Welcome to Week 3: Grace and Boldness!
Beloved H4J family! This week, as we delve further into Paul’s letter to Philemon, we turn our hearts to Grace and Boldness. Just as Paul chose to appeal to Philemon on the basis of love, rather than command him, we will be focusing on embracing God’s grace and speaking truth with love and conviction.
This week’s devotionals will guide us to reflect on cultivating confidence in Christ, appealing on the basis of love, submitting to God’s guidance, and sharing our faith with boldness. May we be challenged to communicate with both grace and conviction, reflecting the heart of Christ in all that we do.
Join us in prayerfully considering these themes. Let’s seek to embody both grace and boldness in our interactions with others, so that we may be effective witnesses for Christ. Share your insights and reflections using #H4JPawa #H4JBatuhan #HomesForJesus #Philemon.
Week 3 Devotional Readings: Grace and Boldness (Philemon 8-9)
Overall Theme: Embracing Grace and Speaking Truth in Love
Day 15: Confidence in Christ
Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Paul operated from a place of confidence in Christ’s authority (Philemon 8). Today, reflect on the authority you have as a believer in Jesus. Recognize that you are empowered by Him to overcome challenges and fulfill His purpose in your life.
Reflective Question: What area of your life requires you to step out in confidence, trusting in Christ’s strength?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, I claim your strength and authority in my life. Fill me with confidence to walk in your purpose.
Day 16: Appealing on the Basis of Love
1 Corinthians 13:1: “If I speak in the tongues of mortals or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”
Paul chooses to appeal to Philemon on the basis of love, rather than command him (Philemon 9). Today, consider the power of love in your interactions with others. Strive to communicate with kindness, compassion, and understanding, even when addressing difficult issues.
Reflective Question: How can you approach a difficult conversation with someone from a place of love and empathy?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, fill my heart with your love and help me to speak with grace and compassion in all my interactions.
Day 17: Gentleness and Respect
Galatians 6:1: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”
Consider those who have wronged you, or those with whom you disagree. Today, prayerfully consider how to speak to those people with gentleness and respect. How can you restore them in faith, and not push them away?
Reflective Question: What are some ways to communicate without causing people to become defensive?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, fill me with patience and gentleness as I speak with others. Guide my tongue and help me to not speak harshly to anyone.
Day 18: The Power of Persuasion
Acts 26:28: Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to become a Christian?”
Mediate on Paul’s ability to persuade others to follow Christ. Pray for the power to persuade others. If you are comfortable, practice explaining how you became a Christian.
Reflective Question: What parts of your testimony may speak powerfully to others?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, guide my words when speaking to others. Help me to speak the truth plainly and with love. Remind me what to say.
Day 19: Submitting to God’s Guidance
Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Mediate and pray about how to submit to God’s guidance. The only way to speak truth with love and gentleness is to follow God’s way.
Reflective Question: What things are blocking you from more fully following God?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, help me to fully trust in you. Remove from me all fear of following your path, even when it seems scary.
Day 20: Speaking Truth in Love
Ephesians 4:15: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
It’s tempting to think that we have to choose between truth and love, but Paul demonstrates that they must go together. Today, consider someone to whom you need to speak the truth. Pray for wisdom and discernment to share that truth in a way that is both honest and loving.
Reflective Question: How can you balance honesty and compassion when communicating difficult truths?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, give me wisdom to know when and how to speak the truth. Fill me with your love, so that my words may be received with grace.
Day 21: Boldness in Witnessing
Acts 4:31: “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Claim the Holy Spirit, and pray for boldness to share your testimony. Look for an opportunity to share your own faith story with someone today. Share your testimony with the understanding that God changes lives.
Reflective Question: What is one thing that could make me more fearful of sharing my testimony?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit and grant me boldness to share your love and truth with the world.