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 | 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!
by Kevin Tillman | Feb 26, 2024 | Bible Study
Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most memorized and quoted scriptures:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
There is good reason for it to be often quoted. This verse is inspirational. It is a reminder of God’s goodness. It is a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Though it is often quoted, many casual readers may miss the context. This passage was given to the prophet Jeremiah to be delivered to the nation of Israel in a time WHILE THEY WERE IN CAPTIVITY (emphasis added). That’s an important tidbit. This message came at a low point. It came as a reminder of the nature of God.
The verse starts with “I know”. Though the situation seems dire, God knows. Though the future is unknown, God knows. Though there seems to be no way out, God knows. God knows each and every detail about our lives. Yes, times get tough, and yes, at times it seems that God is distant. But here is the reminder: God knows.
The verse continues with what God knows. He knows “the plans I have for you”. The plans are to “proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Can you imagine the nation of Israel hearing that message while being enslaved? Likely there were doubters. “Ok, God you have these plans, how about we start showing some of them?”. “How about You get us out of this predicament?”. It’s one thing to hear the words, and quite another to take them to heart, even when the immediate situation isn’t changing.
There is no human being that has ever lived that has not been in a hopeless feeling situation. Pain and suffering are a part of life. The reminder to the nation of Israel, and to us is to hold on and wait on God. Admittedly, however, we don’t always handle things that way. At least I haven’t always done it that way. Maybe there are some superhuman Christians among us (sarcasm intentional), that have always done it exactly the right way, but not me. In my life I have had seasons where I waited on God. I sought after Him, and I waited expectantly. But yeah, there are other seasons where I “took the bull by the horns”. I took charge to move forward. I had a sinking feeling on the inside that God was distant. So, I did what I thought needed to be done. The result? Not good. However, God is still good even in our wanderings. God can still gently steer us back on path.
Here is a key to remember (like seriously, write this down somewhere): DON’T EVER LET YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BE A BAROMETER FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE.
There is a nugget in this passage of Scripture that can wreck some theology circles. In Jeremiah 29:4 it is revealed that the Israelites went into captivity in the first place because, God “carried” them. Wait what? God took them into slavery? That doesn’t gel perfectly with some theologies.
Think about these:
Was God with Jonah in the whale? Was God with Joseph in prison? Was God with Paul when he was shipwrecked and in prison? Was Jesus on the boat with the disciples during the storm? This list can go on and on. Was God absent in these situations? No. Had God forgotten? No. If God is there, and God is allowing, then there must be a purpose. And indeed there is, the purpose is to “prosper you and not to harm you.”
The verse says that the plan is to give us “hope”. In our modern day vernacular we interpret hope almost the same as wish. I “hope” my team wins. I “hope” I do well on this test. But Biblical hope is different. It’s a “sure thing”. It’s a “done deal”. In life we desperately strive for hope. But hope is not something we achieve, it is something we receive. No amount of trying will ever achieve what God freely gives.
Not only do we receive “hope”, but God also promises a “future”. A key to understanding this is to understand the nature of God. (Warning, this is about to be one of those head exploding type of things)! God does not exist in time the way that way exist in time. We live linear lives. We get up, eat meals, work, do some stuff, go to bed, and repeat. We do this day after day, month after month, year after year, over and over and over again. God is not limited by the calendar and time. God just exists. God is in all times at the same time. (I told you it was head exploding). This means that God has the whole view of all of our lives at one instant. Beyond that, He sees all of eternity in one glance. With all of that knowledge and lack of limitations, it makes sense that He would move the needle of our lives one little iota to help steer us down a different path. We don’t even have the smallest fragment of information that God has. Before I leave this, think about it a bit. When you were just a small little embryo in your mother’s womb, God not only saw that present situation, but He also saw your whole life and death. When God says, He will give us a “future”, it’s not just some little plan, it’s much much bigger than that.
I think it’s worth taking a short little detour here. We are to WAIT ON THE LORD (emphasis added). That is what God wants us to do. But, like many things in the Word of God, this can be taken to a wrong extreme. Someone may say, “Ok, I’m waiting on God. Until He shows up, I’m just going to sit right here on this couch and eat Cheetos until something happens.” Obviously, that’s not the right approach. In Jeremiah 29:4-7 God gives the immediate action to be taken:
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Do you see the instructions God gives in the waiting? Build houses, plant gardens, EAT (Hallelujah!), Keep marrying and focusing on family. Basically, keep on doing life. Keep moving. I love the advice given in verse 7: “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into EXILE”. While everything is wrong for you, help others. Not only help others, but help those that are enslaving you. Ouch, wait what? That seems impossible. Do you see the promise though … seriously don’t miss this. Do you see what God says He will do if we seek peace and prosperity for others. Do you see it, “if it prospers, you too will prosper.” And this, is even while in the exile.
This passage beautifully wraps up with a promise from God found in Jeremiah 29:12-14
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.
The start of this verse is the word “then”, which implies something comes before it. God says “call on Me”, “come and pray to Me”, and the promise is He will listen. When we seek, we fill find Him. The promise is that the slavery will end, the time of wilderness will cease. This comes, but the journey of the captivity is what makes it possible.
