Christ-shaped Grace

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Opening Prayer

Shepherd God, where would I be without Your presence and promises? I praise You afresh.

Read Philemon 1:8-25

^[8] Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ^[9] yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul-an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus- ^[10] that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. ^[11] Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. ^[12] I am sending him-who is my very heart-back to you. ^[13] 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. ^[14] But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. ^[15] Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever- ^[16] 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 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. ^[17] So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ^[18] If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. ^[19] I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back-not to mention that you owe me your very self. ^[20] I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ^[21] Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. ^[22] And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. ^[23] Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ^[24] And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. ^[25] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Meditate

“Some will grumble. Why should Onesimus be rewarded for running away? What has he done to deserve it? But that’s what God’s grace is like. That’s what God’s love is like” (N. T. Wright). Yes, we all have experienced that amazing grace!

Think Further

Forgiving someone who has injured you takes a lot of grace. Even the finest Christian finds himself rehearsing the reasons why judgment is more important than mercy. Paul’s careful letter shows us how grace can make the difference.

Onesimus the runaway slave had found Paul the apostle to be closer than a brother. It’s clear from this whole section: Paul saw him as “my son,” who was “useful” to him, who is “my very heart” and whom he would gladly keep if he could (10-13). He was now a beloved brother in the Lord. Philemon must have gotten the point. How could he treat Onesimus as “just a slave” when he meant so much to Paul? And although Onesimus was guilty of running away from Philemon, he was now a fellow believer who should be forgiven and welcomed back as a brother (16). Paul’s approach is gentle but bold. He writes with tact and care but he is very direct in his approach. He is willing to confront. “If you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me” (17). And although he offers to pay any debts, he carefully articulates Philemon’s own indebtedness–after all, he had come to faith through Paul. He owed his very life to him (19).

It is sometimes asked why Paul did not fight the injustices of slavery in a more open fashion. This short letter suggests that he planted seeds of revolution. In the new society of the church, where relationships were founded on the Gospel and where respect and love and forgiveness were its hallmarks, an alternative society was emerging, characterized by reconciliation, which eventually would win the day. As Tom Wright says about this book, and about its final verse, it is full of Christ-shaped grace.

Apply

How does your awareness of God’s grace change the way you live? Are there those you know in your family, church, or workplace who are struggling to be reconciled to others? What can you do, as a reconciler, to help?

Closing prayer

Loving Lord, my prayer is that I will model to the world the difference Jesus makes in relationships. To do this, I stand in constant need of Your mercy and grace.

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