Bible Reading: Philemon 1-25
Key
Verse: Verse 16 & 17 “Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially
to me, but how much more unto thee,
both in the flesh, and in the
Lord? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive
him as myself.”
Key Words: If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
In the book of
Philemon, we see Jesus as a Friend Who intercedes and releases us from bondage (verse 10).
It is because
of what Jesus has done for us in releasing us from the bondage of sin that we
can certainly say, “To God be the glory.”
It’s through
Jesus that Godly friendships are bound together.
John Fawcett
was converted as a teenager listening to George Whitefield. He joined the Baptists and was ordained on
July 31, 1765. He began pastoring a poor
church in Wainsgate, finding time here and there for writing. His writings spread abroad, and the little
church feared they would lose their pastor to a larger place. Fawcett wondered the same thing, lamenting in
his diary that his family was growing faster than his income.
The call came
from London’s famous Carter’s Lane Church.
“Think of it!” Fawcett told his wife.
“They want us in London to take the place of the late Dr. Gill at that
great church! It’s almost
unbelievable!” The following Sunday he
broke the news to his church, then began packing. Books, dishes, pictures, and furniture were
crated for the overland journey to the world’s largest city. When the day of departure came, church
members assembled and bravely tried to hold their tears. Finally everything was loaded but one box,
and Fawcett entered the house to retrieve it.
There he found his wife deep in thought.
“John,” she
said, voice breaking, “do you think we’re doing the right thing? Will we ever find a congregation to love us
and help us with the Lord’s work like this group here?”
“Do you think
we’re too hasty in this?” John asked.
“Yes. I think we should stay right here and serve
these people.”
John was
silent a moment, for his heart, too, had been breaking. He nodded, “I was so overjoyed when the call
came that I never really prayed about it like a minister should.”
They walked
onto the porch, called the people together, revealed their change of heart, and
amid joyous tears unloaded their wagons.
Fawcett stayed at Wainsgate the rest of his life, but not in obscurity. Out of this experience, he wrote the
world-famous hymn:
Blest
be the tie that binds
Our
hearts in Christian love.
The
fellowship of kindred minds
Is
like to that above.
What to do:
✞
Evaluate your
friendship with Jesus. Is it real?
✞
Evaluate your
friendship with others. Are they Godly friends?
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