QT 15/08/2025 Fri. Philemon 1:1–7 The Power of Love and Fellowship in Christ When Lived Out 当爱与团契在基督里得以实践时，其力量便得以彰显。
QT 15/08/2025 Fri. Philemon 1:1–7 The Power of Love and Fellowship in Christ When Lived Out
READ http://www.esv.org/philemon1:1-7
Scripture focus
"I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints…" — Philemon 1:4–5 (ESV)
Reflection
The opening verses of Paul's letter to Philemon are a beautiful picture of Christian encouragement and gospel-centered relationships. Paul begins not with a demand, but with deep gratitude and love for Philemon’s character. He highlights two key traits: faith in Christ and love for the saints.
These traits are inseparable in true Christian life. Faith in Jesus inevitably overflows into love for others. When Paul commends Philemon, he is not only encouraging him but also preparing his heart for the challenge ahead—reconciling with Onesimus, his runaway slave turned brother in Christ.
Paul speaks of the "sharing of your faith" becoming effective (v.6), pointing to the idea that our faith becomes visible and powerful when we live it out in community. Genuine fellowship isn't just about meeting together—it's about encouraging, forgiving, and serving one another because of what Christ has done for us.
In verse 7, Paul says that the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through Philemon. What a testimony! Imagine being known not for your status or talents, but for being someone who refreshes the hearts of fellow believers. That is the impact of someone deeply rooted in Christ.
Application
(1) Who are you refreshing today? Are you known as someone who encourages others in their walk with Christ?
(2) How is your faith visible in love? Is your trust in Jesus being expressed in your relationships and your actions?
(3) Are you ready to forgive and restore, even when it’s hard? The rest of Paul’s letter urges Philemon to do just that.
Let’s live in such a way that our faith in Jesus produces love for others and refreshes those around us. Let our relationships be shaped by the gospel—full of grace, forgiveness, and unity.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of fellowship made possible in Christ’s works for humanity. Help me to live out my faith in love and to be someone who refreshes the hearts of others. Teach me to encourage, to forgive, and to love as You have loved me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
QT 15/08/2025 星期五. 腓利门书 1:1-7 当爱与团契在基督里得以实践时，其力量便得以彰显。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/phm/1/
经文重点： 我听见你对主耶稣和众圣徒有爱心和信心，我每逢祷告提到你的时候，就常常感谢我的 神。——腓利门书1:4
反思
保罗写给腓利门的书信开头，展现了基督徒鼓励与以福音为中心的关系的美丽画面。保罗并非以要求开头，而是以对腓利门品格的深深感激与爱意开始。他强调了两个关键特质：对基督的信心与对圣徒的爱。
这些特质在真正的基督徒生活中是密不可分的。对耶稣的信心必然会流溢为对他人的爱。当保罗称赞腓利门时，他不仅在鼓励他，也在为他即将面临的挑战做准备——与逃跑的奴隶、如今成为基督弟兄的俄尼西母和好。
保罗提到“你的信心的时候，会产生功效”（第6节），指出当我们在群体中活出信仰时，我们的信仰便变得可见且有力。真正的团契不仅仅是聚在一起——而是因为基督为我们所做的一切，彼此鼓励、饶恕和服侍。
在第7节中，保罗说，圣徒的心因腓利门而得到安慰。这真是一个见证！想象一下，你不是因你的地位或才华而被肯定，而是因你是一个能安慰其他信徒的人而被看为榜样。这就是一个在基督里深深扎根的人的影响力。
应用
(1) 今天你正在安慰谁？你是否因在与基督同行的事上鼓励他人而被认识？
(2) 你的信仰在爱中是如何显明的？你对耶稣的信靠是否在你的关系和行为中得到体现？
(3) 你是否准备好在困难时原谅和恢复关系？保罗书信的其余部分正敦促腓利门这样做。
让我们以这样的方式生活，使我们对耶稣的信仰结出爱人的果子，并使周围的人得到安慰。让我们的关系由福音塑造——充满恩典、宽恕与合一。
祷告
亲爱的主，感谢您借着基督为人类所成就的工作，赐予我们团契的恩典。求您帮助我以爱活出信仰，成为能使他人心灵得滋润的人。求您教导我如何鼓励他人、宽恕他人，并以您爱我的方式去爱人。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。
