Paul’s
letter to Philemon is a hidden gem in the New Testament—a short but stunning
display of Gospel grace, forgiveness, and restoration. In just a few verses,
Paul reveals a powerful truth: the Gospel isn’t just something we believe; it’s
something we live. It is faith in motion, love in action, and reconciliation
empowered by Christ.
At the heart
of the story is Onesimus, a runaway servant who had wronged his master,
Philemon. But while on the run, Onesimus has a divine encounter—he meets Paul,
hears the Gospel, and gives his life to Jesus. A man once useless becomes
useful. A man once lost is now found. That’s grace!
Now Paul
writes to Philemon, not just to smooth things over, but to urge something
radical: receive Onesimus back—not as a servant, but as a beloved brother in
Christ. And then Paul makes a breathtaking offer: “If he has wronged you or
owes you anything, charge that to my account.” With that one sentence, Paul
becomes a living picture of Jesus. Just as Paul was willing to pay Onesimus’
debt, Jesus stepped in to pay our debt—the full weight of our sin—at the cross.
The world
had labeled Onesimus as a failure, a thief, a runaway. But Paul saw redemption,
not ruin. Jesus does the same with us. And now Philemon is given the
opportunity to put his faith into action—to forgive, restore, and love like
Christ.
Paul’s
prayer in verse 6 is essentially that this faith we hold in common shows up in
the good things we do. Faith isn't passive. It shows up in real ways—by
reconciling, forgiving, and stepping into uncomfortable grace.
So, who is
your Onesimus? Is there someone you need to forgive? Someone who doesn't
“deserve” it? Neither did we—yet Jesus paid it all. Today, don’t let your faith
sit idle. Live it out! Unleash grace. Pursue peace. And reflect the redeeming
love of Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment