Shan Dai Advocacy

Philemon

March 23, 2007 on 1:09 pm | In His First Bible, New Testament, PrayerGrams |

God desires His children to experience grace and peace in our relationships. To do this requires trust, and to really love God’s people we must value forgiveness the way that He does. “I always thank God when I pray for you (________________) because I keep hearing of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people” (Philemon 1:4-5). Can people say that about us? After Paul addresses Philemon he makes a specific request and his friend needs to make a decision: offer forgiveness or not. Forgiveness is the very beginning point of new life in Christ. Asking for and giving forgiveness continues on, sometimes 7×70 times in any given day. Paul did not force Philemon to forgive and neither will God force us, but peace will not come when grace does not proceed. The Shan Dai community in general does not have a proud heritage of forgiveness. “Saving face” rather than saving grace is what they most commonly experience. Yet they, and all people, are asked to make a choice: receive forgiveness from Christ and forgive others or live life bitterly without reconciliation. As we choose to live a lifestyle of worship and verbally communicate to others how God through Christ Jesus has forgiven us, over and over again we are reminded of God’s precious grace. Our Father, where would we be if You were not forgiving? We pray for a fuller understanding of Your goodness as we both receive and offer forgiveness. Bless the Shan Dai nation to be a nation of reconciliation by the way of the cross.