Committed to Faith in Jesus
Yesterday we saw how love for others is an obvious sign of true Christianity, but I’ve noticed this: loving others is not a distinctly Christian thing. Of course, it is an identifying mark of a Christian, but you can not know God at all and still love others. Philemon though, was not just honoured by Paul because of his love for others. Paul says this:
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.” (Philemon 1:4–5 NIV11)
If we want to be committed Christians, it’s right there in the title “Christian”. We need to be committed to our faith in Jesus.
CS Lewis, the great writer, said this once: “Every Christian would agree that a man’s spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God.”
Faith in Action
When we talk about faith in Jesus, it’s all about loving Jesus. Because remember – even the devils believed in him and had faith in Him as the Son of God. But they didn’t love him! They didn’t treasure him and worship Him! They had faith but they hated him!
Philemon’s faith in Christ had reached the ears of Paul, and I am sure Paul heard reports that here was a man who loved Christ deeply. That is true saving faith, when Jesus is our number one.
I did a memorial service for a dear friend the other day, my best mate’s father. One of the things that was said about Uncle Steve was that he loved Jesus and he didn’t care who knew it! His faith in Christ was so deep that it just shone from Him. You couldn’t really have a conversation with him without Jesus shining through Him.
And I think, I think that’s who Philemon was. For Paul to say this about him means that Jesus just shone through him. And everybody knew it.
You know what I’ve found in my spiritual journey? I can do the work of God even if my heart isn’t in it. I can even stand up and lead a service, or sing a song and be far from God in my heart.
That’s unhealthy. It’s unhealthy when we do the things of God but our hearts aren’t in it. That’s the Pharisee way! Jesus condemned that Pharisees because their hearts weren’t in the right place! He said to them ““You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain.” (Matthew 15:7–9 NIV11)
Love for Jesus
They say the right things, but their hearts are far from me. Oh forgive us Lord! When we say and do Christians things, but our hearts are far from you!
I want to be more like Philemon! Whose genuine faith in Christ was heard of by the other Christians!
I want to wake up in the morning and sing O how I love Jesus! O how I love Jesus! Because I know that when I am loving Jesus, I learn how to truly love others.
Let’s come back today friends… to faith in Jesus. TRUE faith in Jesus… where he is our deepest love and greatest treasure.
That’s the Philemon way… and it’s the way of Christian commitment.
