True Repentance
Sometimes life can feel like one big performance. We can get caught up in pleasing people, becoming successful, and attaining our greatest dreams. While those things are all good, what happens when we fail?
Most people are hard on themselves when they don't live up to their own expectations, or the expectations others have set for them. Can you remember a time you messed up? Did you feel guilt, shame, or even condemnation?
God’s Word talks about this very thing. That’s because God knows that we are not perfect, and that we will mess up in life. But when Paul talks about sorrow that comes from God, he talks about it very differently.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul says that godly sorrow doesn’t lead to condemnation, shame, or guilt, but rather it leads to repentance and restoration. When we look to Jesus, we are reminded that He took on all of our shame and guilt on the cross. This means we don’t have to carry the shame that Jesus already carried.
When we mess up, our first response should be to go to God and remind ourselves of the truth of the cross. While earthly sorrow pushes us down, godly sorrow brings us to Jesus—where we can know we are forgiven and made new.
So while we may still mess up and fail, we can be confident that we are continually being made new by Jesus. God’s love and forgiveness never change.
Take some time to think about the love of God and His forgiveness in your life. Remind yourself that you are a new creation empowered by the Spirit of God to walk in new life. Write down one or two ways that you can remind yourself of these truths throughout your week.
How to Fight Fear...
How to Fight Fear
Think back to a time when you were genuinely scared. Do you remember how you felt?
As much as we’d prefer to never experience fear, fear is a part of the human experience. But when we are afraid, we have options…
We can panic, stress, get overwhelmed with worry, overthink every worst-case scenario, or attempt to numb the anxiety-inducing situations in unhealthy ways. Or, we can echo David’s words:
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Psalm 56:3 ESV
These words were penned as David was pursued by his father-in-law, King Saul. Seeking refuge, he fled to Gath, a Philistine city in a foreign land. When the Philistines recognized him as Israel’s warrior, God helped him to escape. He was a fugitive, alone and afraid.
But David refused to settle for scared. He resisted the urge to let fear have the final say. He decided to fight back with Truth.
And so can we.
We never have to fight alone. God has given us something more powerful than ordinary weapons: He’s given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Even when we don’t have access to the perfect inspirational sermon or a timely word of encouragement, we can pause and remember the truth—that God fights for us, He is with us, and He’ll never leave us.
When we shift our minds from our overwhelming fear to God’s overwhelming faithfulness, everything changes. So, today, if you’re scared, anxious, terrified, overwhelmed, or uncertain, speak this out loud:
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
Rest is a Reality
Rest is a Reality
In Hebrews 4:9, the author offers a reassurance of hope: "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God." The author is referring to more than just observing a specific day of the week. It's about an inward peace and wholeness with God, not depending on external circumstances.
Through faith and trust in God, we can find a deep and lasting rest for our souls, reminding us of the eternal rest to come. This Sabbath-rest serves as a precursor—a promise that concludes in a future, perfect rest (Revelation 14:13). The rest we get to experience here is only a shadow, and what we hope for is the reality (Colossians 2:17).
Sabbath-rest isn't earned. It’s a gift God offers to all who seek Him.
As you contemplate Hebrews 4:9, consider: What it would look like for you to fully enter God's rest in your daily life. How can you practice releasing your burdens and anxieties to Him?
The promise of Sabbath-rest is not just a concept. It's a reality for those who walk faithfully with God.
Someone Greater
Someone Greater
There’s a battle happening all around you—a battle for your heart, your mind, and your soul. A battle that’s not only physical, but also spiritual. A battle with literal enemies who impact the seen and unseen world.
John wrote:
“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
1 John 4:4 NLT
Yes, we are in a real battle.
Yes, we have a real enemy.
Yes, the kingdom of darkness is constantly fighting against the kingdom of light.
But for those who are trusting in the finished work of Christ, greater is the One living inside of us than the one who is living in this world.
We have a real Savior.
This story isn’t close to over.
The kingdom of darkness will never prevail against the kingdom of light.
Our enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. To pervert, manipulate, and confuse; to distract, divide, and disable.
