Archive for the ‘Daily Devotional’ Category

And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. Hebrews 1:7

We were admiring a beautiful sleeping baby girl held by a friend of ours. The infant was only a couple of months old, a precious little bundle who brought smiles to all who saw her. As we watched her, someone made the observation, ‘She’s a little angel’. The description seemed so appropriate for such a lovely and innocent little being. And yet, it was incorrect. Angels are nothing like human beings, not even the innocent little babies. And contrary to common lore, babies who die do not go to Heaven to become angels. Both angels and humans are creations of God. And both are made to worship God. But the two branches of creation have nothing in common beyond that. Our text allows us today to examine some of the differences between angels and us, and to appreciate how we hold a special place in the purposes of God.

Genesis 2:7 tells us how God made us, forming Adam’s physical body from the dust, and forming Adam’s spiritual being by breathing into Him. We are not told how God made the angels, only that they were made spirits, without a body. Angels have the ability at times to appear in bodies, as we read several times in the Scriptures. And we are encouraged to be hospitable, because some people have had the unknown privilege of hosting angels in their homes or at their tables (Hebrews 13:2). But a physical body is God’s gift to humanity, not to the angelic realm. A physical body is a two-edged sword. On the one edge, our body is an enemy, the flesh that wars against our spirit, that is consumed with lusts, and that causes us to be weak and weary. Angels know nothing of this. On the other edge, our physical bodies provide a venue for us to serve and honour God. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Angels also know nothing of this. That makes us special to God.

Another way in which we are special to God is in the nature of our worship and service. The very purpose for which angels were created was for service. They are engaged in a vast array of tasks and missions, most of which we cannot even imagine. And their powers and abilities are far beyond anything that we can imagine, as well. The flames of fire mentioned in our text speak of incredible power, tapping into the infinite capabilities of the Almighty. They can, and do, perform great miracles along with the relatively tiny miracles of preserving us every day. But the angels serve because they must, although they do so joyfully. They do not have a free will such as that given to man. God gave Adam the ability to choose. And He gave us the ability to choose. Today, we worship and serve the Lord, not because we have no choice, but because we do have a choice. And God led us to choose Him.

Angels marvel at Christians today. They are amazed that we can honour the same Lord that they do, but with a physical body that they do not have, and with a free will that they cannot employ. -Jim MacIntosh

If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account. Philemon 18

Was there any doubt that Onesimus had wronged his master Philemon or that he owed him a debt? No, Paul’s use of the word ‘if’ does not indicate there was any question of Onesimus’ wrongdoing. Onesimus had confessed to Paul all about his running away from his master and his theft of goods or money as he made his escape. What Paul is saying here is whatever wrong Onesimus has done and whatever amount he stole from you, charge it to my account. Today’s text is one of the most touching appeals in the Bible, as Paul figuratively steps in between Onesimus and Philemon to accept the full responsibility for the wrongs done by the slave. It is the more touching when we see in it the appeal made by the Lord Jesus for us, to take the mighty burden of our wrath-deserving sin on Himself.

Paul’s love and compassion for Onesimus caused him to write our text as part of his letter to Philemon. And he gave that letter to Onesimus to take to Philemon in Colosse. What would have happened if Onesimus had not taken that letter to Philemon? He would never have known whether Philemon had forgiven him. He would be like a sinner hearing the Gospel and never responding to it. But Onesimus did take that letter to his old master. And Philemon did forgive and receive him. We know that because we have the very letter preserved in our Bible. We know that we are forgiven because the Bible confirms for us that those who believe in the Son should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Onesimus had wronged Philemon. And we have wronged God. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). Just like our first parents in Eden, we have exercised our free will to rebel and disobey. We are sinners, not only because we were born the sons and daughters of sinners but also because we have all sinned (Romans 5:12). That is why we rejoice to acknowledge that the Lord Jesus took the punishment of our wrong upon Himself. And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

Revelation 20 tells of a day when the books will be opened, and the dead will all stand in judgment according to what is written in those books. We must in faithfulness warn sinners about that day, because it will usher in the final stage of existence for the damned, called the second death. But our appreciation today is for the other book that will be opened, the Lamb’s Book of Life. All of the redeemed in Christ will be written in that book. And those who are written in that book are forever exempt from the second death. That book is made possible only because God put on His own Son the penalty for our sins. As our text declares, He placed our wrong and our debt on Christ’s account.

