The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Who Is In Your Heart?"
I recently saw an advertisement touting the benefits of a particular credit card. "What's in your wallet?" asked the narrator of the ad, reminding holders that great advantage awaits as they use the card and take advantage of its benefits.
In his epistle to Philemon, the Apostle Paul employed a similar tactic as he sought to encourage Philemon to receive escaped slave Onesimus (led to Christ by Paul in prison) "not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (Philemon 1:10; 16).
"I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints, that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" (Philemon 1:4-6).
"What's in your heart, Philemon?" Or more literally, "Who is in your heart?" Thankfully, Philemon answered well because he gave Onesimus the freedom to become a ministry partner with Paul (Colossians 4:9). The question proceeds through the ages to all born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Who dwells within us? The Spirit of the living and eternal God provides the wondrous answer, revealing the character and nature of our Savior in our born again spirits. Or, in Paul's terms, "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."
What if we face the moments of this life not by ourselves, but rather with our Lord serving as the very Life of our lives? "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). What if He enjoys with us every blessing of grace bestowed by His Father, and our Father? What if the trials and challenges of life find us not alone, but with the Lord Jesus as our "very present help in trouble?" (Psalm 46:1). What if mundane and everyday moments come to us in the light of Who came to us when we trusted the Lord Jesus? What if we live life with Him not as a "me," but as a "We?" Such conjectures actually serve as vital realities. The Spirit of Christ teems within our spirits, constituting us as never alone, and as ever empowered by "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."
We do well to frequently ask ourselves, "Who is in my heart?" Life changes when we realize that whence we go, we go not alone. Long ago, a man received an escaped slave as a beloved brother because "every good thing" of Christ dwelled within his heart, and because an apostle of God reminded him thereof. The Spirit of God and the Scriptures of God beckon us to remember in this day and always that Christ lives in us and with us so that we might live not merely as a "me," but as a "We." Yes, life changes when we remember and affirm by faith the Who dwelling within our hearts.
"We shall live with Him by the power of God."
(II Corinthians 13:4)
"I am with you always."
(Matthew 28:20)
"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
(Hebrews 13:5)
Weekly Memory Verse
Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
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