Cheer 'em on!

Picture Paul: in prison...in chains...uncomfortable...cheering people on...wait- cheering people on? Yes! Despite his earthly circumstances, Paul had an eternal perspective, which helped him to be one of the greatest cheerleaders and encouragers of all time! Get this: Onesimus, a runaway slave from Colosse, was totally going against the meaning of his name, “Useful”. When Paul met him in Rome, he could have disregarded him because of his sin- he could have thought of him as a rebellious young man who was not going to listen- he could have ignored him because of his attitude- but, no…Paul saw potential in that young man. He took Onesimus under his wing- he led him to Christ- he mentored him. Finally, Paul wrote a letter to Onesimus' former master, Philemon, requesting that he welcome him back with open arms. “Formerly he (Philemon) was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.” (Philemon 11) Formerly… that is a key word here…Paul doesn’t let the past get in the way of the present or even the future…he sees past it. For the Lord says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it! I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18) Paul did not dwell on the things of the past- he did not want Philemon nor Onesimus to dwell on the things of the past…no! God was doing a NEW THING in the heart of Onesimus! Paul took the initiative to support Onesimus- he signed up to be his #1 fan and cheerleader. We have to do that as believers…we need to come behind someone and root them on to victory….help him/her to see and others to see that God wants to do a new thing in his/her life! Encouragement goes a long way… who will you cheer on today?