But God is greater than the doubts that clutter your mind, the enemies that frustrate your plans, the heart-wrenching and even soul-crushing situation that’s currently consuming your thoughts.
You can fight from a place of victory because the battle has already been won.
Jesus has already conquered death. And now, while we wait for others to come to salvation and for God to bring all things to completion under Christ’s authority, we can fight with a confident hope.
There’s a battle happening all around you—a battle for your heart, for your mind, for your soul. But greater is the One living inside of you than the one who is living in this world.
From Praise to Proclamation...
From Praise to Proclamation
In Psalm 105:1 we are invited on a journey—not across geography, but into the heart of God. The verse begins with worship: “Give praise to the Lord.” Before we do anything for God, we are called to behold Him. Praise lifts our eyes from our circumstances and fixes them on His faithfulness and goodness.
The verse then moves deeper: “Proclaim his name.” Worship is not meant to remain silent. As we speak His name, we remember who He is—the covenant-keeping God who acts in history, rescues His people, provides for their needs, and reveals Himself to those who seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
Finally, the movement turns outward: “Make known among the nations what he has done.” Praise naturally overflows into proclamation. The God we worship is the Lord of all peoples and he does all things for His Glory and our good. His works are meant to be told and retold until every nation hears and sings!
These words were first sung when the ark of God was brought into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:8). In a moment of renewed joy and presence, God’s people were reminded that His nearness was never for themselves alone.
True worship always leads somewhere—toward testimony, toward mission, and toward the nations—all for the global glory of God!
Beauty that Lasts...
Beauty that Lasts
In God’s infinite wisdom and creativity, He has crafted magnificent things: watercolor sunsets, awe-inspiring mountains, turquoise oceans, and beautiful people.
Proverbs 31 is a well-known chapter in the Bible about a God-fearing, hard-working, generosity-driven woman.
Interestingly, Proverbs 31 was written by a man—specifically, King Lemuel, although it’s technically advice from his mother that he shared when he was king.
Something that’s not obvious in non-Hebrew languages is that verses 10-31 actually make up an acrostic poem—each verse beginning with one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, successively working their way from aleph to tau (from beginning to end).
Toward the climax of the poem, the author writes:
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Deep down we know this to be true, don’t we?
No matter how charming or beautiful a woman is, we know that beauty is fleeting. We know that charm will not last. We know that the aging process will eventually run its course.
But there’s barely any mention of this woman’s physical beauty, instead, the focus is on her character—on this woman who fears the Lord.
An earlier Proverb explains that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10)—the humble realization that anything good and wise and pure and true must have come from Him.
So if you know a woman like that—one who loves and respects God, one who honors and cares for people, one who invests wisely and lives purposefully—you might take a moment to thank God for her life. You might even consider how you can be more like her, as she aims to be more like Him.
How to Fight Pride
How to Fight Pride
“I’m fine.”
“I’ve got this.”
“It’s my problem—not yours.”
We all want to be known, but sometimes it feels easier to hide behind masks of self-sufficiency. We might tell ourselves that we don’t want to burden others with our problems, but what we’re really saying is that we believe we can (and should) handle everything alone. This may feel self-protective, but it’s a form of pride that isolates and weakens us.
Pride is simply having a view of ourselves and our abilities that doesn’t align with reality. It’s one of the most effective methods the devil uses to isolate us, because it makes us believe we’re better off alone.
So how do we combat it? The apostle Peter advises us to “clothe” ourselves in humility (1 Peter 5:5). We do this by caring for others, watching over others, and accepting the authority and wisdom that others offer us (1 Peter 5:1-4). This requires mutual vulnerability, trust, and authenticity.
Treating others with humility teaches us how to respond to Jesus.
Jesus knows what we need, and God wants us to cast our anxieties onto Him. But giving Him our concerns, hurts, hardships, and heartbreaks is an act of vulnerable surrender. We cannot do this unless we first acknowledge our need for Him.
When Peter says to “cast our cares” on God, he’s telling his readers to come openly and honestly to God so that, at the proper time, He can deliver them. God opposes anyone who thinks they don’t need Him, but He shows endless grace and love to those who seek Him (1 Peter 5:5).