He was made sin for us, Who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). – Jim MacIntosh

Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:3

One of the textbooks in our programming course had a diagram of a sailboat on the cover. Under the diagram were the words ‘This is not a sailboat’. Beside the diagram was a picture of a sailboat. Under the picture were the words, ‘This is not a sailboat’. The book was correct; you could not take either the diagram nor the picture to the seashore and place it into the water to enjoy a sail in the ocean. The point being made was that an image is not the same thing as the object of which it is the image. A picture of you is not you. A statue of Sir John A. Macdonald is not actually Old Tomorrow. We often say that a boy is the image of his father, but we don’t mean that they are the same person. An image, or express image as our text has it, is a representation or likeness to that of which it is an image. So the Lord Jesus Christ is the express image of His Father.

In response to Philip’s request, ‘Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us’, the Lord Jesus told him, ‘He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father’ (John 14:8,9). Colossians 1:15 tells us that Lord Jesus is the image of the invisible God. For humanity to know about God, we must look to the Son of God. Or as John Baptist so clearly put it, ‘No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him’ (John 1:18).

When we speak about the Lord Jesus as the express image of the Father, we speak of two separate persons. But they are both God, both fully everything that God is. The Son is no more nor less God than the Father, and everything that can be said about God can be attributed to either the Father and the Son. This is important to us, because it shows how much the Father desired that we would know Him. He did not send a prophet or an angel; He sent One like unto Himself in Deity, in power, in wisdom, in majesty.

The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God. He did not fit into their concept of God, He did not look like what they expected God to look like, so they denied His claim. What was the problem? Did the Lord Jesus come in the wrong form? Or were they looking for the wrong form? What about the people today who reject the Lord Jesus? How are they missing His claim to be the Son of God? We must conclude that those who fail to see in Jesus Christ the fullness of deity are the ones who have missed the connection between the express image and the Father.

The disciples could gladly proclaim, ‘We have seen the Lord! (John 20:25) And so have we who have trusted in Him. – Jim MacIntosh

God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds. Hebrews 1:1-2

We have all heard of atheists mocking God and demanding that God speak to them. They insist that because God does not answer them, there is no God. We shake our heads at the absolute foolishness of such actions. For one thing, why would an almighty God respond to a silly demand from a foolish mocker? For another, God has already spoken to us, and told us everything that we need to know about Himself. Their demands are akin to a car owner demanding a phone call from the president of Honda Motor Company instead of looking into their owner’s manual for information about their vehicle. God has spoken, and, to those who have heard Him, He continues to speak.

The first instance of God speaking to man was in the Garden of Eden. God had to speak in conviction and judgment because of Adam’s sin. But God did not close the conversation, despite disobedience and rebellion. God communed directly with various people, including Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Hagar, and Moses until the law appeared. From that point, God communicated through the law and the prophets, as we have recorded in our text. He spoke to the prophets, and to such godly men as Samuel, to provide specific messages and general revelations. The Lord Jesus could declare, in the account of Abraham speaking to the rich man in hell, that the law and the prophets were enough to direct sinners to God’s salvation. Those who carefully studied the law and the prophets found the Old Testament to be a vast treasure house of God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. But our text today declares that God went so much further than the law and the prophets to communicate with us.

Jesus began His earthly ministry with John’s declaration: Behold the Lamb of God’ (John 1:36). At His baptism, God announced that He was well pleased with His Son (Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22). Many thousands thronged to hear Him during His years of ministry, and the local authorities declared of Him, ‘Never man spake like this man (John 7:46). The four Gospel writers have recorded for us many of the things that He said. The apostles who followed Him and heard Him during His ministry spent the early years of Christianity passing on what Jesus had taught them. Other godly men joined the Gospel writers to record the 27 books of our New Testament. God was speaking to mankind, and now the canon of Scripture stands as God’s complete recorded message to us. To those who reject or ignore the Bible’s message, it is only a book. To them, God is no longer speaking. But to those of us who accept it as the Word of God, the Bible speaks loudly and clearly. Through this Book, God reveals His will to us and maintains a communication with us. We can laugh at the foolishness of a pope who declares that it is not possible for us to have a personal relationship with God. The pope apparently never read 1 John 1:3: Our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

God speaks to us today through His Word. It is worth noting that one of the titles of the Lord Jesus is the Word of God. – Jim MacIntosh

But withal prepare me also a lodging, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. Philemon 22

Several years ago, shortly after the iron grip of communism was dropped from most of the eastern European countries, a group of mostly young Christians from England made plans for a weekend expedition to one of those countries. Their plans were to spend the weekend distributing Bibles and other literature. But when they reached the border crossing point, the border officials threw up a bureaucratic stop sign. It would take several days, they insisted, to examine the materials loaded into the vans to make sure it was appropriate to bring into the country. So the vans were parked and the Christians started to pray. One of the leaders of the group sent out an email message on the GH forum, explaining the situation and urging others to join in praying for the materials to be released in time for them to be distributed. I recall opening the email message and bowing my head to join in the prayers for the need. But instead of praying, I began thanking God for answering prayer, because I had an overwhelming assurance that the issue had already been resolved. And so it had. The leader sent a second email message within a short time, telling of how, because of our prayers, God had miraculously worked in causing the border officials to release the materials for distribution. God truly does answer prayer. But do we expect Him to?

