“For I have great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother” (Philemon 1:7)

Paul’s fellow workers were more than just colleagues; they were comrades in suffering who shared each other’s pain and grief. This is how Paul describes his companions in the book’s sole chapter—Timothy and Philemon at the beginning, and Epaphras at the end. He tells Philemon that every new sprout of faith must be accompanied by tangible examples of good works. As a wise and caring spiritual father, Paul gently presents his request concerning Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave. He explains that Onesimus has been transformed—through faith in Christ, he has become a brother, born from Paul’s own “chains.” While Paul does not overlook the wrongs Onesimus committed against Philemon, he urges Philemon to receive him back not as a slave but as a beloved brother.

Although I did not share the same social and cultural background as Onesimus, I too once needed “a refresher of hearts” (v.7). Someone not only encouraged me in my faith with kind words but also welcomed me as a new sister, generously offered me a car to learn how to drive, and eventually gifted it to me. I had never met her before 2001. We connected through mutual friends, but Cornelia was the first ‘stranger’ who embodied a faith expressed through every good deed done in Christ Jesus (v.6). Christ was her inspiration, the source of her generous spirit, warm friendship, and unwavering patience with me.

English was her first language, yet she patiently waited as I mentally translated from one language to another. She listened to my stumbling words, welcomed me warmly, introduced me to her family, and even taught me how to drive, despite being younger than me. Cornelia refreshed my heart in countless beautiful ways, though I was unable to repay her at the time.

I was as unprofitable to her as Onesimus was to Philemon before becoming a Christian. Martin Luther once said, “We all are Onesimuses,” and it’s true—at one time or another, we were people without purpose, unable to help anyone. Until our Heavenly Father, in His undeserved grace through Jesus Christ, took us in and made us valuable and beneficial to His kingdom. The Berean Literal Bible translates this passage: “For I have much joy and encouragement on the basis of your love, because the inner parts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.”

I love this translation because we often think of the heart as the center of all human emotions, overlooking other vital parts that deserve equal recognition. Among these inner parts are the mind and strength, whose protection nurtures the health of our hearts. When you become a brother or sister in the Christian faith, you are moved to step forward and often become a companion in others’ suffering, whatever form it may take. You move beyond a comfortable faith and familiar Christian language, beyond well-organized church services and scheduled fellowship.

You become a Philemon, carrying the meaning of your name—“the affectionate one; the kind one.” You seek out the weary, the persecuted, and those constantly besieged by temptation, bearing their burdens. Your words become refreshing springs to them, just as Job’s were in his time, strengthening weak hands, steadying feeble knees, and uplifting those who stumble (Job 4:3-4).

You hear the call to intercessory prayer and enter the prayer chamber, bowing your knees. You become part of a legacy of faith, like the stories that sustained and strengthened the Higgins missionary family in Kenya during the 1960s. One night, as they were returning to Nairobi and passing through the heart of the Mau Mau revolutionary movement, their car broke down 27 kilometers from home. Unable to fix the car, they resolved to sleep inside it, reciting Psalm 4:8: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.” The next morning, they attempted repairs again and successfully fixed the car, continuing their journey safely.

A few weeks after that event, the Higgins family returned to America for a well-deserved vacation. They shared an astonishing story: the day before their trip, a Kenyan pastor visited their home and revealed that a member of the Mau Mau movement had planned to apprehend and harm the Higgins family when their car broke down that night. However, the assailant was unable to carry out his plan, afraid of the presence of 16 men surrounding and protecting the vehicle. The Higgins family was puzzled and unsure how to interpret this account.

While still in the U.S., a friend asked Matt Higgins if he had faced any recent trials or difficulties. Curious, Matt asked why. His friend, Clay Brent, explained that on March 23rd, God had placed a heavy burden on his heart to pray for the Higgins family. Moved by this, he gathered others for a prayer meeting. That night, 16 men came together at the church to intercede and pray for the Higgins family until the burden lifted from their hearts. Could these have been the 16 angels guarding the broken-down car in a dangerous area? One day, heaven will reveal all the faithful coworkers who carry such burdens in prayer.

It will reveal all the Philemons of this world, driven solely by agape love, who have breathed new life into the souls of countless unprofitable, lonely, foreign, poor, and vulnerable Onesimuses. They became unwavering pillars, standing firm day and night, proclaiming the Gospel with truth while rebuking with love and wisdom. They not only forgave their debtors but welcomed them wholeheartedly, “releasing them” (v17). They freed their enemies both physically and emotionally, knowing that true freedom comes only through forgiveness and letting go of those who have wronged you. The Holy Spirit poured abundant power into their hearts, empowering these Christians for extravagant love, countless hours of prayer, and a profound concern for the well-being of others.

I invite you, guided solely by love and inspired by the Holy Spirit, to become a restorer of hearts and a source of strength for fellow believers. I encourage you to look around and truly see the Onesimus standing nearby—those in need of help, freedom, and prayer. Just like my friend Cornelia. Just like the sixteen prayer warriors interceding for the Higging family.

I am sure you already know some who have gone beyond their call of duty to become powerful instruments in God’s hands. If you know their names and the stories that defined them as ‘refreshers of hearts’, would you kindly leave it here in the comments? I would love to know them -through you.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me”.  (John 15:4)