Philemon
Good Wednesday to you,
Coming into a movie mid-stream is never optimal. We like to start at the beginning so we know what is going on. The same is true for books. No one reads only the third or fourth chapter of a novel. So when we come to a letter like Philemon, we are a bit frustrated because it gives us neither the beginning of the story nor the ending. We can only speculate.
What we do know is that it is a letter from Paul to Philemon regarding the status of a runaway slave named Onesimus, who had become a follower of Christ under Paul’s care. At a minimum, Paul is asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back with a forgiving spirit. This act of forgiveness would have been controversial in the day. It would have cost Philemon socially and economically and potentially led to many more slaves running away. With pride and ego on the line, it is sometimes difficult to do the right thing. Paul is looking for evidence of transformation in Philemon.
When pride and ego arise in our lives, how do we respond? When we asked to forgive, do we readily forgive? What processes do we go through to determine whether to extend forgiveness? I can tell you what Jesus went through to forgive us… the cross!
Next Sunday we will continue looking at this fascinating short letter, but from the perspective of Onesimus. What does it look like for us to ask for forgiveness from someone? What if they refuse? What consequences might we experience? I hope you will join me this coming Sunday as we take another look at this short epistle.
I want to thank all those who participated in the Thanksgiving Box drive for our junior enlisted. All boxes were sponsored! If you missed out, the annual Christmas Store for MOM (Military Outreach Ministries) is just around the corner. Stay tuned.
If you are interested in signing up for an Advent reading and lighting the Advent candles, you can respond to me or contact Kimberlee directly.
It is a blessing for me to journey with you. I hope your day is blessed!
Grace and peace to you all,
Pastor David
If you missed this Sunday’s sermon, click here to listen now!
