Paul prays that Philemon's faith would become effective through knowledge. This isn't head knowledge. It's personal knowledge of every good thing we have in Christ. The apostle wants Philemon to grasp what belongs to him as a Christian.
We all know people who believe the right things but live like they don't. They can recite doctrine but treat others poorly. Their faith isn't effective because they haven't connected the dots between what they believe and how they live. Knowledge bridges that gap.
The knowledge Paul means works itself out in two ways. First, we understand our position in Christ. We're forgiven, adopted, and sealed by the Spirit. Second, we understand what this means for our relationships. Philemon owned a slave, Onesimus. The gospel changed everything about that relationship.
When you really get what Christ has done for you, it changes how you treat people. You forgive because you've been forgiven. You show mercy because God showed you mercy. Your faith stops being a set of beliefs and starts working its way into your marriage, your parenting, your workplace.
This is why Paul can ask Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother. The gospel doesn't just save souls. It transforms relationships. Philemon needs to know every good thing he possesses in Christ so he can extend that same grace to someone else.
Ask yourself: Does my faith make a difference in how I treat the people around me? Do I live like someone who owns every spiritual blessing in Christ? Or do I hoard God's grace like a miser counts coins?
Prayer: Lord, help us understand what we have in Christ so completely that it changes how we treat others. Make our faith effective through true knowledge of every good thing You've given us. Amen.