Our text provides a beautiful illustration of the power of prayer. Imprisoned in Rome, Paul plans to go to Colosse to visit his dear old friend Philemon. But instead of asking for Philemon’s prayers for his release, Paul assures Philemon that he has utmost confidence in the value of Philemon’s prayers. So much confidence, in fact, that he reminds Philemon to get the spare bedroom ready for him. Why are we amazed at such confidence on the part of Paul? Is our amazement at Paul’s confidence in Philemon, or at his confidence in God? Probably both. We forget that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). That expression ‘availeth much’ means much more than the ‘has great power’ that we find in most of the modern versions of the Bible. It means that the prayers not only have great power but that they also accomplish their purpose. If you and I truly believed that, we would be much more on our knees in prayer for those things that are upon our hearts.

Paul was a great prayer warrior. And he knew that Philemon was, too. And with our text today, he provides you and me with encouragement to pursue our prayers with greater fervency, greater expectation, and greater frequency. We know that God CAN answer our prayers. Let us lay hold on the confidence that He WILL answer our prayers. -Jim MacIntosh

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel. Philemon 13

One thing that becomes apparent as we read the little book of Philemon is that Paul had the highest regard for two men: Philemon and Onesimus. Philemon was a dear old friend from his visits to Colosse, probably someone who was saved during Paul’s initial missionary visit to that city. As we read the letter, we find Paul speaking to Philemon in terms reserved for only the dearest of friends and for those deserving the greatest of respect. Theirs was a very touching relationship. Few men would the apostle rather have had at his side than the godly Philemon. And yet, in Onesimus, Paul had found one worthy to be a substitute for his Colossian friend. The former slave had developed into a stalwart soldier of the cross, a vibrant witness, and a willing worker in the Gospel efforts in Rome. His affection and care for Paul had made him an invaluable companion. As a convert from Paul’s witness in the prison, Onesimus was a delight to the apostle who rejoiced at the younger man’s rapid growth in spiritual things. Philemon and Onesimus are examples to us today of those who are a help and blessing to the Lord’s people.

Although we need to read between the lines a little, we can identify in Philemon a godly leader among the Colossian saints. He and his wife Apphia were obviously hospitable people and very supportive of the Gospel workers. When Paul was in Colosse, they had ministered unto him in the bonds of the Gospel. Preachers today rejoice when they encounter people like Philemon and Apphia when they arrive in an area for Gospel work. With their needs well cared for, they can concentrate on visiting and preaching, and can be much more effective in their labours. Thankfully, we have such couples among us today.

Thankfully, we also have young Christians like Onesimus. Even when Paul was not in prison, he had many things to attend to that were better done by an assistant. But not just any assistant would do. Paul needed a prayer partner, someone to read to him as his eyesight deteriorated, and someone who would faithfully and carefully write the letters that Paul would dictate. Onesimus would help see to Paul’s physical needs, making sure he was well fed and had warm clothing. Only a person with a caring nature would perform these tasks well. From his prison cell, Paul could rejoice at the kindness and care of his young convert, and would be delighted at the spiritual growth in the man. Do we have young men and women about us today who are like Onesimus? Yes we do, although not as many as we would like. As Paul prayed for Onesimus, so we ought to pray for the young men and women around us today, that they would develop into profitable servants of the Lord.

A good goal for us would be to become the type of Christian that Paul would like to have minister to him instead of Philemon and Onesimus in the bonds of the Gospel. – Jim MacIntosh

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me. Philemon 11

What does your name mean? These days, the meaning of a name doesn’t really matter, because the meaning is not taken into consideration when parents name a child. Names are chosen because the parents like the sound of it, or because they want to honour a friend or relative, or because of tradition. But it wasn’t always that way. In Bible times, names given at birth were often replaced in adulthood with names that described the person’s personality or trade. Other times, parents named a baby for a characteristic that they hoped the child would grow up and display. That was actually the case with the owners of women slaves when the those women gave birth. That was undoubtedly the case with Onesimus, whose name means useful and profitable. But he had certainly not been useful or profitable to his master Philemon, from whom he had stolen before he ran away. However, this runaway slave showed up on his master’s doorstep years later a useful and profitable man, living up to the name that Philemon had given him. Paul seizes on the meaning of the name Onesimus to point out to Philemon the change that had occurred in the man.

