by Shannon Tillman | Apr 17, 2024 | Bible Study
Have you ever been blind-sided by someone? I wonder if that is how Philemon felt when he received a letter from the Apostle Paul. I am sure upon its arrival, Philemon felt honored to be singled out for personal correspondence from the esteemed preacher. However, the letter ends up being a difficult call to action.
The letter begins with compliments to Philemon as one who is a dear friend, fellow worker, one who loves God’s people, and has great faith. These words would have definitely encouraged Philemon. Then, the tone of the letter changes.
Philemon verses 8-11
Therefore, although in Christ 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. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Onesimus was a slave of Philemon. He ran away yet somehow, though, he was influenced by the preaching of Paul and became a believer in Jesus. Amazingly, Onesimus the slave is led to Christ by the same person who led his master to Christ. Onesimus must have confessed his past sins and thus Paul sent him back with this letter.
Philemon verses 12-16
I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
Suddenly, a seemingly friendly letter, becomes a series of difficult choices. Would Philemon forgive Onesimus? Not only that, would he choose to see Onesimus no longer as a slave but now as a brother in Christ? Would he trust Paul’s heart about this man’s transformation and his usefulness to Paul? Would Philemon free his slave to serve in the ministry?
Paul knew that he was asking a lot in this short letter. He was asking for a radical heart change in Philemon. Yet, Paul pressed the point even further.
Philemon verses 17-19
So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Welcome the one who offended you as if you were welcoming your spiritual leader and friend. Demand payback, not from the one who owes it, but from the one who literally shared with you the message of eternal life. These are Paul’s requests to Philemon.
Philemon verses 20-21
I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
In honoring Paul’s desires, Philemon would refresh his heart. Paul believed that Philemon would go above and beyond in response. If he did, we do not know. There are speculations in church history. Onesimus, the slave, may have become Onesimus the minister with Paul if he is the same man mentioned in Colossians 4. I hope Philemon did respond to Paul’s requests, because this would be the right thing to do.
I must admit, my standards for Philemon are higher than the standards I set for myself. I want him to forgive his slave, embrace him as a brother, and release him back to Paul for ministry. Yet, when I recently finished reading this short letter, God brought a person to my mind who did some terrible things against me. Immediately, I felt a guard go up in my heart against this person. Then, I realized, The Lord had blind-sided me with this letter, just as Paul had done to Philemon.
What if the person asks forgiveness? Would I hold the one in judgment? Would I want them to prove their transformation? Would they have to earn trust and relationship back piece by piece, like a slave working toward freedom? Or would I embrace them with love and release them into the fullness of God’s calling over their lives?
The same questions that Paul asked of Philemon, God asks of me. They are the same questions the Lord is asking you for each person that has wounded and caused you harm. The letter is to each of us. What will our response be?
by Shannon Tillman | Apr 10, 2024 | Thoughts
Proverbs 11:2 …
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
I have often read this verse and thought that when a person has pride then something bad would happen to them. It seemed a point of justice. Pride leads to downfall, disgrace, embarrassment.
It makes me think of the bully in a movie who does something cruel and then turns and trips and everyone laughs at the mean guy. You enjoy watching him fall as a sort of punishment for what he has done to others. (Or maybe that is just me and some of you would have sympathy on him. I would hope someone would jump out of the shrubbery and trip him again! Another fall for the bully. Yay!)
However, if we look at this verse again, it is not discussing a bad thing happening only to the proud. Both the proud and the humble experience difficulties. The second part of the verse does not show a protection from trials, instead, it simply states that the humble receive wisdom from the time of suffering.
Each situation gives the opportunity to respond with pride or humility. If I respond with pride then I am disgraced. But if I respond with humility than I am granted wisdom. Every circumstance provides a choice to get upset or to learn, to react or to respond, to look at the situation or to look at the God behind the situation.
The essence of humility is the acceptance of God’s sovereignty. I view the situation as from God and that He has allowed what has happened. Although it is difficult, I can ask God for wisdom in handling whatever trial has come my way. My attitude is one of what can be gained through the pain instead of how to avoid the pain.
James 1:2-5
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
The joy in trials is knowing that purpose will ultimately come from the pain. It will not be wasted if I handle the situation as directed by God. In humility I seek Him and ask for wisdom. Thus, I am not living disgraced for what was sent to “trip me up” instead I am choosing to utilize the situation as a platform for growth, change, transformation.
