Onesimus

10that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,^b who became my son while I was in chains. 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.

Thoughts: Onesimus is an example that you don't have to have a lot to be an encouragement.  In fact, often the wealthy who have everything going for them do not know how to handle mortality or problems well.  Those who have handled them can point them to hope in heaven and the hope of better times to come.  Onesimus was a slave who ran away and became a Christian.  Paul was writing to his friend Philemon to welcome him as a brother who has been set free.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to see I can encourage anyone at anytime.  

Day 13- Forty Days of Fellowship- 1 Thessalonians 4,5

10/10- Friday- 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11,14 18Therefore encourage one another with these words. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 14And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 

Quote on Bonhoeffer: “God uses our work to strip away self-centeredness, forcing us to focus beyond ourselves.  No matter what we do our work becomes a form of worship when we are working for God.  Then everything becomes a prayer.”  (“In Visible Fellowship” John Walker on “Life Together”).

Thoughts: One of the great purposes of the fellowship is to encourage one another.  In a world full of bad news- new plagues, new wars, new failures the great calling of the church is to help us to look up.  The hour of worship- is an hour of prayer/focus that “calls us from a world of care.”  The Bible says not only that you are not alone- but if you can possibly believe this- the Creator of the universe loves you.  In the fullness of His omniscience and providential care- He cares for you.  The great news is He shows His care by coming in Christ and dying on the cross- to make a way past our past.  This passage gives some concrete ways to encourage in the fellowship (from vs. 14): 1) Warn those who are doing nothing- we are called to use our talents for a greater cause- as long as we can physically and mentally do so.  Work is a gift to bend our will to a higher cause and to earn money to not just provide for our needs but to encourage others; Idleness can lead to disruptiveness- forgetting that the world does not revolve around us but others have a calling that they must answer;  2) Those who are disheartened are to be encouraged so that they will not give up in their true hope; This involves time and an eye to pay attention to those who may be discouraged; 3) Help the weak.  Here the weakness is not described.  It could be physical, financial, mental, social, or spiritual weakness.  The ones in the flock limping along at the end- are to be aided.  4) Be patient with everyone.  The more busy we are, the harder this is.  Yet the call to patience is a call to believe the interruptions of life are actually important;  it is a humbling realization to understand that our own agenda is not the all- important issue in life.  The fellowship is built up by such encouraging things. 

Prayer: Lord, send your Spirit and your people to encourage me.  Lift up my head so that I may be the lifter of another’s head.  Use your church to help us to purposefully be mutually encouraged in you.