S. O. A. P.

Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!

S-cripture:

Philemon 1:1b-2

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—also to Apphia our sister and Archippusour fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home.

O-bservation:

St. Paul writes to Philemon, a friend of his, concerning Philemon’s former employee Onesimus. Besides Philemon, Paul mentions a few choice friends and concludes by saying, “I’m writing this to the church that meets in your home.”

A-pplication:

We know very little of Philemon except that he was a financially prosperous leader of the church at Colossae. What we do know about him has to do with his HEART. He loved Jesus and he loved the Church. At that time in history it was difficult to be a “Follower of Jesus.” Many were persecuted and killed for their faith. There were no big Christian church buildings to meet in. That didn’t happen for several hundred years after this writing. Those who owned a house opened their houses for worship. Philemon had a house that he lived in, but his heart was connected to his church. His brothers and sisters in Christ were invited to gather at his place because he decided to place his HEART (his CHURCH) in his house. As a boy growing up, my parents always made our house a place people could gather for worship, because “Home Is Where The Heart Is.” Whether it’s a third story rented flat or a palatial mansion, we are all called today to make our house HIS HOME.

P-rayer:

Dear Jesus,

My house is always open to people. Help me keep people at the center of my purpose for living. And help me lead those people to You. Amen