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. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. Philemon 6-7
“Ye have done well in receiving Philo and Rheus Agathopus as servants of Christ our God, who have followed me for the sake of God, and who give thanks to the Lord in your behalf, because ye have in every way refreshed them. None of these things shall be lost to you. May my spirit be for you, and my bonds, which ye have not despised or been ashamed of; nor shall Jesus Christ, our perfect hope, be ashamed of you.”
Ignatius of Antioch (c.110) To the Smyrnaeans (Roberts-Donaldson Translation).
For his Christian faith, Ignatius was arrested in Antioch and led from Antioch to Rome to face trial (c. 105-115). He visited disciples of Jesus along the way and wrote them letters to encourage them.
These letters — to the Smyrnaeans, Philadelphians, Romans, Trallians, Magnesians, and Ephesians — are part of a wonderful collection called The Apostolic Fathers.
The early church grew through the service and sharing of ordinary people like you and me. In Paul’s letter to Philemon, he expresses gratitude for the way Philemon had “refreshed” the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Similarly, Ignatius of Antioch affirms how the church in Smyrna had received and refreshed Philo and Rheus Agathopus as servants of Christ our God “in every way” which implies material and spiritual replenishment.
What might it look like for your generosity to refresh others in material and spiritual ways? What if you increase your giving in 2023? Or how about making it a point to write letters to encourage people?
These kinds of activities refresh people and help them grow. Conversely the worldly mindset seeks to consume our time, energy, and resources with things that don’t necessarily deepen our understanding of everything we share in Christ.
Don’t waste your 2023. Live it like Ignatius did when making His way to Rome. He wrote letters expressing gratitude and encouraged hearers to persevere in the faith. Likewise, Paul made the most of his time on house arrest waiting to meet Caesar.
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! Acts 28:30-31