Friday 20 November 2015

GOD-TRACKING IS BEING RESPECTFULLY ASSERTIVE WITH GRACIOUS HUMILITY

trACker 561 The e-Devotional helping to keep you on-track
Published through www.godtracker.co.uk

20 November 2015

Dear God-tracker

1 John 2:1-2My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

God-tracking is being respectfully assertive with gracious humility

A friend once asked me why it seems Apostle Paul is being manipulative in his letter to Philemon. He showed how the apostle seemed to use his position to strongly influence Philemon to take Onesimus back. He said to me, “Is it okay to use manipulation to get a Godly outcome in a situation?” My answer, no.

We need to understand the historical and cultural context of this short epistle. Oneismus was a runaway slave. He belonged to Philemon. Culturally and historically speaking, he was Philemon’s property. The punishment for a runaway slave in Roman times was death. On his travels, Paul meets Onesimus, who becomes a Christian. Paul urges Oneimus to return to his master, but this would mean certain punishment. So Paul writes a letter to Philemon asking him to accept Onesimus back, not as a slave but as a brother. He even offers to reimburse Philemon for his losses. In his letter Paul uses strong language to forthrightly encourage Philemon to accept Oneimus back, but he does this in love. Paul is indeed, Philemon’s senior in that he is his apostolic leader. As such he encourages the slave master to unconditionally love the runaway slave and set him free. The price for his redemption would be paid by the apostle.

In his correspondence with Philemon, Paul is not being manipulative, he is being respectfully assertive. You may be facing a similar situation today, either from the standpoint of Paul or that of Philemon. It could be you are trying to cause someone else to see the truth of a situation from the position of authority. If so then follow Paul’s example of being graciously forthright and willing to sacrificial, to communicate your point. On the other hand, you may feel you are being manipulated into a decision by someone in authority over you. If so then follow Philemon’s example of graciously and respectfully weigh up their opinion, and then humbly choosing to do what you see to be right. And remember to always acknowledge the Lord in prayer, including in your relationships.

God-tracking is being respectfully assertive with gracious humility

Blessings

Dudley

It’s all in the Book…Philemon 1

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Thank you, O Lord, for your assertive grace and love to me

Pray“Dear Lord, I’m in a similar position today. Forgive me for being manipulative in my relationships with others and help me to humbly accept Godly advice, with grace. Thank you for the story of Philemon and Onesimus. I do see, too, that there is a deeper meaning in this epistle: that of your grace shown to me through Jesus Christ. I’m like Onesimus and you are like Philemon. Paul is like Jesus. I have run away from your righteousness and sinned. Therefore, you, O God, have every reason to condemn me to death for my sin. But Jesus has become my intermediary – he is the one who is interceding with you to graciously accept me back. And he has paid the price for my freedom in his blood. Thank you, O Lord, for your assertive grace and love to me. Amen.”

If you need more prayer please email dudley@godtracker.co.uk

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What is trACker? GodTracker and trACker owe their origins to an international Christian radio programme produced by Dudley Anderson called, On Track. Although On Track went off-air in 2005, trACker has continued to help people to track God's plans and purposes for their lives since July 2003.

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