While this verse does not mean the proud bully will trip and fall (although that would be great!), it does mean that the trials of our lives can benefit me in the end when I allow the Lord to guide and direct me. The proud are disgraced by difficulties, the humble receive wisdom in difficulties. It comes down to our choice in how we respond to our trials.
by Shannon Tillman | Apr 1, 2024 | Thoughts
Soldiers came to the crucified thieves. They took mallets and broke their knees to cause them to die quickly. Jesus hung in the middle. They were about to break the knees of Jesus but He already appeared to be dead; His body hung limply on the cross. They needed proof so…
John 19:34
“…one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”
Blood and water, not just blood, flowed out of His pierced side. This means that the heart of Jesus was punctured, pierced, destroyed.
Have you ever felt broken-hearted? May this word encourage you. Jesus, whose heart was shattered at the cross, received a whole new heart in His resurrection.
John 20:19-20
“So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”
The hands of Jesus bore the scars of the nails. The side of Jesus bore the scar of His piercing. But the heart of Jesus no longer flowed with blood and water. Thus, it was completely renewed. He had a whole heart once again, as if it had never been wounded. A new heart was given at the resurrection!
These past few years, I have felt beat up by others and by circumstances. My heart ached and even beat irregularly with the pain. I cried out to God for a new heart, one that was not triggered by the pain of the past, one that had not been broken, one that did not feel the need to guard from the hurt of others, one that could love and be loved.
On Resurrection Sunday, I was praying before the service began. I thought of the wounds of His hands and feet. I then pondered His pierced side proving a busted heart, a dead heart, a destroyed heart. Then, I suddenly realized: Jesus has a new heart. Jesus, the crucified one, received a new heart! The resurrection of Jesus proves He was given a new heart, beating vibrantly now with the life that could never be taken again!
That means when I am resurrected out of my trials, my pains, my difficulties, my heart will be made new as well. I do not have to live from the pain of death from my circumstances, from the situations and the people who broke my heart. Instead, my heart can be made new!
I do not know what broke your heart. But I can tell you that the new heart of Jesus is a promise to all of us. He keeps the scars on His hands, feet, and side but not on His heart. While we may bear scars from the pain of our lives, we do not have to live with a broken heart. He makes this promise:
Psalm 147:3a
“He heals the brokenhearted…”
The word for brokenhearted in Hebrew can mean broken in pieces, hurt, torn, or crushed. It is a picture of mass destruction, a heart so devastated that it no longer beats. Yet, God can heal, restore, make a broken heart new, as if it had never been damaged. The resurrected heart of Jesus proves this word in our lives.
Take your broken heart to the Resurrected Savior. No matter what losses you have experienced, He can make your heart beat like new, as if it had not been injured by others or circumstances. Let Him heal your wounds and give you a new heart today.
by Shannon Tillman | Mar 18, 2024 | Bible Study
Princess parties are common for birthday themes. Often the participants receive plastic tiaras to wear on their heads, which usually break within a week’s time. However, the Lord wants to set a true and lasting crown upon us.
Psalm 103:2, 4b: “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name… (who) crowns you with love and compassion.”
A crown symbolizes authority. The only ones allowed to wear a crown in a kingdom are the people who have legal authorization. A servant does not wear a royal headdress; however, the king and queen have the right to don a crown. They received the crown on their day of inauguration, when they were given legal authority to rule the land.
The Lord crowns us. The name of the crown He gives us is called “love and compassion.” Since the crown symbolizes our authority, then the name of the crown shows that our rule stems from love and compassion. What we decree in the kingdom must come from the authority of the kingdom which is governed by love and compassion. Our words and actions must line up with the kingdom ways of love and compassion since that is the authority we were given.
Often in our difficult circumstances, we want to make decrees out of our own opinions or sense of justice. Those type of decrees can only be made from the throne room. We may have crowns, but we are not the ones seated on the throne.
Psalm 89:8a, 14: “Who is like you, LORD God Almighty?… Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.”
This verse references God’s throne which is balanced on righteousness and justice. Those are the stability of His kingdom. His throne does not totter because He is seated on both of these divine attributes. He dispenses justice from a perfect place of righteousness. This is why He tells us to leave the punishment of injustices to Him.
Romans 12:9: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
His throne is righteousness and justice. While these are the trademarks of His throne, this is not what we are crowned with. The crown He sets on us, the authority He has given us has a foundation of love and compassion.
How do we dispense love and compassion in difficult times to difficult people? We must recall what God did for us.
