Evidence!

Evidence!

Philemon 1:6 AMP

[6] I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ.

Evidence is 'the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid'. This neans that for any position that one may take, this has to be backed up by relevsnt information that supports and strengthens that position. Let us lay the foundation for the verse above. Paul and his protegee Timothy were writing to Philemon, his wife and other fellow believers who meet in the house of Philemon. You know the sacrifice that comes with making your house a place of regular fellowship. This family was willing and available, and Paul could see the proof of faith in their lives. Paul's letter made reference to their love and faith which they had toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints. It is easy to deceive people for some time with outward piety, but you cannot sustain that deceit for a long time. At some point, the mask will fall away and the truth will be revealed. Do you have, know, follow and serve God the right way? 

Philemon was known as a believer; he also had slave(s) which was a permitted practice in those days. We do not have the details of what happened, but this slave ran away and met with Paul. As it is with divinely arranged encounters, this slave met with Christ and his life was turned around. What do you do with such information? Paul, a believer, had to send the slave, now a believer, to his master, also a believer. There was no entitlement, no desire to use influence the wrong way; it was important for the right thing to be done, so that the response of Philemon could come without any undue influence. Like all things today too, we all can claim to be anyone or anything; the proof of what or who we are will definitely be revealed when pressures come. When no one is looking, it is easy to claim anything, but the evidence of my daily life's pursuits and priorities will be the greatest evidence of who I truly am.

The Christian faith is one that is proven by evidence. It is first an inner conviction, but it is proven by external profession. People come in contact with the evidence of my life's work, and over time, they come to know whose I am. The company I keep, the conversations I have, the concepts I hold dear are just a few of the things that prove the quality and depth of my convictions. That is why Paul and Timothy could emphasise the importance of effective sharing of our faith. Our lives are evidence of the power of God. As we daily live and relate with people, we show off His power and grace in all fullness. It is by my daily and regular engagement with God that my knowledge of Him can become more accurate and impactful. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, whose lives will be living testimonies and evidence of the grace and enablement that only God can give. Does this describe me? God's time of favour is here.