So there is this neat little book called Philemon. It's tucked right into the middle of the New Testament and it's only 25 verses long, yet it is packed with some great insight! I read through it last night and thought, "Hey, I could share some of these thoughts!" So here goes. (My notes will be in italics)
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker-- also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier-- and to the church that meets in your home:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Man, what a cool greeting! Don't you wish we still greeted each other that way?)
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, (Paul had never met them. But he was still praying for them. Makes you wonder who's praying for you!) because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. (Paul moved around quite a bit during his time of ministry, and when he wasn't moving around he was in prison. In a time where most news traveled by word of mouth, isn't it amazing that Paul had heard of Philemon's great faith? Philemon must have been doing some pretty awesome things!) I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people. (So Paul was basically a celebrity in the time of the early church. Philemon was probably just a small town guy with a little house church, but the stuff he was doing in obedience to the Lord was encouraging one of the biggest encourage-ers of the time!)
Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 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-- (Wow! Who woulda thunk appealing on behalf of love could be just as powerful and convincing as an order?) that 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 he has become useful both to you and to me.
I am sending him-- who is my very heart-- back to you. (Sound familiar? Paul is sending his beloved son to aid Philemon in his evangelism. Kinda like how God sent Jesus so we would have a reason to evangelize!) 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. (Paul knows he is in chains because of what he preaches, but he doesn't back down, nor does he renounce his teachings.) 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. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever-- no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. (...Maybe sometimes things happen so they may be fixed and once again become whole...?) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back-- not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. (Iron sharpens iron. Believers encourage other believers. Always remember that!) Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. (Paul has absolute belief that God will free him from his chains, because he is doing exactly what God told him to do. Because Paul now knows his life is no longer his own, he can completely trust God with the entirety of his being.)
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. (Other people knew that Paul was writing, and they knew who he was writing to. Paul wasn't quiet about all the work he was doing.)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (As always, Paul sends the blessing of the Holy Spirit with his letter.)
So that is the book of Philemon! There are a lot of things you can pull out of this little letter. I think it's really cool Paul knew about Philemon and decided to write him a letter. Philemon was just one man and he was doing work that was heard of countries away! Isn't that a great goal to work toward? I hope you learned as much as I did from these 25 verses. :]
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