GRACE AND PEACE “May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace”. Philemon 3 GNB We have many words by which we initiate conversations or correspondence. The increasing use of e-mails has led many people to begin with “Hi Pete” instead of “Dear Pete”. Paul addressed Philemon with great tact and skill. He invokes on his friend the blessing of both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This puts the request to which he is building up in the context of the gospel. He approaches Philemon therefore not just as a friend, but as a friend-in-Christ. The letter is all about a situation in which gospel-action is called for. The reminder of grace focuses on the magnanimity of God in forgiving us all and welcoming us back into his family. Philemon is a Christian leader and Paul is going to ask him to show all the Colossian church a specific act of graciousness. Peace is about making peace, something which Paul is hoping will happen between Philemon and Onesimus. The effect of God’s peace on Philemon will be to increase the peace between the two estranged men. It will also multiply peace in the Colossian church. Philemon is a man of influence. He was sufficiently well-off to have a house large enough to accommodate the church, and to own slaves. He would therefore be watched carefully by his fellow-believers and they would take their cue from him in many ways. All of Christian discipleship must be lived out in the context of grace and peace. These were the supreme two qualities that Christ brought into personal spirituality and community relations. Always we are to receive them, use them and multiply them to His honour and glory. PRAYER THOUGHT Lord, let me live in the grace and peace of Jesus Christ.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 23:14:30 +0000
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