First of all, Onesimus was useful to the Lord. Before he was saved, he was just like we were in our unsaved days, incapable of service or worship because of sin. When Paul presented Onesimus with the Gospel in prison, the runaway slave responded joyfully. The transformation brought him into an appreciation for his Lord and for the Word of God. He discovered the joy of spending time in prayer and undoubtedly learned to sing the hymns that were in use among Roman Christians. His former life of dishonesty and cruelty was transformed into one of truthfulness and kindness, and his life’s desire was to be like the Lord Who had died to save him.

Onesimus also became profitable to his friends. Paul would have noticed the difference that the Gospel made to this rough and undisciplined man after he was saved. They would have shared time in prayer and in consideration of the Scriptures. He would have listened to the old apostle’s instructions for living out his new-found faith. Instead of pushing Paul aside as he had when he first arrived in prison, he displayed the greatest of kindness to him in every way. He helped Paul write letters and meet with guests, and tended to his needs. Paul would have reason to rejoice at having such a valuable friend with him in the prison. And when Onesimus had served his sentence and was released, he returned to the prison with food, clothing, and other comforts, and carried letters to and from Paul.

Helped by the encouragement he received from Paul, Onesimus sought out and gathered with the Christians in Rome. Willingly he threw himself into the work, and it became quickly apparent to the elders that he had a good spirit and a gift in service for the Lord. His participation in Assembly activities became valuable and was much appreciated. To the Assembly in Rome, he was a very profitable Christian.

And now Onesimus returns to his former master a changed man. His poor service and thieving ways are now in the past. Had Philemon wished, Onesimus would willingly and faithfully return to service as a slave. To Philemon and to everyone else in the home, it would become apparent that he was both willing and capable of living up to his good name.

In all the ways that Onesimus became profitable, we can see how we also, because of our salvation, can and should be profitable Christians. – Jim MacIntosh

 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds. Philemon 10

Historians have determined that in the year 300 BC, the city of Athens had some 21,000 citizens and more than 400,000 slaves. With such a wide discrepancy between free and slave populations, there existed in the free people a constant dread that the slaves would revolt and overthrow them. To help prevent such a revolt, there were strict laws in place regarding the arrest and punishment of fleeing slaves. There was even a special police force, the Fugitivarti, whose sole role was to catch and return runaway slaves, usually to be given the death penalty. That was in Athens. There is little doubt that much the same situation existed in Colosse, the city where Philemon lived and from which his slave Onesimus fled. No power on earth could have enticed a slave who had run away to another city to return voluntarily to his master’s home. And yet, here stands on Philemon’s doorstep a slave who had run away a few years ago. In his hand is a letter that should make all the difference in whether he is to be received with welcoming arms or a flogging. It is a lovely picture of the way in which the Lord Jesus intercedes for us in our return to God.

It was undoubtedly through Paul’s witness and preaching that Onesimus was saved. They were both in the same jail, and they undoubtedly recognized each other from Paul’s visit to Colosse and his visits to Philemon’s home. The Lord Jesus also knew all about us when He took up our case and brought us to Himself. Because Onesimus was Paul’s son in the faith, he could use this family term in referring to him. In the same way, we are referred to as the children of the Lord Who has brought us to Himself. The Lord Jesus vouches for us before His Father in the same way that Paul could vouch for Onesimus as he sends him to Philemon. Although Onesimus might well hand Paul’s letter to Philemon with trembling fingers, we have no such fears in approaching our Father. There was a possibility that Philemon might reject Paul’s plea for Onesimus, but there is no possibility that the Father will reject the plea that the Lord Jesus makes for us.

There is undoubtedly a remarkable story in how Paul and Onesimus met in the Roman jail. We can use our imaginations to arrive at a plausible version of that story. Regardless of the details, their meeting proved a great blessing to Onesimus: through Paul’s witness he was saved. In addition, under Paul’s instruction, he became a devoted, faithful, and profitable servant of Jesus Christ. After his release from Prison, he remained in close contact with Paul, and became a powerful worker amid the Christians and in the Gospel work in Rome. His name means helpful and profitable, and under Paul’s ministry, Onesimus was able to live up to his name. All of this would never happen if Paul had not been suffering in that Roman prison. You and I would never be able to become helpful and profitable to God if the Lord Jesus had not endured Calvary’s suffering for us.

