THURSDAY January 30, 2025

Refreshed Hearts

...hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
Philemon 5-7

Paul had heard of Philemon’s love and faith––first, his love for Jesus Christ, and second, a love that overflowed toward all the saints––believers in Christ. He pointed out in his letter the effectiveness of Philemon’s faith––it was having a real impact on the lives of other people, so much so that Paul expresses his joy and comfort that he and the other believers had experienced through Philemon’s effective ministry. They were all very blessed. Truly, their hearts were refreshed by Philemon.

This is exactly what happens when we walk in a first love relationship with Jesus. It is a love that overflows into the lives of other people. It is a contagious love––a beautiful fellowship found only in the love of Christ. The word love used in these verses expresses a deep human feeling. The word refreshed in the Greek language gives a picture of “an army at rest.” Paul conveys in his letter to Philemon that his love had refreshed them––it had caused them to rest in Christ.

That same beautiful fellowship of love in Christ exists in our churches in South and Central America. We hear about the believers’ love and the faith that they have for us, and we have for them. It is a mutual love. When I travel to see the pastors with their wives and children, it is such a blessing. God is moving among them, and the churches are growing. I see firsthand the fruitfulness of their love toward believers in Christ. They continue to pray for us, and we continue to pray for them.

What a wonderful and rewarding ministry you can have when you set about to refresh the hearts of others.

If we have got the true love of God shed abroad in our hearts, we will show it in our lives. We will not have to go up and down the earth proclaiming it. We will show it in everything we say or do.
~Dwight L. Moody~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!