Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
8 “That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do, 9 but because of our love, I prefer just to ask you. So take this as a request from your friend, Paul, an old man, now in prison for the sake of Christ.” ~ Philemon 1:8-9
Because Paul was an elder and an apostle, he could have used his authority with Philemon, commanding him to deal kindly with his runaway slave. But Paul based his request not on his own authority but on Philemon’s Christian commitment. Paul wanted Philemon’s heartfelt, not grudging, obedience. When you know something is right and you have the power to demand it, do you appeal to your authority or to the other person’s commitment? Here Paul provides a good example of how to deal with a possible conflict between Christian friends.
10 “My plea is that you show kindness to Onesimus. I think of him as my own son because he became a believer as a result of my ministry here in prison. 11 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.” – Philemon 1:10-11 – A master had the legal right to kill a runaway slave, so Onesimus feared for his life. Paul wrote this letter to Philemon to help him understand his new relationship with Onesimus. Onesimus was now a Christian brother, not a mere possession.
From his prison cell, Paul had led Onesimus to the Lord. Paul asked Philemon to forgive his runaway slave who had become a Christian and, even going beyond forgiveness, to accept Onesimus as a brother. As Christians, we should forgive as we have been forgiven. – “And forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.” – Matthew 6:12 – 31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as GOD through Christ has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32 – GOD forgives us, not because we forgive others, but solely because of HIS great mercy. As we come to understand HIS mercy, we should want to strive to be like HIM. Having received forgiveness, we should want to pass it on to others. Those who are unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified Him. – “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive these people, because they do not know what they are doing’. And the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice.” – Luke 23:34
True forgiveness means that we treat the ones we have forgiven as we would want to be treated. Is there someone you say you have forgiven but who still needs your kindness?
Thank YOU, Father for forgiving us, not because of anything we have done or will ever do, but purely because of YOUR mercy. As we learn and come to understand YOUR mercy Father GOD, we want to strive to be like you, and then pass it on to others. We ask that YOU help us LORD, to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, we want to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as YOU, Father GOD, through YOUR Son Jesus Christ, have forgiven us.
Photo: Tamarindo (Costa Rica)
Photo By: Lisa K Gonzales
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