Creator, Father, King #320

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED the middleman in a relationship? This is when you’re on friendly terms with two individuals who are at odds with each other, and you’re stuck in between them, trying to make peace.

Awkward.

This is the situation the apostle Paul found himself in as he wrote a letter to a good Christian friend named Philemon living in Colossae. At the time, Paul was under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:16). During his two years there (Acts 28:30) Paul met a fugitive slave named Onesimus, who was on the run after stealing from his master, and led him to faith in Christ (Philemon 1:10).

Guess who Onesimus’s master was . . . yep, Philemon! He, too, likely was converted through Paul’s ministry (verse 19).

Do you see the remarkable providence of God at work? Paul certainly did! In verse 15, he wrote to Philemon, “It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.”

Wanting reconciliation between the two men, Paul sent his letter (now a New Testament book) before encouraging Onesimus to return to Philemon. Paul graciously offered to pay Philemon for anything that Onesimus owed. Most of all, Paul entreated Philemon to welcome Onesimus back “both as a man and as a brother in the Lord” (verse 16), not as a slave.

What’s It Mean?

The gospel of Jesus Christ transforms relationships. First, it miraculously changes our relationship with God from his “enemies” (Romans 5:10) to “dear children” (Ephesians 5:1) through Christ’s reconciliatory work on the cross.

As recipients of divine reconciliation, Christians are called to show God’s kindness at every opportunity. Having been loved and forgiven so much by God, we should never withhold love and forgiveness from others. That’s the message of Paul’s letter to Philemon—a powerful word that we still need today.

Has someone wronged you? Is there a damaged relationship in your life that needs reconciliation? Using the gospel as your model, seek out that person in gentleness and love to restore what’s broken. As today’s verse says, forgive them as God has forgiven you through Jesus.

It’s not always easy, but God has called his children to unity, not division. Be quick to reconcile!

Now What?

If someone has offended you, don’t wait for them to approach you—graciously start the conversation with them (Matthew 18:15-17).

Did You Know?

The Bible doesn’t say whether Philemon followed Paul’s pastoral advice. We can only hope he did!