POSITIVE IMPACT

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus… Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. —Philemon 1:4-5, 7

Who are the believers you are thankful for? Do you remember them in prayer? What are you hearing about their love for God’s people and about their faith in the Lord Jesus? Are they a great joy and encouragement to you? Have you heard about how they have refreshed the hearts of the saints?

We could also as ourselves, “Who is thankful for me? Do they remember me in prayer? Are they hearing about my love for God and about my faith in the Lord Jesus? Am I a great joy and encouragement to them? Have they heard if I am refreshing the hearts of the saints?”

A life lived faithfully for the Lord Jesus is bound to produce these types of responses in those who know us and who are faithfully following the Lord themselves. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (III John 1:4). This is true of those who are my own physical children who are following the Lord Jesus and of those who I have had the privilege of being present when they were birthed into new life— some of which I had just met! Then I think about those who have responded to the gospel and I have never seen again or have lost contact with. Some of those are in distant lands— it will be a joy to see them in glory one day and to hear their stories.
Oh, that we would live today, and for the rest of our lives, in a way that will bring thankfulness, joy and encouragement to other believers. Yes, may we live for the Lord Jesus in such a way that others would be impacted positively for Him.

Dear Father, may I truly live a life of faithfulness to the Lord Jesus that others would be encouraged. May this be done in the power of the Holy Spirit!