PARTNERS IN THE FAITH
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home. —Philemon 1:1-2
I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. —Philemon 1:6
So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. —Philemon 1:17
Paul is writing to Philemon who he considers—
- Our dear friend
- Our fellow worker
- Our fellow soldier
- Our partner
Do you have other followers of Christ that you truly consider friends? Have you other believers around you that you consider fellow workers? Are you a fellow soldier with those who are soldiers as they follow Jesus? Do you consider them partners in the faith?
Our Lord desires those who know Him to be dear friends. We will be spending eternity together! He also wants us to be workers together with Him to accomplish His desires in and through our lives. Who are we serving with? Soldiers do not soldier alone in spiritual warfare. From what I read, the contubernium was the smallest unit in the Roman army (8 men) and was an administrative group. The basic fighting unit was the Centuria (80 men) which was commanded by a centurion, then cohors (cohorts -480 men), then legio (legion -4,500-6,000 men with another 120 cavalry support troops), then the Army/Provincial Army. No, soldiers do not work alone. They have to trust each other and partner together in warfare. So also should we do so in the spiritual warfare we are in as soldiers of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, who are we partnering with as we follow Jesus? May we not seek to go it alone. Dear Father, may we partner up with others in the faith who truly desire to serve You faithfully. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus, our Commander. So may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKT5BCmvmq0&list=RDMKT5BCmvmq0&start_radio=1&rv=cEbQswNB6Wc