Read: who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. Phil 1:11

Examine: Onesimus was the fugitive slave of Philemon, the apostle Paul’s friend. Onesimus had robbed his master Philemon and fled to Rome. Onesimus encountered Paul in Rome’s prison. Onesimus became a Christian probably due to the encounter with Paul, for the scripture says: “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains” (Philemon 1:10).

Scripture says  “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.” The name Onesimus means “helpful,” “useful,” or “profitable”. Before salvation, Onesimus had been useless or unprofitable to Philemon, but now he had become immensely beneficial to both his master and to Paul. As a believer in Jesus Christ, Onesimus lived up to his name.

On behalf of Onesimus, Paul, still imprisoned in Rome, wrote his letter to Onesimus’s master, Philemon. The apostle pleaded with Philemon to accept Onesimus back, not as a slave but as a believer and a brother in Christ. Paul cared deeply for Onesimus because the young man had been a great blessing to him. Onesimus had been so helpful that Paul longed for him to stay at his side: “I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary” (Philemon 1:12–14).

The heart of Paul’s plea to Philemon is summed up in verses 15–19: “…So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self

Application: Forgiveness and reconciliation are spotlighted in the life of Onesimus and the book of Philemon. Paul challenges Philemon to receive Onesimus back in the same way he would welcome Paul, as a brother and a partner in the gospel. And Paul promises to pay back anything Onesimus owed.

Decision: Oh Lord! help me to be like Paul, the great heart of a father to stand in the gap for a runaway slave. Also, be like Onesimus who showed boldness to go back to Philemon, it might have caused his life, and be like Philemon, who had the openness of heart to accept a wronged slave.

Read: Lydia was listening; she was a seller of purple fabrics from the city of Thyatira and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.  Now when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. Acts 16:14-15

Examine:  Lydia in the Bible was originally from Thyatira but was living in Philippi when she met Paul on his second missionary journey. She was a seller of purple cloth, which Thyatira was famous for. Who is the first recorded convert to Christianity in Europe? The Bible records her conversion and subsequent baptism (Acts 16:11–15).

Lydia was also a worshiper of God (Acts 16:14), and, when Paul found her, she was honoring the Sabbath, which means she was likely a Jew. The account of Lydia’s conversion says that she was gathered with a group of other women on the Sabbath at a place of prayer near the river outside of Philippi.

Lydia heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Bible says that God opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying (Acts 16:14). After she believed, Lydia was baptized, along with the rest of her household. After Lydia’s conversion and baptism, she insisted that Paul and his friends come to stay at her home, Luke says that “she prevailed upon us,” which indicates the fervency of her desire to be hospitable. The missionaries did indeed judge Lydia to be a true believer, and they stayed at her home while in Philippi. Lydia’s conversion marks the start of a new epoch in the Bible.

Application: Lydia was a worshiper of God but had not yet heard the gospel. God rerouted Paul and their friends and also ensured that Lydia would be in the right place at the right time to encounter Paul and hear the good news of Jesus.

And, as Lydia heard the gospel, God opened her heart so that she received the life-giving message. In this story, so full of divine intervention, we see the sovereignty of God in salvation; as Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6:44). We also see the immediate bond that a new believer has with other believers in Christ—Lydia showed hospitality to those who brought the good news, and she wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

Decision: Oh Lord, help us to be like Lydia, have my heart opened by the Lord, to be honest even in our jobs, need to show hospitality and be a temporary home for many missionaries.

Read: He [Andrew] first *found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). John 1:41

Examine: In the Bible, Andrew was a disciple of Jesus Christ, a fisherman by trade, and the brother of Simon Peter. He, along with his brother Peter, grew up in the town of Capernaum nearby (Mark 1:29). Both men were close friends with fellow fishermen and disciples, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and possibly Philip and Nathanael as well.

Andrew Followed Immediately: Scripture introduces Andrew, this way “Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus”. John 1:35-37 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus John 1:41.

