Touch of the Master’s hand
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Faith Fitness
Bro. Sam Kaufman
Sometimes we don’t realize the potential and value that God sees in others and in us.
Our profitableness hinges on submission to God’s Word. When we come to God, our stock immediately rises in value, so to speak.
In and of ourselves, we are of little value. But God can change that in a hurry.
With its one chapter, Philemon is the shortest book in length in the New Testament.
The book tells of a servant named Onesimus who ran away and ended up encountering Paul, who was imprisoned for the Gospel’s sake.
Paul preached the Word of God to Onesimus, who received the Gospel and was saved through Jesus Christ’s blood.
It was a game changer for Onesimus. He repented of his sin and was a changed individual with Christ now dwelling within.
In his letter to Philemon, the man from whom Onesimus ran away, Paul revealed Onesimus was now a new creature in Christ. The old things were passed away in Onesimus’ life, and behold, all things were new.
“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and me” – Philemon 10,11.
It is interesting to note that Paul was able to reach Onesimus with God’s Word, while others perhaps couldn’t get through to him.
God knows just who to use to reach people and how to put them together. Philemon perhaps attempted to convert Onesimus and probably spoke to him about Jesus, sowing seeds. But the Lord used Paul in this instance to get through to Onesimus.
I recall difficulty at times trying to minister to my own family members. But I pray that God sends someone into their lives to share the Gospel.
But Onesimus went from being unprofitable to Paul and Philemon to being profitable to both. The change in value resulted from Onesimus giving his life to God.
Paul recognized Onesimus’ value. He desired to keep Onesimus with him to help him with God’s work.
However, he understood that Onesimus needed to make it right with Philemon. Onesimus, who previously ran away from Philemon, had a change of heart through God and was willing to return.
“Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?” – Philemon 12-15.
Paul recognized how God orchestrated the meeting between him and Onesimus and the eternal effect it had.
We sometimes overlook the value in fellow human beings and what God can to with them once He gets a hold of them.
There is unlimited potential with God.
The old violin auction song goes something like this:
Well it was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer felt it was hardly worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.
Well it sure ain’t much, but it’s all we got left. I guess we aught to sell it, too.
Oh, now who’ll start the bid on this old violin? Just one more and we’ll be through. And then he cried one, give me one dollar. Who’ll make it two only, two dollars; who’ll make it three? Three dollars twice, now that’s a good price, now who’s gonna bid for me?
Raise up your hand now; don’t wait any longer; the auction’s about to end.
Who’s got four, just one dollar more to bid on this old violin?
Well the air was hot and the people stood around as the sun was setting low. From the back of the crowd a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow.
He wiped the dust from the old violin then he tightened up the strings. Then he played out a melody pure and sweet, sweeter than the angels sing. And then the music stopped and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said now what am I bid for this old violin and he held it up with the bow.
And then he cried out one, give me one thousand; who’ll make it two, only two thousand? Who’ll make it three?
Three thousand twice, you know that’s a good price; c’mon who’s gonna bid for me?
And the people cried out what made the change; we don’t understand.
Then the auctioneer stopped, and he said with a smile, “It was the touch of the Master’s hand.”
