Good Morning “Forgiven and Changed - Forgivers.”. Today we look at the short letter to Philemon.
Paul writes to Philemon to encourage him to forgive and accept Onesimus as a Brother in Christ and fellow minister of the Gospel. Why a letter? Well, Philemon was a wealthy Clossian, and Onesimus was once his slave. Onesimus ran away. Based on Paul’s offer to pay back anything he had taken, he likely robbed Philemon (Philemon 1:18).
Onesimus gives his life to Jesus and is miraculously changed. He ends up serving in Paul’s ministry and actually becomes one of the people chosen who deliver Paul’s letters to the Colossians and Ephesians. Once a possibly a thief, he is now a servant for Jesus - by choice (Philemon 1:10-13).
Paul considers Onesimus his son, likely because it was Paul’s ministry that resulted in his conversion. He’s really grabbed ahold of Paul’s heart. Paul would like to continue to serve with him but knows it’s right for Onesimus to return to Philemon and face him. I believe there are some things we can grab on to and apply from this letter:
- No one is beyond the reach of Jesus. Don’t count yourself or anyone else out. God is in the business of transforming lives (2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6). Then He is all about using the humble, transformed, broken (2 Corinthians 12:9a)!
- Transformation is just the beginning, it comes with expectation. Expectation that we get to work. It’s why He saved us (Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 5:16). Onesimus got to work!
- Paul appeals to Philemon with expectation he will forgive and accept Onesimus back. We forgive because He forgives us (Colossians 3:13).
It’s reasonable to assume that Philemon did forgive, because this inspired letter was preserved. Either way the principle remains.
There’s always something we can grab on to and apply. See what else you can apply from this short letter.
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!
Paul writes to Philemon to encourage him to forgive and accept Onesimus as a Brother in Christ and fellow minister of the Gospel. Why a letter? Well, Philemon was a wealthy Clossian, and Onesimus was once his slave. Onesimus ran away. Based on Paul’s offer to pay back anything he had taken, he likely robbed Philemon (Philemon 1:18).
Onesimus gives his life to Jesus and is miraculously changed. He ends up serving in Paul’s ministry and actually becomes one of the people chosen who deliver Paul’s letters to the Colossians and Ephesians. Once a possibly a thief, he is now a servant for Jesus - by choice (Philemon 1:10-13).
Paul considers Onesimus his son, likely because it was Paul’s ministry that resulted in his conversion. He’s really grabbed ahold of Paul’s heart. Paul would like to continue to serve with him but knows it’s right for Onesimus to return to Philemon and face him. I believe there are some things we can grab on to and apply from this letter:
- No one is beyond the reach of Jesus. Don’t count yourself or anyone else out. God is in the business of transforming lives (2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6). Then He is all about using the humble, transformed, broken (2 Corinthians 12:9a)!
- Transformation is just the beginning, it comes with expectation. Expectation that we get to work. It’s why He saved us (Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 5:16). Onesimus got to work!
- Paul appeals to Philemon with expectation he will forgive and accept Onesimus back. We forgive because He forgives us (Colossians 3:13).
It’s reasonable to assume that Philemon did forgive, because this inspired letter was preserved. Either way the principle remains.
There’s always something we can grab on to and apply. See what else you can apply from this short letter.
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!
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