Philemon 1:4-7
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
We should rejoice greatly as Paul did with the ones who kiss the Son (Psalm 2:12). He prayed for Philemon even more when hearing his walk of sanctification in grace by faith. Paul heard of the love and faith shown both to Jesus Christ as Lord and others as brethren. He heard of that faith exercised in love through the gospel, sharing the testimony of Jesus Christ’s work on the cross. This active faith believed and acted by proclaiming the most excellent news, the words of life eternal in our Savior! Therefore he prayed for effectiveness in the sharing of this gift of faith given freely, and the resulting fruit of good things coming from the faith lived out willingly and freely. There is deep joy and satisfying consolation in the love of the saints, especially when we see the hearts encouraged and refreshed in the heavenly places in the sight of myriad elect angels. We can learn much on both sides of this here, both on the side of faithful Philemon and on the side of praying Paul. We love actively and rejoice in others when they live for Christ.
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