No longer as a slave
Day 651, Sunday, May 24
Philemon (all)
Philemon is unique among Paul’s letters in that it contains no advice for ministry. It is a purely personal letter from Paul, in prison, to Philemon, a leader in the church at Colossae. It is widely accepted as written by Paul.
The occasion of the letter is that a slave named Onesimus had run away from Philemon, possibly after stealing some money from him. Through circumstances not explained in the letter, Onesimus has come to know Paul; Onesimus has become a follower of Christ and has become close to Paul.
While Paul would have like Onesimus to stay with him, he is sending him back to Philemon, accompanied by this letter. This is courageous on the part of Onesimus, because he could be imprisoned as a runaway slave (and possibly as a thief).
While Paul often speaks of the importance of humility, he seldom displays it in his writing as much as he does in this letter. He is humbly asking Philemon to do what he is not obligated to do, and receive Onesimus back without punishment. Paul even goes further than that: “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.”
The name “Onesimus” can be translated as “useful,” making verse 11 a play on words, “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.”
While this letter doesn’t have the great theological insights of some of Paul’s letters, it provides insight into how Paul’s teachings on forgiveness, grace and equality among believers plays out in real life.

Sunday meditation

Psalms 123:1-4
I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt. We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.

Prayer focus
Make us brothers and sisters in your family, Lord.

-Rev. Mark Fleming