So take a few moments right now, and reflect on your current concerns. What do you need to bring to God? Visualize handing Him all of your worries, and envision receiving His peace in return.
There is More
There is More
There are plenty of things we can see: trees, stars, mountains, oceans, people, penguins, our best friend's smile, elephants, skyscrapers, coffee beans, sunsets, and tulips, to name a few.
God created all those things. He made the natural world, as well as the laws that govern it.
But there are also things we cannot see: behind the breath of the wind, beyond the depths of the universe, beneath the foundations of love. Through Christ, all things were created—in heaven and on earth, both visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16).
And while our mortal eyes might not be able to see the wind or infrared light or the Spirit of God, we still experience their effects. Because there’s more than what meets the eye. There’s more beyond this life.
Paul’s friends, the Corinthians, were experiencing great hardship. They were being hunted and persecuted because of what they believed about Jesus—that He was the long-awaited Messiah. Some were even facing death. But Paul encouraged them to endure such fleeting trials with a hope that’s beyond this world. He wrote:
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Human eyes can only see so much. Human minds can only grasp so much. But we can trust God with all that we cannot see or comprehend.
God is real. We might not be able to see Him today, with our physical eyes, but we can experience the effects of His life. Jesus sacrificed Himself so that you might live, and an abundant life awaits you—both on earth and in heaven. There is more beyond the here and now.
So, will you fix your eyes on what’s seen or unseen? Will you trust your five senses, or have the sense to trust in Him?
Morning Mercies
Morning Mercies
Each morning, when the sun pours over the horizon, you have an opportunity.
David—who held many titles throughout his lifetime: shepherd, warrior, giant-slayer, King of Israel, and a man after God’s own heart—said it like this when he was talking to God:
“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.”
Psalms 143:8 NLT
David recognized that each day was an opportunity…
TO HEAR OF GOD'S UNFAILING LOVE. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23) and His love endures forever (Psalm 118:2). But sometimes, we forget. Most times, we need to be reminded. Just as winter can’t be stopped from blooming into spring, we can’t stop the mercies of a brand new day.
TO TRUST HIM AGAIN. God is good, constant, faithful, merciful, honest, loving, unlimited, all-powerful, and the source of everything that exists. In fact, He can’t not be those things! No matter what we’re facing, we can know that He’s trustworthy. We can trust His character and we can trust His heart.
TO WATCH, LISTEN, AND DISCERN HIS LEADING. We can fix our eyes on the God who fixes His loving gaze onto us. Let us echo David’s words: “Show us where to walk…” Let us recognize His promptings, pay attention to His guidance, and listen for His “voice.”
TO SURRENDER OUR LIVES TO HIM. We can cling to our plans, dismiss His warnings, and fight for self-sufficiency, or, we can give ourselves to Him—fully. When we rely on ourselves, we will never be enough. But when we die to ourselves, we are choosing to live for Him.
No matter how dark the night, the sun rises again. And when that morning light pours over the horizon, you have a fresh opportunity to draw near to the One who loves you.
God is With You...
God is With You
Throughout the Bible, there are various moments when God tells someone to not be afraid. Each one comes at a time when the hearer has every reason to be very afraid.
In one instance, Joshua, the leader of Israel after the death of Moses, was taking the Israelites to their promised land (see: Exodus 3). He was leading over one million people to a place God had promised, and it meant going through some overwhelming and terrifying situations.
In the midst of this, God commanded Joshua to do two things:
Obey the Word of God and, be strong and courageous because the Lord was with them. (See: Joshua 1:7-9)
In Matthew 28, Jesus says something similar just after His resurrection. He is with His eleven disciples and He tells them:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
Jesus tells His disciples two main things:
- Obey His word (“go into all nations and make disciples”) and, He would be with them.
- God is always the same. He was the same God when He gave Joshua His word and the assurance of His presence, and He is the same God who gives us His Word and assures us of His presence. We are known, loved, and cared for by the faithful, consistent God—and He will never leave or abandon us.
Today, reflect on the ways you can teach others about Jesus and His words. How does His Word and His presence make you strong and courageous? Take a moment to thank God for His promise to always be with you.