We have an Advocate Who pleads our case before His Father, just as Paul pleaded for Onesimus. Was Onesimus welcomed? We believe so. Are we welcomed? We know so! – Jim MacIntosh

https://youtu.be/36XgFYWabws

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 6

Sometimes we can pick out other Christians in a crowd, if we are looking for them. Something that I often do – and you probably do to – when I am in a crowd of people, such as on a busy street, a crowded mall, or in the audience at a community event, is look around to see if I can identify the Christians. Some are easy to spot, such as a ‘Christ died for our sins’ bumper sticker on the car ahead of us in the traffic, or the lady reading her Bible on a park bench. Some are easy to rule out, such as those who engage in profane talk or those who dress immodestly or who dress according to the mandates of a particular religion. But with most people, it is really difficult to tell because any Christians among them don’t look or act any different from anyone else. They might be folks with a wonderful grasp of Bible truth, or folks who have a testimony of being like Christ in their homes and workplaces. But we won’t know.. not unless they let us know. And that is what our text is telling us about.

Paul speaks of the communication of Philemon’s faith. This was a man who let everybody he encountered know that he was a Christian. Did he tell them? Not necessarily, although that was probably included. Paul said Philemon acknowledged every good thing that was in him in Christ Jesus. Simply put, he acted like a Christian; he acted out the things that made him a Christian. He witnessed to the saving power of Christ. He displayed the attributes of Christ in showing mercy and love, honesty and faithfulness. He demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit in living for and serving the Lord his God.

Do people around us know that we are Christians? How can they tell? Like Philemon, we must communicate our faith. No, that does not mean standing up and shouting Gospel texts on the bus, or carrying a Gospel text sandwich board all the time. No, it means that, like Philemon, we show by our life what God has transformed us into for His glory. Outwardly, we dress in a manner that is not shameful. We speak respectfully without resorting to the world’s profane language. We avoid places where sinful behaviour is prominent, so that nobody would ever ask us, ‘If you are a Christian, what are you doing here?’ We are truthful and honest and kind and fair, just as the Lord Jesus would be in that situation. And there would be nothing fake about our behaviour, because we would be living out that which exists within.

The expression ‘every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus’ describes why others can identify us as Christians. The world looks and acts like the world because they lack all of those good things that God has given to us in Christ Jesus. If God has given us all these good things, let us display them as we communicate our faith. -Jim MacIntosh

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer. Philemon 1

I have two friends who are sons of an old acquaintance of my father. The eldest of these brothers is a critic of everything and everybody. Whenever a name is mentioned, if he knows that person, he begins listing all of their negative attributes, and relates experiences in which he remembers that person acting in a negative or unkind or foolish way. The younger brother could not be more opposite. He genuinely likes people, and the mention of a name usually causes him to express thankfulness for knowing that person, and citing some incident in which he enjoyed that person’s company. You can easily guess which of those two brothers I prefer spending time with. We all enjoy the company of someone who speaks well of others. In fact, only gossips and scandalmongers like to hear the dirt about everybody. Paul was no gossip or scandalmonger. He was liberal in his praise and appreciation of others. He sets a nice example for us.

Paul knew Philemon well, and had spent time in his house. He knew the man’s household and his family, and had learned to love and appreciate Philemon. This Colosse saint had many good qualities that we see as we read the rest of this short epistle. So Paul lets him know how much he appreciates him and how much he loves him. If you or I were receiving this letter, Paul’s words would certainly warm our heart. Such expressions of affection and praise from a great apostle such as Paul would have meant much. It would also mean much to have such expressions from any dear friend. But, some might say, Paul was looking for a great favour from Philemon, and might have been ‘buttering him up’, as the saying goes. I don’t think so.

It is true that Paul had a special request for Philemon, a request that carried a significant cost for Philemon. His request for the forgiveness of Onesimus was large, and it might be better for Philemon to be in a good mood before hearing it. But let us consider that Paul, in writing this epistle, was being guided by the Holy Spirit, because this letter was to become part of the canon of Scripture. Nothing that Paul would write would be with any ulterior motive or would be false or misleading in any way. His love for Philemon was genuine, and so was his appreciation of Philemon’s efforts in support of Paul’s service for the Lord. And so, Paul expressed himself sincerely to a good man worthy of receiving praise.

Paul’s example is before us now. Do we let people know how much we appreciate them and care for them? We should. – Jim MacIntosh