#soap # Philemon 01 ## Title: How Are Other People Experiencing You? ## Scripture: (Philemon 1:7) “I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.” (NET) ## Observation: In this short book, Paul is making a big request. He is asking Philemon to forgive a runaway slave. There is also an implied request for freedom, or at least, seeing Onesimus in a different way. He is willing to make this appeal because he has already experienced Philemon. He knows there is goodness there and sees him as someone who has shown love in the past. What if something was going on and someone needed to make a difficult request from us? What would they think? Would they think that if we could do it, we would? Would they automatically be skeptical because our actions in the past say we are unlikely to show kindness. We create a legacy every day in how we treat others. We are either building or tearing down. How are others experiencing you? Are you a builder? ## Application: Build people up. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for being the best example of what it means to build people up.