THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A boss needs some information pronto from one of his employees who is at home for a week's rest. He phones the number and a tiny little sweet voice answers:
"Hello?"
"Hello, is your daddy there?"
"Yes." says the cute little voice very quielty and sweetly.
"Ah good, well, can I talk to him then?"
"No" she says very slowly.
A bit shocked at this he asks why.
"He and mummy are talking to the policeman." she coos perfectly innocently.
"The policeman!?" the boss says shocked.
"Yes," she says in her quiet little voice, "The big policeman. All the others are outside."
"Others????" he gasps wondering what on earth has gone wrong.
"Ye."
He hears a sound through the earpiece.
"What's that noise?" he asks
"Oh," she says, again nice and sweet, "That's the policemen's helicopter."
"Good grief!" the man nearly swears, "What on earth is that doing there? What are they all doing?"
From the earpiece he hears the tiniest of little giggles,"Looking for me!"
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Philem 1-2
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
........
10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
KJV
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Is there a "church in thy house?"
Are all the parents and family members a part of it?
Is there one or more who is not converted?
Onesimus was a servant in Philemon's house. He was unconverted and probably, like the little girl above, quite a rascal! Onesimus escaped Philemon's house and ran away.
Probably, Onesimus landed in jail! Paul was "in bonds," and that's how he met Onesimus. Now, the reason Paul was in prison was for "the preaching of the Gospel of Christ." Experiencing Pauls preaching, the wayward servant was soon converted to Christ. Paul also convinced him to go home and make things right with Philemon.
As Onesimus returned to Philemon with the letter from Paul, Philemon's heart greatly rejoiced! A lost and wayward soul had returned to "the church" in his house! Prayers had been answered!
Most Christians GO to church, but how many consider "the church in thy house?" It is THAT church that really affects friends, neighbors, and co-workers MORE than the church to which we go each week!
The conduct of the family is important to the witness toward others. Let us conduct the "church" in our house in a manner that reflects warm kindness, love, tenderness, diligence and integrity.
And let us pray that ALL those who have contact with "the church" in our house come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.
Love ya,
Bruce