The Faith of Philemon (Part 3)

Philemon 1:17-25

Paul has made his plea to Philemon in regards to Onesimus. He it pleading that Philemon should receive Onesimus just as he would receive Paul. Onesimus was a new brother to Philemon because he had given his life to Jesus. How Christ like would it be for Philemon to shun away his new brother in the Lord? Well the answer is that it would not be Christ like at all. See the one things Paul understood is that Onesimus had radically had his life changed by God and Paul understood the importance of how Onesimus would be received by Philemon.

(V.18) Tells us of the love that Paul had for Onesimus. He said if Onesimus owes you anything, Philemon, put it on my account. Friends that’s exactly what Jesus said and did for us. He paid a debt that we owed by going to the cross and taking on death so that we could have life. I actually have a friend that I pray for who is lost and his name is Kyle. He and I are really good friends and one of the thing I want to see in my life and his life is for Jesus to step in and change him. I know that this cannot happen because Christ saved and radically changed me, but if I could pay the debt for Kyle I would in a heartbeat, fortunately I don't have to, because Jesus already did! Paul had great love for both men. In (v. 21) we see that Paul has great confidence in the obedience of Philemon. He knows that Philemon will do the right thing, and Philemon does as he takes back in his new brother in the Lord, Onesimus.

Maybe through this short study you have realized that you are like Onesimus. You have wandered away from your master and now you want to come back home. Lucky for us Christ tells us to come as we are and that today is the day of Salvation. Like Philemon, God will welcome you with open arms into His kingdom if you will welcome Him with an open heart into your life. Maybe you're like Philemon and you need to be more of an encourager and invest in people’s lives more. I promise you this, one of the reasons Onesimus felt comfortable going back to Philemon was because he knew what Philemon’s heart looks like. What does yours look like? Is it bitter? Is it full of hate? Or is it open and ready to receive brothers and sisters in Christ as they come to the foot of the cross. What an incredible testimony of these three men. Prepare your heart to be a Philemon and to welcome in the Onesimus’ of your life. Remember, it’s about where you’ve been, it’s about where you're going.