SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/20/2017
10:35 PM
My Worship Time Focus: The
Requirement of Grace
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Philemon 25
Message of the
verses: “The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ be with your spirit.”
I mentioned in our last SD on Philemon that this one was
going to be very short as it only covers the last verse in Paul’s letter to
Philemon, and it is kind of a typical ending to one of Paul’s letters.
John MacArthur writes “By now Philemon was undoubtedly
convicted of his need to forgive Onesimus.
In case he wondered where he would find the strength to do so, Paul adds
these final words. This familiar
benediction is really a prayer that Philemon, his household, and the Colossian
assembly would receive grace needed to forgive Onesimus.
“Paul realizes that what he asks is not possible in the
flesh, because the flesh seeks vengeance.
Nor is it possible through the law, because the law demands
justice. Although Philemon could not
forgive Onesimus in his own strength, through ‘the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ,’ working with his spirit, he could.
Paul’s prayer is that Philemon would have the same grace that allowed
Christ to forgive.”
I have to totally agree with what MacArthur writes here
as we may be able to read what we are suppose to do in the Word of God, but the
Spirit of God has to be the One who causes us to have the desire to do what He
wants us to do.
7/20/2017 10:43 PM
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