I am sending him(who is my very heart) back to you. Phil.12 Paul pleaded for Onesimus to Phelemon. I did not know the whole story why Philomen was written. But a conference speaker spoke in a congregation what was the basis of the letter written to Philemon. Onesimus was a slave of Philomen, but he ran away from him and could have taken some belongings of Philomen along with him. He was arrested and put in prison where Paul met him and described the way of salvation to him. God worked in Onesimus and he gave his heart to God. Philomen became a disciple of Jesus and wanted to help Paul in his ministry of saving souls for Christ. But Paul was reluctant to accept the help of Onesimus without Phelomens consent because Philomen was the owner of Onesimus the slave. So the letter to Philomen pleading for Onesimus was written. It resembles the gospel of Jesus pleading to God for a sinner, to bestow mercy and grace upon an unworthy. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good, no longer as a slave but as a dear brother, better than a slave(Phil.15,16). Pauls words remind us the mediatory role of our Lord Jesus on behalf of a wayward sinner to God the Father. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing was the prayer of Jesus to His Father when the soldiers crucified Him on the cross. Hearing this prayer of Jesus, a robber who was crucified along with Jesus asked for Gods forgiveness and a place in Gods kingdom(Luke 23:34,42,43). Jesus assured him that he would be with Him that very day in paradise. Howmuch Paul desired that Onesimus should be received by Philomen unconditionally? Did not Jesus receive a sinner, a socially rejected tax collector, a leper, an unfaithful or a rebel who pretended to follow Him during His life on earth? Pauls final request to Philomen to take back Onesimus, refresh my heart in Christ(20) reminds us the heart of Christ. Praise God for the mediators who have the heart of Christ and the longing of Paul for souls. May God grant us to spend and be spent as Paul styled his life for the sake of the gospel, the power and the glory of God. .
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 08:48:05 +0000
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