Key Verses: 10-11
This short book, only one chapter, shows great care in bringing restoration to a relationship that has changed dramatically because of Jesus. Sometimes when people come to Christ other people don’t like the changes. They want things the way they used to be because it was comfortable and familiar, not because they necessarily liked it all that much.
Paul speaks to Philemon as a fellow Jesus-follower. It is possible that Paul led Philemon to the Lord. One of Philemon’s slaves had run away, Onesimus. He may have run away from Philemon, but he ended up with Paul as Paul spent time in prison in Rome. During this time together, Onesimus becomes a Jesus-follower. And this changed everything. As a believer, Onesimus needed to return to his owner. He had an obligation to live righteously, which included facing the penalty of his sin of rebellion.
So Paul writes this letter to help bring about this reconciliation in a way that honors the Lord, and honors both Philemon’s and Onesimus’ faith. Paul is challenging them both to walk out their faith in this act of reconciliation. Philemon had the right to treat Onesimus very badly, he was after all a runaway slave. But Paul calls on him to extend grace. Onesimus was useless. Sounds like me before I came go faith. Sounds like so much of what happens in the world. I wonder what the eternal value of Farmville or Bejeweled is? Or WoW for that matter.
Onesimus’ value has changed from that of a slave to that of a dear brother in the Lord. He went from being a personal possession to a valued partner in Paul’s ministry. Paul could demand Philemon to offer forgiveness to Onesimus, but he doesn’t. He instead calls Philemon to live out the Gospel in a way that costs him dearly, both personally and professionally. What have you done lately for Christ that has cost you something? How have you given up your rights to ‘justice’ in order to better serve the Kingdom?
The Arnold Journey 