by Wendy Reaume

Today we continue our devotions in the book of Philemon. Understanding what is written will be applied to our lives on the last day but the parallels are numerous. Paul is asking Philemon to do what was unheard of and probably thought impossible in his day. 

I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now has become useful both to you and to me.

I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

Paul lays it out for Philemon and he lays it out before the WHOLE CHURCH that meets in Philemon’s home. Welcome back your runaway slave—yes, the one that also stole from you. But don’t welcome him back as a slave or a thief. Welcome him back as a man and as a brother in the Lord. This one who stole from you and took off is back. He was hiding out in Rome, but is obeying me in coming back to you. You are to forgive him and elevate him to the position of a fellow believer in the church.

Today I would like to reflect on the power of the Gospel. Firstly, Paul must have huge trust that God’s Word has touched the life of Philemon. What he is asking is huge and what he is asking actually puts Onesimus’ life at risk. But Paul does not wait until he is out of prison. No, he trusts the Holy Spirit to work in the heart of Philemon and sends Onesimus home.   

Secondly, Onesimus must have a genuine repentant heart. He must desire to follow Christ and is willing to go. He easily could have snuck off at night (he has money that he stole and he has managed to come this far already) and never had to face the consequences of his actions. But it is more than this. The consequences the law allows and the consequences society accept are the polar opposite of what Paul is expecting Philemon to do. Paul is asking Philemon to accept back his runaway thieving slave as a man and as a brother in Christ. Period. Onesimus obeys his mentor and goes back to the very home from which he ran. Onesimus must have great trust in the power of God to change a heart; perhaps because he has experienced it in his own heart.

Thirdly, Philemon must be a man that genuinely loved the Lord. Paul’s praise of him must be accurate or Paul wouldn’t expect a heart change. Philemon must walk in the Spirit to the point that he finds the strength to let go of his anger and the offence and not only forgive but actually change the way he thinks. He is no longer a slave-owner but a wealthy man with the opportunity to share the Gospel with his ‘workers’ and welcome them into the church as human beings and brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Let us not forget 2 Timothy 3:16:  All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

You see, this book was ordained by God to be written and in the Bible (the very words are God-breathed or inspired) not just for Onesimus and Philemon, but for all of society, and not just for Paul’s time but for our time today.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…and on the sixth day…God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1) 

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)

The Bible DOES speak about slavery. There is no place for slavery. We are all one in Christ and that is the defining factor. Jesus chose to give His life to buy each and every sinner on this Earth, and that includes you and me.  All are welcomed. All are offered forgiveness through faith. No one is better than another.  And in the rest of the book of Philemon we see Paul encouraging his friend to be an example to his household, his church and yes, even to us. God implores Philemon as He implored Pharaoh through Moses: Let my people go, for they are MY people. And today God implores us to stand as a shining beacon in a dark world; to embrace God’s value of human life and standards of living even if they are polar opposite to what the world and society embrace as acceptable. God desires His people to be truly free indeed.

Our song for today is Rejoice by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Rend Collective.