Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Philemon 7 NIV

There has always be someone in my church who refreshes the saints. I don't always get to see them on Sundays, because we have different services and so many people, but I know they are there. If I have had an exceptionally stressful week, I make sure our paths sometime during the week.

Philemon was that kind of guy. Paul praises him for his work among the church. He must have been an encourager. Whenever Paul thought of Philemon, it gave him a warm feeling. Perhaps thinking of Philemon, and those like him who serve in love, helped keep Paul from losing his mind while locked up in a cold prison cell. Paul needed the encouragement of knowing there were still people who cared whether he lived or died.

We all need that type of encouragement. Regardless of how mature in our faith we become, we need someone around to help keep our spirits strong. We need someone who we can trust, someone who can bring a smile to our face, someone who has our best interests at heart. Yes, even though the Lord is our "friend who sticks closer than a brother", I firmly believe God surrounds us with Christian friends to help make this fallen world a bit more tolerable.

Do you have a friend like that? Better still, are you a friend like that? Can others count on you for a kind word, a smile, an encouraging compliment? Are you careful not to say something, unless it will edify; build up the body of Christ? Will you, like Philemon, be an encourager among the church?

May that be our prayer and goal today!

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For more of my thoughts, check out my personal blog at http://www.ronedmondson.com where I write on issues such as marriage, parenting, church and leadership.

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Check out Ron's Blog at www.ronedmondson.com

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Mustard Seed Ministry is reaching around the world with Biblical truths. The ministry is designed to spur the Christian from the smallest amount of faith, onto spiritual growth and maturity. This ministry goes places the church cannot enter. If you would like to support the work of this ministry, send contributions to Mustard Seed Ministry, PO Box 3698, Clarksville, TN 37043, or through Pay Pal (www.paypal.com) to ron.mustardseed@Christweb.com email address.

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