same people who offended you a second chance without reserves, is because God can still use them to be useful and of great help in your life.

“In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ’s ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn’t hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I’d rather make it a personal request.
While here in jail, I’ve fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter—Onesimus! He was useless to you before; now he’s useful to both of us. I’m sending him back to you, but it feels like I’m cutting off my right arm in doing so. I wanted in the worst way to keep him here as your stand-in to help out while I’m in jail for the Message. But I didn’t want to do anything behind your back, make you do a good deed that you hadn’t willingly agreed to.
Maybe it’s all for the best that you lost him for a while. You’re getting him back now for good—and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother! That’s what he was to me—he’ll be even more than that to you.
So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me. If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account. This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?) Do me this big favor, friend. You’ll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.”
‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1:8-20‬ ‭msg.

Onesimus was a fellow churchgoer who stole from the church funds and left the church. Paul later on found him, preached to him and he repented and became useful; not only to Paul but also for the ministry. Paul was pleading to Philemon to receive, forgive and give him a new opportunity because he had repented and was useful for the ministry.

As a believer in Christ, you must learn to remember how God demonstrates His mercy towards you daily by giving you fresh opportunities, irrespective of your mistakes, to be the person He called you to be.

The devil is a master of confusion and strife. He hides behind actions of people to steal, kill and destroy the unity and peace among the brethren. That is why we must be wise in directing our arrows towards the right target (satan) in warfare and pray for the restoration of the brethren that are taken by a fault.

Love brings restoration. That is why for love sake give new opportunities to your offenders and make room for restoration in your heart.

Many Blessing in Jesus’ Name.

Think and Act!!!!