Andrew Found Peter: Andrew, whose name in Greek means “manly,” was born in a place called Bethsaida on the northwest coast of the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). After hearing John talking of Jesus, Andrew and another disciple followed Jesus and stayed with Jesus that night. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). John 1:41. He brought Peter to Jesus

Andrew Found Young Boy: In the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand (John 6:1-14), Andrew is also mentioned by name in a similar way. Andrew, however, stepped forward with an offering: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?” (John 6:9)

Andrew Bringing People to Christ: John 12:20-22 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

Andrew is mentioned by name 12 times in the New Testament, most often in the Gospel of Mark (1:16, 1:29, 3:18, and 13:3) and the Gospel of John (1:40, 1:44, 6:8, and 12:22).

Application: Andrew the first disciple, had an immediate obedience to following Jesus and stayed with Jesus—an example to follow. Very first thing to bring Peter to Christ and bring the boy with five loaves, two fishes, a group of inquisitive Greeks sought an audience with Jesus (John 12:20-26). Unsure of what to do, Philip told Andrew, who swiftly told Jesus. All this shows Andrew could point people to Jesus

Decision: Oh Lord, make an Andrew who points and brings people to Jesus always.

Read:  In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly 1 Sam 1:10

Examine: Hannah is one of two wives of Elkanah. The other wife, Peninnah, had given birth to Elkanah’s children, but Hannah was unable to bear children. Hannah was barren, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life.

As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli misunderstood her, after the conversation Eli understood she was praying and Eli blesses her, Hannah replied May your servant find favor in your eyes. Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

The LORD remembered her. So, in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, Because I asked the LORD for him. After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, and brought him to the house of the LORD. Samuel grew up to great prophet in Israel.

And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

Application: Hannah is blessed by God and is given a son, named Samuel. Because of her great faith and thankfulness.

Hannah remained faithful to God even during difficult times.  Hannah never lost her focus on the God who cared for her. Hannah was a woman of prayer. She took her burdens to the Lord. She prayed for a son and then offered a rich prayer of praise when God answered. Her prayers were her lifeline.

Hannah kept her promise to God even though it was difficult. She had pledged her son to the Lord, and she followed through. When the time came to leave her only son with Eli, she certainly would have had difficulty. But her pain did not lessen her integrity. By God’s grace, she was blessed with even more children in the end.

Hannah acknowledged God’s answers to her requests.  Hannah offers a wonderful role model for all believers. Her experience provides an example of faithful prayer and commitment to God.

Decision: Oh Lord, help us to be like Hannah, remained faithful to God even during difficult times, woman of prayer and keep promise to God even though it is difficult

Read: They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. Luke 1:6

Examine: Elizabeth in the Bible is the wife of Zechariah, the mother of John the Baptist, and a relative of Mary the mother of Jesus. Her story is told in Luke 1:5-80. The Scriptures describe Elizabeth as a woman who is “righteous in the eyes of God, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commands and regulations” (Luke 1:6).

Elizabeth was barren; she was unable to have children (Luke 1:7). When Elizabeth is first mentioned in the Bible, she is an old woman, or as Luke puts it, “advanced in years” (Luke 1:7), But Lord was merciful  Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. Later Elizabeth conceived.

As soon as Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s home Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, “the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luke 1:41–45). The Holy Spirit told Elizabeth of Mary’s condition even before Mary could say a word.

Elizabeth’s son grew up to be John the Baptist, who ministered “before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17) and was the prophet who prepared the way of the Lord, fulfilling Malachi’s prophecy (Malachi 3:1; Luke 1:76; John 3:1–6). She became the mother of John who prepared the way for Jesus.

Application: When they had every reason to be discouraged and complain, Scripture says – Luke 1:6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.

Elizabeth was sad but never became bitter because of her barrenness. She had enormous faith in God her entire life. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. How the Lord worked in her life due to her blameless walk.

She appreciated God’s mercy and kindness. She praised God for giving her a son. Elizabeth was humble, even though she played a key role in God’s plan of salvation. Her focus was always on the Lord, never herself.

Decision: We should never underestimate God’s tremendous love for us. Even though Elizabeth had been barren and her time for having a baby was over, God caused her to conceive. Our God is a God of surprises. Sometimes, when we least expect it, he touches us with a miracle and our life is changed forever.