Let Goodness Prevail...
Let Goodness Prevail
In the beginning, life was good—both physically and spiritually. In fact, God created everything that existed and called it very good.
But that goodness was fractured when an enemy enticed God’s image-bearing people to question His goodness and doubt His trustworthiness. So, when Adam and Eve chose to disregard God’s instructions by eating from the only forbidden tree, their eyes were opened to two opposing forces: good and evil.
The battle between good and evil isn’t just an overarching theme in the Bible, but a theme that permeates every continent, every culture, and every nation. It’s a theme that’s laced throughout books and movies, and one that plays out in real life. And the reason it’s so pervasive is because there's a real battle taking place.
All these years, we’re still sharing this good-yet-fallen world. But, make no mistake, the Kingdom of Darkness is still warring against the Kingdom of Light.
The apostle Paul gave some advice on this topic to the believers in Rome, writing:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21 NIV
In the same chapter, Paul explains practical ways to live this out: by rejecting evil, by clinging to good, by genuinely loving people, by blessing those who persecute you and refusing to take revenge on your enemies.
This could also look like forgiving someone who’s harmed you, showing kindness to a stranger, or standing up for the poor, marginalized, and weak. Conquering evil with good requires sacrifice and surrender. It often means saying “no” to our human desire for retribution and retaliation, and choosing instead to humbly serve broken people like Jesus humbly and sacrificially served us.
We do have an enemy—whose mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. To confuse, pervert, and divide. To deceive, distract, and dismantle.
But more importantly, we have a God—whose mission is to redeem, revive, and restore. He specializes in putting broken things back together. He is able to bring the dead back to life and make all things new.
So when you see evil wreaking havoc across the world, in the lives of the people around you, and even in your own heart, remember … God is bigger. God is greater. You aren’t in this battle alone. And because we already know the end of the story, we can fight from a place of victory!
Just as darkness can’t exist when it’s flooded with light, evil can’t prevail when it’s overpowered with good. So today, think of some ways you can fight evil by doing good to those around you.
What's Inside?
What’s Inside?
Throughout God’s Word, we see a lot of attention paid to the human heart. In fact, in Scripture, the heart was thought to be the center of physical and spiritual life.
In our current culture, the heart is often a metaphor for our emotions. But in the Bible, the heart represents the soul and mind—it’s a way of displaying wisdom and character. The heart in the Bible is a lot like how we think about the brain today, or a combination of the head and the heart.
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Luke 6:45 NIV
When Jesus speaks of the heart being a source of good or bad, He means that the things that we think about have a way of showing up in our lives. Our thoughts influence our outward actions.
Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.
Philippians 4:8 NIV
If our inward thoughts are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, then we will produce outward good for God’s glory. These traits are cultivated through prayer and personal time spent with God.
Our thoughts and desires are not always the same as God’s thoughts, but as we deepen our relationship with Him, our desires begin to look more like His. When we delight in God, God loves to give us what we desire, because what we want will reflect who God is.
So take a moment today and praise God for who He is. As you worship Him, let God reshape your heart and renew your mind so your desires better reflect His will.
Worshiping a Good God...
Worshiping a Good God
Worshiping God is one of the most central and basic aspects of the Christian life. God’s people actively worship Him all throughout Scripture. The Bible is filled with songs and poems dedicated to worshiping God.
While we often think of worship as singing songs of praise, worship can be much more than that. Actually, when we limit our worship of God to only singing, we miss out on a vital aspect of the Christian life.
Worship in Scripture is more than just singing. It is rightly thinking about and praising God for who He is and what He has done. Worship happens when we recognize God as God—when we’re in awe of His character and His provisions.
This means that we can worship God at any moment of our day. When we thank God for His kindness, that is worship. When we are in awe of His beauty, that is worship.
In Isaiah 25:1, the prophet Isaiah praises God in this way. Isaiah thanks God for being who He is, for being a very personal God to him. He also worships God for His faithfulness, which is an aspect of God’s character. Lastly, Isaiah praises God for all of the wonderful things He has done.