No matter the season of life you are in, God is there. He is far above any limitations of time, place, or circumstance. This blip of time that we live in is nothing compared to eternity. No matter how difficult your situation is, always remember that “God knows the plans He has for you, … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
by Shannon Tillman | Feb 5, 2024 | Bible Study
I like to avoid putting laundry away. I do not mind washing clothes, but the act of putting them away seems too overwhelming. Recently, I decided to not put laundry away and instead just brought the laundry basket in my room. Later, in the middle of the night, I tripped on the basket. I ended up with a huge bruise on my leg. Avoidance ended up harming me!
While laundry and bruises may be a small matter, we often avoid larger scenarios which in the end cause even more hardship on our lives. How often do we make a decision to try to avoid pain, yet bring greater heartache upon ourselves? Naomi experienced heartache over one choice to move, in an attempt to avoid a famine in the land.
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. (Ruth 1:1-5)
Suffering and pain are a part of life due to the sin in this world and the enemy’s attacks on us. However, when suffering comes, our response showcases our character. Elimelech wanted to avoid the temporal hardship of the famine. He moved to enemy territory in desire to survive. However, he ended up dying along with his two sons, which led to deep grief and impoverishment of his wife Naomi.
Naomi makes the difficult decision to return home. This journey would be extremely difficult. Plus, in her poverty, her ability to survive even back home would entail great sacrifice and hardship. Unfortunately, Naomi continues Elimelech’s destructive pattern of trying to convince others to avoid suffering even though in the long run there would be dire penalties to that decision. When she decides to return back to Israel, she has a conversation with her two widowed daughters-in-law that leave them facing eternal consequences.
Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”
Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”
But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? (Ruth 1:8-11a)
Naomi is returning the land of Israel, the land of God. It would be a long and difficult journey. However, it would be a return to the Lord, forsaking the idols of Moab, and joining to the God of Israel. Naomi attempts to talk both women from this choice. Sadly, one complies.
At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. (Ruth 1:14)
Orpah follows her mother-in-law’s advice and walks toward the Moabite gods instead of going to the land of the God of Israel. Naomi’s negativity, complaining in difficulties, wanting others to avoid hardship; pushed Orpah away from the Lord. In Naomi’s attempt to keep Ruth and Orpah from temporary hardship, she ended up not being a witness and bringing Orpah to Israel, God’s dwelling place.
Life is hard. We all experience loss. However, attempts to avoid pain are futile and can lead to unnecessary suffering. It also inflicts harm on those around us. Eventually, our attitude towards the suffering will be reflected in our character and our choices. It also taints our view of God.
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” (Ruth 1:20-21)
She did not want to be called Naomi (pleasant), but Mara (bitter). She blamed her bitter life on the Lord. Naomi and her husband chose to avoid suffering and leave Bethlehem yet the consequences of their decisions she now blamed on God. How often we do the same! Our negativity and complaints are ultimately an accusation against the Lord which keeps us from an honest evaluation of ourselves and life’s choices. They were not led to Moab by a direction of God’s will, but based on avoiding difficult circumstances (famine in the land). The consequences of going our own way are not God’s fault.
Avoiding pain, complaining, and bitterness are ultimately personal accusations against God. We need to evaluate our lives. If these attitudes are in us, we need to repent. It is time for our Mara hearts to become Naomi ones once again.
by Shannon Tillman | Jan 15, 2024 | Bible Study
My idea of a workout is sitting on the beach. I would rather perspire lounging by a beautiful body of water than sweating during aerobics or weight training. I want to be healthy without any effort on my part. Yet, we all know that this is not how it works (sadly).
The same is true in our spiritual lives. It is the difficulties, sovereignly orchestrated by God for our benefit, that foster spiritual growth. The nation of Israel experienced this truth in the wilderness on their journey toward the Promised Land. They were on their way to the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams. However, a hostile king blocked them:
But Sihon king of Heshbon refused to let us pass through. For the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to give him into your hands, as he has now done. The LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his country over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.” (Deuteronomy 2:30-31)
A closed “road” may signal a spiritual fight to gain new territory. We want the Lord to make the path easy but He allows the fight. In fact, God divinely orchestrated the fight to benefit the Israelites. They wanted to pass “safely through” but God wanted them to take the enemy’s ground by His power.
The word Sihon in Hebrew means “warrior”. The word “Heshbon” in Hebrew means “stronghold”. The enemy we fight is a warrior who resides in a stronghold. This is not an easy fight! We must pull down the strongholds that the enemy has set up. We are called to fight instead of allowing the enemy to settle in our territory.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10: 4-6)
We must not back down. A stronghold is any lie that is against the truth of God. Unless we dislodge the enemy with truth, he will stay settled in our lives. We must go into combat against the lies to dislodge the enemy. This is war!
The enemy told Israel “you can’t pass through.” But God told the Israelites “this is your land, go get it.” The enemy was telling a lie as if he was already victorious and the land was his. God was showing Israel that He alone is in charge.
Often our difficult circumstances will manifest the lies we believe about ourselves, others, our situations, and even God. These lies come up and are set up to block our victory. The Lord sovereignly allows this so we can experience even greater victory and freedom in our lives.
