Refresh My Heart
Philemon 1:7 and 20 NKJV
7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
It's a good thing that I am not one of those King James only people. There is a small subculture in rural North Carolina areas that will only accept the King James Bible. After all, if it was good enough for Jesus, it is good for today. Although that last sentence may have some hyperbole in it, the logic behind King James only is just as thin. But if I were limited to the King James translation, verse twenty reads "refresh my bowels in the Lord." The word bowels was used to indicate the gentler emotions of the soul, the heart, the inner man. Words change in usage over the years, which is another good reason to not just read but study and dig around in the Scriptures to catch the spirit of what is being communicated. In any event, Philemon is a blessing to Paul and to the saints in his area.
Paul wrote this personal letter to Philemon regarding Onesimus. Onesimus was a runaway slave who belonged to Philemon but escaped and eventually was led to faith in Christ by Paul. I find it interesting that this letter was included in Scripture because it deals with more of a relational situation, but there are nuggets of profitable truth in this letter.
Paul would have liked to keep Onesimus with him for the purpose of attending to his personal needs. But Paul shows his Christlike character by sending the runaway back, noting that he would not want to misuse his relationship with Philemon. And Paul is imploring Philemon to be gracious to Onesimus, because now he was not just a slave but a beloved brother in the Lord. Paul asked that Philemon would receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself, and we see the aging apostle's heart for this young slave.
The word 'refreshed' is used a couple of times in this letter. Philemon had refreshed the hearts of the believers in his area by his faith and love. And now Paul asked Philemon to refresh his heart in the Lord by being good to Onesimus. One translation of the word refreshed is to give rest. By his gracious actions to a runaway slave, Philemon was giving rest to Paul, refreshing his heart.
Application
All of us have had interactions with people who have drained us. Being around them wears down our souls. And we have had the people who have refreshed us. Their love, faith, and buoyant spirit lifted us, and we were refreshed by their presence. The key is making sure we are the ones who refresh others. By bringing some faith and love into our relationships, we can have it said that the hearts of the saints are refreshed by us.
Prayer
Lord help me to be one who refreshes others, not one who drains.