Isaiah may not have been singing a song at the time, but his words and actions tell us that he was worshiping God for who He is and what He has done. Isaiah was in awe of how great and wonderful God is.
Spend some time today thinking about God. Consider His character, that He is good, faithful, and loving. Think about the things He has blessed you with. Sit for a few minutes in awe of God and simply worship Him.
The Greatest Treasure...
The Greatest Treasure
Matthew 13:44 contains some of the most impactful imagery in all of Scripture...
Just imagine for a moment: You are walking across a field and stumble upon an ancient treasure, forgotten by the whole world. You realize the plot of land is for sale. What would you do? How quickly would you sell everything you have to buy the field with the treasure? Fast? Of course! You’ve found something of great value, worth so much more than anything you had before!
Jesus uses this imagery to illustrate the Kingdom of heaven. When you discover the true value of something like that, you give all you have to grab hold of it, to be part of it, to have it for yourself.
And what is the Kingdom of heaven?
The Kingdom of heaven is God’s will on earth. It’s the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that we can be set free from sin and walk in His mercy and grace. The Kingdom of heaven is right now, and it's an invitation to you.
Have you discovered it? The joy, energy, excitement of finding priceless treasure in a field is what it feels like to realize that you are invited to be part of the Kingdom of God. Take a moment to take that in. You are invited. Have you said ‘yes’? Will you?
Because when you say ‘yes,’ the value of anything else simply does not match the value of this Kingdom. The scripture doesn’t say that the man went to sell all he had to buy the field in sorrow, uncertainty, or fear. It says he went in joy.
He went in joy because the treasure he found was so incredible—And he got to be part of it. You do, too.
An Abundance of Blessing
An Abundance of Blessing
Do you pray for God to bless you? We probably spend most of our time in prayer asking for God to bless things in our life, or asking God for something we need. And we should. Jesus even tells us we should.
We know that all good things come from God. That means that we don't truly own anything we possess. It's all a gift from God and ultimately should be used for Him. Our money, talents, and resources are opportunities to give back to God and others.
2 Corinthians 9:8 says that God is able to abundantly bless those who are generous in using their time and resources to do good things for others. This verse isn't saying that God will bless us unconditionally. The two verses before this one, in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, talk about how we should be cheerful givers in everything we do.
Paul is saying that God blesses us—not so we might have comfortable lives—but so that we would be selfless in giving back to God and others.
There are many ways we can give back to God and others. We can start by regularly tithing to our local church, which is an investment in the Kingdom work God is doing through local believers. We can give generously to those who are in financial need. We can also be generous with our time, talents, resources, and anything else we can use to serve God and others.
Next time you pray for God to bless you, take some time to first think about how you are helping others. If giving feels more like an obligation and not like an opportunity, consider how you can take steps to change that perspective and give regularly. And then—watch how God honors your joyful generosity.
Run the Race
Run Your Race
We all know it—life isn’t easy.
Sometimes challenges can arise that are so difficult we may want to throw in the towel. Whether it's an overwhelming circumstance, the demands of family life, or the pressures of work, it can sometimes feel like too much. When we find ourselves wanting to quit, the book of Hebrews gives us a powerful encouragement to hold onto:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
“Witnesses” refer to believers who have gone before us, those whose lives are a testament of faithfulness to God. Their presence reminds us that we're part of a larger story, a legacy of faith that spans generations.
This scripture also urges believers to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." Hindrances may be easy to see, such as sinful distractions that hold us back from fully running after God. They may also be internal, like fear and shame. Whatever form they may come in, we throw them off.
And yet, we don't just throw off things that entangle us and sit down. As the writer of Hebrews says, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." The call is to keep moving forward, no matter how tough the journey may seem. Guided by grace and fueled by faith, we can press on.
The Living Word of God
The Living Word of God
One of the biggest misconceptions about the Bible is that it’s just another book.
In fact, many Christians treat Scripture as if it’s just a collection of ancient letters and books that inform us about God and religious matters.
While the Bible is certainly a collection of ancient documents, it is also much more than that. It is the very word of God. The Bible is inspired by God, which means He spoke through humans to create these letters and books.
