I would be interested in listening to a Cabinet secretary (Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld or Secretary of State Rice, for examples) speak for the President of the United States. I mean, I would like to be there personally to hear the Presidential representative speak. That, I think, would be neat. And if they would have a special message for me personally, that would be way more than neat.

But what if I could hear the President himself, live and in person? And what if he would have a personal message for me? That would be electrifying. (I suppose.)

What, then, would I call this next reality?

“[God] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2).

I could say it is truly awesome and awe inspiring.

But does it really mean that to me?

Am I genuinely interested in listening to what He has to say?

I want my answer to those last two questions to be a simple, sincere, life-changing, “Yes!”

Paul heard from others that Philemon was a man of love and faith.

“Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints” (Philemon 1:5).

What do people hear about Mark Roth? Not either of those, I’m sure.

Why not?

And what can I do about it?

Maybe those questions can hang unanswered in my mind for a while.

Something else about Philemon’s reputation impresses me this morning.

Love toward Jesus and all saints I can understand.

Faith toward Jesus I can understand.

But faith toward all saints?

Apparently Philemon was a man who trusted his fellow believers. He had faith in them. He was affirming of and encouraging toward them.

I also infer from this that Philemon was one to build up instead of tear down. When visiting with Brother A, he would try to build up Brother A’s view of and esteem for Brother B.