“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”Philemon 1:6 NLT
If we take this verse in isolation then we could assume it was about finance and we would be wrong. Paul is writing to Philemon and asking Him to have a forgiving heart towards a slave of his, who had run away and ended up with Paul. The slave, Onesimus, had not had a good relationship with his master, Philemon, however he had become useful to Paul. Paul is basically asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus, and receive him back with a changed heart. He stresses, in bold type, that Philemon owes him his life. He is really applying pressure on Philemon.
People will wrong us, run away from us and if found by a Paul, will return to start again. Forgiveness we receive from Christ and forgiveness we are expected to give to others. Sometimes we need a Paul to remind us of our own previous condition. We too were sinners, jointly saved by grace, not of our own doing. We too, have sinful flaws, and wicked fleshly natures, only grace has made us right with God. We are not good in ourselves.
This small books deals with our self-righteousness and the continual need for forgiveness. I am grateful for Paul. May we be Pauls in the lives of others. Be generous and forgive! Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment