Philemon is the apostle Paul’s shortest letter, tucked away before the book of Hebrews. Verse 6 reads: “and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”

The letter itself is delightful, and full of compassion and companionship. These words gently encourage Philemon, a man of some standing, to share his faith more effectively.

What is interesting is that, as we share our faith we grow in our knowledge of “every good thing” that we have in Christ.

One barrier to our sharing our faith is our lack of understanding. We think we cannot answer objections that people may have. Paul starts the other way around! He encourages Philemon to share his faith so that he will grow in understanding.

The Lord Jesus said something similar in John 7.17; “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” Here, He puts obedience before understanding. As we obey what Christ teaches, we will find our understanding of scripture grows.

This is so helpful. So often Christianity is presented as something intellectual, leaving some at a perceived disadvantage. But the order of the New Testament is that we obey Christ, and share our faith, so that we can grow in understanding. Given Christ’s wonderful love for us, why would we not wish to obey Him, and share our faith?

Consider the Bible’s contradictions – if we try to live by law these contradictions are a problem; if we live by putting on Christ, these are liberating. God does not micro-manage our lives – He says: “you work it out.”

I have found these Bible contradictions and apparent contradictions helpful. Each creates a tension – deeming apparently opposite or contradictory behaviour acceptable.

The NT presents not a new set of ‘holier than the OT’ rules not a ‘more relaxed than the OT’ rules. Rather it presents a way of life in the power of the Holy Spirit, we pursue a life of Christ-likeness. And these contradictions help us navigate a confusing and contradictory world.

Proverbs 26.4-5 –  how frequently do we find ourselves in a discussion with a ‘fool’? It might be a family or work event that we cannot exempt ourselves from. Discussion turns to a subject we don’t much care for. Do we join in or stay silent? Do we follow the folly or try to steer it on to a more edifying subject?

Some would say; whatever we say will lead to our being criticised. And we might read these verse that way.

Or, and this is my preference. There are words for that occasion. It is like God Himself says, “You choose. let the Holy Spirit give you some words to use.”

Luke 7.33-34 –

The Lord Jesus gave high commendation to His forerunner, John the Baptist. But their habits were different. John abstained from feasting. Jesus frequently ate and drank and with ‘doubtful’ company.

Yet both were right! “Wisdom is proved right by her children.” The Lord Jesus adds this postscript to pre-empt our choosing a preference.

Will my testimony for Christ be enhanced or diminished by attending the work Christmas party? Should I go for a while and then leave early before things get too ugly?

“You decide,” God says. “As a child of God, learn to choose well.”

Lev 20.7-8 –

So, who makes me holy? Here God insists, “I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” Yet a moment before we are commanded to by holy.

Surely both cannot be true. In fact, both are true!

For the follower of Jesus Christ, in-dwelt by the Spirit of God, we are on the escalator to Christ-likeness (Rom 8.29 ?) God has committed to make us like His Son. We co-operate with that great adventure,

Gal 6.2, 5 – bearing with one another’s burdens. There is a nuance here, between the wording in verse 2 and that in verse 5. Applying this to our lives; we each have personal responsibility to repent, to have faith, to pray, to gather with God’s people, etc. Yet we also have responsibility to carry the burdens of others. In between is the caution that I cannot live someone else’s life for them. I have to find the tension between supporting someone else and giving them opportunity to stand on their own.

Listen to Andrew Wilson’s explanation of this tension here: https://vimeo.com/774458466

I re-watched the film ‘We were soldiers’ recently. Based on fact it tells of an early battle between the US army and the Vietcong in Vietnam. The original incident was significant as it spawned the book We Were Soldiers Once  … And Young, by Joseph Galloway

I learned too that Rick Rescola, the man pictured on the front cover of the book was killed in the 9/11 attack on the twin towers. He was last seen with a megaphone, directing his staff to leave the building to save their lives. www.wtj.com/articles/xray/

The other link in my thinking is Virtue Reborn by NT Wright. This important book highlights the important of godly character exercised through moment-by-moment decisions, as we, as followers of Jesus Christ, develop godly habits. What the apostle Paul calls ‘the way of life in Christ Jesus.’

Rick Rescola learned the habit of self-sacrifice as a young serviceman, looking out for those around him. Finally, decades after his Vietnam experiences, he gave his life looking out for others.

We all learn and develop habits. They may not all be good habits.

Matters which appear quite trivial, which ‘don’t harm anyone’ may, in time, become very unhelpful to ourselves and to others.

No wonder Paul says, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil 4.8). One way to avoid unhelpful habits is to pursue good ones!

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said; ‘sow a thought and reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and reap a destiny.’ As far as I know, Emerson was not a man of faith. But he certainly understood this important truth!