Psalm 103:2-4: “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”
When we recognize His mercy and what He has done for us (forgives all our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from the pit) then we can in turn respond with grace and mercy to others. We have been given much, so we give out of and in response to what we have received. With the authority bestowed to us, we decree loving and compassionate verdicts to those in our sphere of influence. I am not discussing what they may or may not “deserve”, just as we did not deserve all that God has done for us. I am also not talking about excusing or ignoring sin. This verse references how we are to govern our lives and our spheres of influence. Confronting sin can still be a loving and compassionate response. What I am referring to is that love and compassion dictates the response, however it may need to be. The way to ensure a loving and compassionate attitude is by focusing on, instead of forgetting, his benefits. Then, we are able to be beneficial to others by extending love and compassion. We were crowned with the attributes of salvation that we did not deserve and we grant these attributes to others, who also do not deserve them. This is the authority He gave us; this is the authority we are to work from; this is the way we are called to “rule” our worlds so that lives may be changed.
We have been given a beautiful crown. May we govern well. Extend love and compassion and see the kingdom of God spread.
by Shannon Tillman | Mar 11, 2024 | Bible Study
My mom loves World War II documentaries. I, on the other hand, avoid them. I am disturbed by the atrocities committed. Millions of innocent people were killed. Many of those who committed the crimes did not face justice for their horrific actions. It shakes me to the core because I struggle with knowing that God is just, yet injustice occurs.
I have been struggling with some minor injustices committed against me. My sense for justice is right, because God is just and He has established what is right and what is wrong. He understands the desire for justice while experiencing injustice. Jesus is the example for us.
Jesus is perfect. Thus, His desire for justice is perfect. Yet, He endured the most injustice of anyone in history. His perfect sense of justice had to react to the injustice committed against Him. Yet, Jesus submitted to the injustice based upon the Father’s will. He kept His focus on the desire of the Father and not on the people committing the injustice. For He knew, the injustice of earth was satisfying the justice in heaven. Jesus surrendered to heaven’s justice to be able to see past the injustice taking place against Him.
God sees the small injustices done against us, which of course is nothing compared to Jesus. Our hearts, though, cry out for justice. Instead of turning to bitterness or revenge, we must look for heaven’s justice being worked to a greater good than the injustices done on earth. Our perspectives must change by keeping our focus on Jesus and not what others have done against us. Then, we can experience the joy of the outcome even while enduring the consequences of the injustice of others inflicted upon us.
Hebrews 12:2-3: “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Forgive us for too often growing weary and losing heart! This shows we have the wrong focus. We must strengthen ourselves by looking to the injustice committed against Jesus which brought justice to all. God will work the injustices done to us to bring justice to others. People will be saved and transformed because of all we have learned and all the ways we have grown during the times of injustice. God works it for our good, so the injustice becomes a blessing for ourselves and for others.
Hebrews 12:7a: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.”
The injustice trains us and strengthens us for the future.
Hebrews 12:11-12: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.”
The injustice is used for our good, it literally strengthens us. So, we can look at Jesus, the One who experienced the greatest injustice and know that our little injustices will refine us so that heavenly justice (salvation) is brought to many. We do not need to try to work out our own justice, or complain about injustice on earth instead:
Hebrews 12:14: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
We want to see the Lord. The injustices distract our focus from Jesus. We are to fix our eyes on Him and trust that He turns earthly injustices to heavenly justice when we allow the circumstances to shape us so then others can be changed. This is God’s grace, His empowerment, in the times of injustice. We do not want to miss the blessing in the pain.
Hebrews 12:15-16: ” See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.”
Obsessively focusing on the injustice leads to bitterness which in the end defiles many. However, focus on heaven’s justice prevailing over earth’s injustice leads to the salvation of many. We have a choice. We can focus on the injustice which is like one tiny meal in the scheme of life, or we can focus on eternity (our birthright). Let us not sacrifice the eternal perspective for an earthly, momentary one! We can live at peace with others for we do not have to be angry or bitter over the injustices they have caused. Instead, we can take an eternal viewpoint and be thankful that this earthly injustice will propel us to heavenly justice.
Thank you, Lord, for the injustices! You are working them out in our lives so others will be saved. Thank you for every injustice on earth for there will be heavenly justice brought forth. We look forward to what You will do in the midst of the injustices we face. We place our eyes on You. Thank You for how You used these injustices to shape us and to purify us. We submit to Your work. What the enemy did for evil, You will work for good!