More than that though, God’s Word is living and active. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to speak to us even today. This is what makes Scripture distinct from any other book.
James tells us in James 1:22 that the power of Scripture doesn’t just come by hearing it, but by living it out.
Scripture has the power to radically change the way we live, but we must take the effort to first read it, and then do what it says.
James goes on to say in verses 23 and 24 that anyone who reads Scripture and doesn’t follow God’s way is only deceiving themselves. We think we are following God simply by reading His Word, but God desires that we live out the truths of Scripture in our own life.
This is what it means to follow God’s way rather than our own.
Take a moment to consider a few ways you can begin to live out the truths in Scripture. Spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal to you an area of your life that needs transformed by His Word. And then, resolve to not just hear God’s Word, but to do what He says as you follow after Him.
The Living Word of God
The Living Word of God
One of the biggest misconceptions about the Bible is that it’s just another book.
In fact, many Christians treat Scripture as if it’s just a collection of ancient letters and books that inform us about God and religious matters.
While the Bible is certainly a collection of ancient documents, it is also much more than that. It is the very word of God. The Bible is inspired by God, which means He spoke through humans to create these letters and books.
More than that though, God’s Word is living and active. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to speak to us even today. This is what makes Scripture distinct from any other book.
James tells us in James 1:22 that the power of Scripture doesn’t just come by hearing it, but by living it out.
Scripture has the power to radically change the way we live, but we must take the effort to first read it, and then do what it says.
James goes on to say in verses 23 and 24 that anyone who reads Scripture and doesn’t follow God’s way is only deceiving themselves. We think we are following God simply by reading His Word, but God desires that we live out the truths of Scripture in our own life.
This is what it means to follow God’s way rather than our own.
Take a moment to consider a few ways you can begin to live out the truths in Scripture. Spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal to you an area of your life that needs transformed by His Word. And then, resolve to not just hear God’s Word, but to do what He says as you follow after Him.
Every Good Thing We Share...
Every Good Thing We Share
In Philemon 1:6, Paul says, “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.”
When Paul writes this to Philemon, he’s not just sending a theological essay. He’s writing a personal letter to a close friend and fellow believer.
Paul is encouraging Philemon not only to embrace the truth of the gospel but to live it out in community. Their “partnership” wasn’t just a casual friendship, it was a mutual commitment to living for Christ, growing in understanding, and making the love of Jesus visible in the way they treated others. In this case, Paul is urging Philemon to welcome back his former servant Onesimus—not as a servant, but as a brother and co-laborer in Christ.
Today, we still need partnerships like this. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. We grow deeper in our understanding of the gospel when we engage in authentic relationships with others who are walking the same path. Small groups, Bible studies, honest conversations with Christian friends—all of these help us see “every good thing we share” more clearly.
If you want to better understand who Jesus is and what He’s doing in your life, don’t try to figure it out alone. Open your Bible with someone. Ask honest questions. Pray with a friend. You’ll find that partnership in the faith isn’t just helpful. It’s powerful.
Every Good Thing We Share
Every Good Thing We Share
In Philemon 1:6, Paul says, “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.”
When Paul writes this to Philemon, he’s not just sending a theological essay. He’s writing a personal letter to a close friend and fellow believer.
Paul is encouraging Philemon not only to embrace the truth of the gospel but to live it out in community. Their “partnership” wasn’t just a casual friendship, it was a mutual commitment to living for Christ, growing in understanding, and making the love of Jesus visible in the way they treated others. In this case, Paul is urging Philemon to welcome back his former servant Onesimus—not as a servant, but as a brother and co-laborer in Christ.
Today, we still need partnerships like this. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. We grow deeper in our understanding of the gospel when we engage in authentic relationships with others who are walking the same path. Small groups, Bible studies, honest conversations with Christian friends—all of these help us see “every good thing we share” more clearly.
If you want to better understand who Jesus is and what He’s doing in your life, don’t try to figure it out alone. Open your Bible with someone. Ask honest questions. Pray with a friend. You’ll find that partnership in the faith isn’t just helpful. It’s powerful.