Refreshment
I don’t know about where you live, but where I am in Tennessee, it has been HOT! My 3rd graders come in from recess looking like their heads are about to explode from their brief time outside. Yesterday when I had car duty, I could feel sweat on my shins. Shins aren’t supposed to sweat!
Perhaps that is why, as I was studying for a Bible class, the idea of refreshment seemed to jump off the page at me. My class is using the materials provided by ValleyBibleStudies.com to study through the New Testament. We are looking at Philemon this week.
After appealing to Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother, Paul tells Philemon he does want something from him: “Refresh my heart in Christ” (Verse 20). The studies we use asked the question “what about being a refreshment to someone is inherently Christlike?”
Three things immediately popped to my mind:
- “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’” (John 4:10)
- “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’” (John 6:35)
- “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Of course being Christlike is refreshment to our souls. Friends who are looking for refreshment, look no farther than the one who saves our soul.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.”
(Proverbs 3:5-8)
AUTHOR: Amber Tatum
