Philemon
I've begun my journey reading through the Epistles over the next forty days. I started in one of the most least read books in the Bible--Philemon.
Here are some thoughts from Philemon v. 8. "I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love." There are two motivations for doing things: you can do them because you "have to" or "want to." I think sometimes we "have to" do something and that's fine. But the goal isn't just obedience. I think it's motivated obedience or joyful obedience. In other words, you don't just do what you should do because you have to do it. You do what you should do because you want to do it.
I believe that the deepest level of transformation isn't intellectual, it's emotional. It's not changing your mind. It's changing your heart. It's getting to the point where you're desires are sanctified and you want what God wants. It's the difference between pulling and pushing. Paul doesn't want to push. He wants to pull. I'm a big believer in leadership that pulls. I don't want to guilt anybody into doing anything. I want to inspire and motivate and encourage. That is what Paul does here. I think discipleship often begins as "discipline." You do it because you know you should do it. But ultimately it needs to morph into desire. You do it because you want to do it.
One more thought. I love Philemon v. 22: "Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers." That is so cool. Too many of us pray, but we don't make any plans preparing for the answer to those prayers! Faith isn't just praying like it depends on God. Faith is also working like it depends on us. It's both/and. Paul plans for answered prayer!
Here are some thoughts from Philemon v. 8. "I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love." There are two motivations for doing things: you can do them because you "have to" or "want to." I think sometimes we "have to" do something and that's fine. But the goal isn't just obedience. I think it's motivated obedience or joyful obedience. In other words, you don't just do what you should do because you have to do it. You do what you should do because you want to do it.
I believe that the deepest level of transformation isn't intellectual, it's emotional. It's not changing your mind. It's changing your heart. It's getting to the point where you're desires are sanctified and you want what God wants. It's the difference between pulling and pushing. Paul doesn't want to push. He wants to pull. I'm a big believer in leadership that pulls. I don't want to guilt anybody into doing anything. I want to inspire and motivate and encourage. That is what Paul does here. I think discipleship often begins as "discipline." You do it because you know you should do it. But ultimately it needs to morph into desire. You do it because you want to do it.
One more thought. I love Philemon v. 22: "Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers." That is so cool. Too many of us pray, but we don't make any plans preparing for the answer to those prayers! Faith isn't just praying like it depends on God. Faith is also working like it depends on us. It's both/and. Paul plans for answered prayer!
2 Comments:
I love this! It's like we "get" to do this! Not "have" to! The more we see ministry as a privilege the more fun it will be!
My wife, Lora, always laughs about when they were kids and they didn't want to do something. They'd say "do we have to" and her dad would always say, "No, you get to."
I think that "do we have to" mentality when it comes to prayer or evangelism has to be so tough for God. He's got to be thinking. "Of course you don't have to. You get to. You get to talk to the omnipotent creator of the universe. You get the share the greatest message ever told."
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