Morning By Morning #306

To the church that meets in your home…

Philemon 2

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Since believers comprise the church, is there a “church” in your house? If so, is everyone who spends time in your house a member, including the parents, children, friends, and household servants, if any? Or are some still unconverted? Take a moment and let the question sink in, and then ask yourself, “Am I a member of the church in my own house?” Oh, how a Christian father’s heart would leap for joy and a Christian mother’s eyes fill with holy tears if everyone from the oldest to the youngest in the family were saved! May we pray for this great blessing until the Lord grants it to us.

It was probably one of Philemon’s greatest desires that his entire household be saved, but it was not completely granted to him initially. He had a wicked servant, Onesimus, who had wronged him and run away from his master’s service. But Philemon’s prayers went with him, and finally, according to God’s will, Onesimus was led to hear Paul preach. The Lord then touched his heart and he returned to Philemon, not only to be a faithful servant but also a beloved brother and the newest member of the church in Philemon’s house.

Is there an unconverted child missing from your home this morning? If so, intercede for him in prayer that he will return home with the joyous good news of what God’s grace has done. And if there is a believing child in the home, encourage him to join you in your intercession.

If there is a church that meets in your house, you have a greater responsibility to keep your house in good spiritual order, and every member of the household should remember all their actions are in the sight of God. May even the ordinary things of life be done with a determined sense of holiness, diligence, kindness, and integrity. More is expected of a church than a typical household. Thus, family worship should be more enthusiastic and devout, the love inside the home should be more warm and unbroken, and the actions outside the home should be more sanctified and Christlike.

Small home churches need never fear being unimportant, for the Holy Spirit has given us this beautiful reminder in His book of remembrance of the family church that met in Philemon’s house. Whether our church is large or small, may we draw near to the great Head of God’s universal church, and may we petition Him for the grace to shine before others to the glory of His name.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Onesimus’s story is a beautiful one. Here is what Paul wrote about him:

I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

Philemon 10–16