Philemon 1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul was a master if imagery, like Jesus, using everyday examples to express what it means to follow Christ. Soldiers were everywhere in the world during the Roman empire. Christian soldiers were beginning to go everywhere too. Here Paul emphasizes the faithful diligence of the soldier - always ready to serve and do battle if necessary. Paul appreciated these spiritual warriors, and he asked God to bless them with his most common, but by no means ordinary, blessings: Grace and Peace. Grace: the God-given ability to do above and beyond what we can do on our own. And Peace: Soldiers don't need more war; they need peace within and without. Fighting day and night wears one down. He needs more than a break; he needs all out peace. May God bless you with those things today as you fight the battles that come your way.
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