Day 302

Lamentations 1:1–2:22; Philemon 1:1-25; Psalm 101:1-8; Proverbs 26:20

TODAY WE BEGAN (and completed) the final letter clearly attributed to the apostle Paul —the personal letter to Philemon. It’s a rather short letter that likely accompanied the delivery of the letter to the Colossians —a congregation of which Philemon was a leader.

Philemon was likely one of the more wealthy and influential churchmen in Colossae. According to the letter, a congregation met in his home. He had a servant named Onesimus, who ran away —probably stealing from Philemon in the process —which was an offense punishable by death. Onesimus likely fled to Rome in an attempt to disappear. Simultaneously, Paul was in Rome under house arrest, awaiting trial.

In a strange twist of divine providence, Onesimus came into contact with Paul and, under his instruction, became a follower of Jesus. After his conversion, Onesimus served Paul’s needs in Rome.

Sometime later, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Colossae, intending to send Tychicus on the journey to hand deliver it. In the process, Paul also wrote a personal note to Philemon and sent Onesimus to accompany Tychicus back to his hometown and master.

This would have been a frightening step of faith for Onesimus —one in which his life hung in the balance. However, Paul’s influence (not to mention his imprisonment) emboldened Onesimus to leave his life in God’s hands and do the right thing.

Paul’s brief letter to Philemon packs a punch. It shows us the importance of forgiveness and teaches us that no matter our level of authority over another person, if they are a believer in Jesus, we are to treat them as brothers and sisters. It also gives us a compelling example of how God does in fact work all things “together for the good of those who love [him]” (Romans 8:28).

MEDITATION:

Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.