Philemon 12-16 says...
Today's verses are Philemon 12-16, which read,
v.12, 13 - I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;...
Paul is writing a very personal letter to Philemon that is going to be publicly read by his wife, son, and the church that meets in his home. Paul shared the gospel with Philemon and now his family is also Christian and his son is a fellow soldier of the gospel with Paul. Philemon is in deep with Christ.
Paul writes this letter to ask but also command Philemon to do something that would positively affect him and all those who are associated with the letter and eventually all of us. Paul wants Philemon to accept someone who had done something wrong to him but has now become a Christian and showing fruits of that conversion. Paul wants Philemon to forgive.
Onesimus needed to go back to his master Philemon who he had run away from and most likely took resources from. Paul is instructing and discipling Onesimus in Biblical commands while he is also instructing and discipling Philemon in Biblical commands. Paul is letting Philemon know how much Onesimus has meant to himself who is in prison at the time. Paul is actually sacrificing care given by Onesimus to himself so that Philemon and Onesimus can have the peace of God over this matter.
v.14 - ...but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.
Something was more important than Paul's personal feelings and comfort and that was what is right in the situation. Paul doesn't know what the outcome of this venture is to send Onesimus back to Philemon but it is what is right even if he loses his help.
Onesimus ran away from Philemon but now Paul wants there to be a mending of that relationship so that if Onesimus does come back to Paul it will be because Philemon freely sends him there to aid him. Paul was not following the popular phrase of today, "Just do it without permission and if it is wrong then just ask for forgiveness." Paul is seeking what is right first so that he doesn't need to ask for forgiveness later. He is giving Philemon and Onesimus a pattern to follow. Doing what is right involves sacrifice but that sacrifice has greater benefits than the personal comfort and feelings can produce.
v.15, 16 - For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Paul is opening Philemon's eyes to the bigger picture. Onesimus ran away as an unconverted slave and ran into the arms to the man who shares the gospel with everyone even Philemon himself. Onesimus becomes converted and now is making his way back to Philemon. Could we have experienced God's plan before our eyes? Now Onesimus is Philemon's beloved brother forever just like Paul was because heaven is now their eternal home. Philemon now has the benefit of seeing Onesimus return in person but also the benefit of being in fellowship with Onesimus for all eternity.
Am I going to lay down my feelings and my comfort to accept a greater plan than my own? When God asks and commands us to forgive each other, do we see the bigger picture of what is going on or do we settle for our little plan that ends in more strife and sin? The prodigal son is coming home. Will Philemon respond like the father with open arms of that parable told by Jesus or will he respond like the older brother who can't see what has happened beyond himself?
Many times we don't follow God's command to forgive because we don't know the end of the story. Trust God with the end of the story and obey so it is possible that you could receive peace here and for eternity. Let's pray.
"Lord, help us today to set aside our hurt and comfort long enough to start the process of forgiveness. May the forgiveness given help us to process that hurt that we feel. May doing what is right help to make sense of what is wrong. Help me to offer forgiveness where it is long overdue today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.12, 13 - I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;...
Paul is writing a very personal letter to Philemon that is going to be publicly read by his wife, son, and the church that meets in his home. Paul shared the gospel with Philemon and now his family is also Christian and his son is a fellow soldier of the gospel with Paul. Philemon is in deep with Christ.
Paul writes this letter to ask but also command Philemon to do something that would positively affect him and all those who are associated with the letter and eventually all of us. Paul wants Philemon to accept someone who had done something wrong to him but has now become a Christian and showing fruits of that conversion. Paul wants Philemon to forgive.
Onesimus needed to go back to his master Philemon who he had run away from and most likely took resources from. Paul is instructing and discipling Onesimus in Biblical commands while he is also instructing and discipling Philemon in Biblical commands. Paul is letting Philemon know how much Onesimus has meant to himself who is in prison at the time. Paul is actually sacrificing care given by Onesimus to himself so that Philemon and Onesimus can have the peace of God over this matter.
v.14 - ...but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.
Something was more important than Paul's personal feelings and comfort and that was what is right in the situation. Paul doesn't know what the outcome of this venture is to send Onesimus back to Philemon but it is what is right even if he loses his help.
Onesimus ran away from Philemon but now Paul wants there to be a mending of that relationship so that if Onesimus does come back to Paul it will be because Philemon freely sends him there to aid him. Paul was not following the popular phrase of today, "Just do it without permission and if it is wrong then just ask for forgiveness." Paul is seeking what is right first so that he doesn't need to ask for forgiveness later. He is giving Philemon and Onesimus a pattern to follow. Doing what is right involves sacrifice but that sacrifice has greater benefits than the personal comfort and feelings can produce.
v.15, 16 - For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Paul is opening Philemon's eyes to the bigger picture. Onesimus ran away as an unconverted slave and ran into the arms to the man who shares the gospel with everyone even Philemon himself. Onesimus becomes converted and now is making his way back to Philemon. Could we have experienced God's plan before our eyes? Now Onesimus is Philemon's beloved brother forever just like Paul was because heaven is now their eternal home. Philemon now has the benefit of seeing Onesimus return in person but also the benefit of being in fellowship with Onesimus for all eternity.
Am I going to lay down my feelings and my comfort to accept a greater plan than my own? When God asks and commands us to forgive each other, do we see the bigger picture of what is going on or do we settle for our little plan that ends in more strife and sin? The prodigal son is coming home. Will Philemon respond like the father with open arms of that parable told by Jesus or will he respond like the older brother who can't see what has happened beyond himself?
Many times we don't follow God's command to forgive because we don't know the end of the story. Trust God with the end of the story and obey so it is possible that you could receive peace here and for eternity. Let's pray.
"Lord, help us today to set aside our hurt and comfort long enough to start the process of forgiveness. May the forgiveness given help us to process that hurt that we feel. May doing what is right help to make sense of what is wrong. Help me to offer forgiveness where it is long overdue today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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