From Useless To Useful
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
Philemon 1:11
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
O-bservation:
This is part of the Apostle Paul’s plea to his friend Philemon. Philemon was a wealthy member of the church in Colossae. He had an associate named Onesimus, who had somehow treated him (Philemon) badly and was now in prison. Prison is where Paul met Onesimus. In prison, this young man was transformed by the power of Jesus. Paul said to his friend Philemon as Onesimus was about to be released from prison that he wanted Philemon to take the young man back and give him another chance, because, as Paul said, “He’s gone from Useless To Useful.”
A-pplication:
Can you remember a time in your life when you were so messed up that you were pretty useless to those who needed help? I sure can. There was a period in my life when it was all about me, myself, and I. That was about as far as my compassionate side ever got. Then one day I was transformed by the power of the Almighty. I didn’t look back after that. From that point on, I turned from being all about me to being all about Jesus and whatever I could do to help others. My life has never been the same since the day the Lord changed me. I’m nothing more than a more modern version of Onesimus. Thank God I’ve gone from “Useless To Useful.”
P-rayer:
Dear Jesus,
I want to be used. I want to be useful. Whatever You want for me, I want for me too! Amen
Comment (1)
Amen! Thank you for this message. I feel this heavily right now and I pray that one day I will be useful to those around me and those who need it, all for God’s glory. Thank you Pastor Rich! Have a blessed day!