Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Titus 3, Philemon 1 and Psalm 9

The letter to Philemon was a deeply personal letter, written by Paul to his dear Christian friend named Philemon who lived in Colossae. Philemon had been discipled by Paul during his ministry in Ephesus (a neighbouring city to Colossae) and had subsequently opened his home as a meeting place for the Christian Church in Colossae.

The letter is an appeal to Philemon to extend a gracious welcome to a brother-in-Christ named Onesimus. The special appeal was needed because Onesimus actually belonged to Philemon as a slave and had run away to the great City of Rome some time ago. Under Roman Law, Philemon had every right to impose any punishment whatsoever on Onesimus for having absconded like that – even a death sentence. But Paul appealed to him to extend grace to Onesimus in these beautiful words:

¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for ever – ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

Would you take a moment to think about the amazing grace of the Lord Jesus that is displayed in Onesimus. Onesimus had run away to the great City of Rome seeking freedom from slavery. Imagine his horror and hopelessness when he was arrested and thrown into prison. It would appear that all was lost. But God’s prevenient grace was at work. The strange old man whose dungeon cell he was forced to share began to tell him the glorious good news that he, Onesimus, a worthless runaway slave, was of infinite worth to God, his Creator; and that, in love for him, God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for Onesimus’ redemption from slavery to sin and death. Imagine his joy when he placed his faith in this Jesus and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who testified with his spirit that he was no longer a slave to sin and death but now a son in the Household of God.

Imagine his even greater astonishment when he confessed to this old man, called Paul, that he had run away from his master Philemon, only to have Paul reveal that he knew and loved Philemon as a brother-in-Christ too and would appeal to him on Onesimus’ behalf. God’s grace had used Onesimus’ bad decision, and his subsequent arrest and imprisonment as a means to lead him to eternal salvation and to provide the means for him to be restored to his master as a brother, rather than face execution. What amazing prevenient grace!

Life application: Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the Gospel opportunities He may be presenting to you today. Perhaps you will encounter someone by divine appointment whose life you will be able to impact with the Good News of Jesus. Pray that He will give you the grace to notice that opportunity and to grab it with both hands. Who knows, today may be the day you meet your Onesimus and are used by the Lord to change a life forever.