God’s New Society
Opening Prayer
Father, help me to consider whom I hold in my heart as I come to pray today.
Read PHILEMON 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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“The one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave” (1 Cor. 7:22).
Think Further
Christian relationships are founded on significant spiritual realities, as we saw in the previous passage. Today, Paul exemplifies them still further. First, the new society—the church—centers around what Christ has done. At the heart of Paul’s appeal to Philemon to welcome back Onesimus is their shared status in the family—no longer a slave, but a dear brother, “a brother in the Lord” (16). All of our Christian relationships are to be seen in this light.
Next, the passage reminds us that the new society is characterized by true empathy. Paul clearly identifies with Onesimus—he calls him his son (10), who is his heart (12), a dear brother (16), for whom he would gladly pay any debt (18,19). Paul is sometimes considered a hard-headed, heartless and dogmatic leader but here, as elsewhere, we see that he actually cares deeply for people. He understands and identifies with them and often sacrifices on their behalf. Perhaps the big idea within the passage, however, is that this new society is founded on forgiveness. Onesimus is guilty of one of the most serious offences of his day and could expect severe punishment, possibly the death penalty. But Paul urges Philemon not only to forgive but to accept and welcome Onesimus as a brother (14–16). We have seen from Colossians that there is a simple but demanding rule for our relationships—to forgive others as we have been forgiven (Col. 3:13; Matt. 6:14,15; Eph. 4:31,32).
This is how the Gospel should shape our relationships—even the difficult ones. The passage reminds us of a simple but wonderful reality: the Gospel transforms people. Onesimus, whose name means “useful,” is no longer “useless” (11) but a new person in Christ, set free to serve the Lord and his people.
Apply
Many of our churches struggle with disagreements and divisions between people. Pray that the qualities of this passage might become realities among such fellow believers.
Closing prayer
Lord, help me to forgive those who have wronged me so that no hindrance can spoil my contribution to Your kingdom.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.