Devotion: Philemon 1:21

Philemon 1:21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

Philemon is one of the shortest books of the Bible and consists of one chapter.  In it, Paul writes to  Philemon, a believer who had slaves. One of his slaves, Onesimus, had run away, ending up with Paul and becoming a believer himself. Paul writes to Philemon asking him to receive Onesimus back. He is confident that Philemon will do this.

But Paul trusted that Philemon would do even more than welcome Onesimus back. He knew the former slave would be allowed to return to the household. He had no doubt about that and said he was confident of Philemon’s obedience. But he also said he knew that Philemon would do even more than was asked. He knew that Philemon would welcome his former slave home and recognize him as a brother in Christ.

The basics of the letter don’t talk about the life that Onesimus had under Philemon. And we don’t know what drove him away from  his home in the first place. All we know is that at some point, Onesimus heard Paul preaching and he became a believer. Paul’s letter to Philemon was not one asking outright that Onesimus be freed. Instead it focused on embracing him as a brother.

Whether this verse is an indirect request for Onesimus to be freed or not is not the case. The wording seems to allude to this, but Paul does not ask him outright to free Onesimus. Instead the entire letter focuses on loving his former slave as a brother in Christ and welcoming him back.

So what does that have to do with us, especially since we don’t live in a world of slavery? I have always been taught that when we read slave or master we should think of work dynamics of boss and employee. This helps us to relate to it in our modern times.

As believers we should be welcoming fellow believers into the family, even if prior to them becoming Christians they held a different position in our life. Regardless of their position in life, we are to love one another and walk alongside each other as we move forward.

Today let’s pause to remember that we, like Philemon, should welcome back those who have strayed away. Whatever the circumstances, we are to love others as Christ loved the church. Be obedient to Him and set aside any negativity, wrath, malice, or anger.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for fresh starts. Let me obey Your direct command to love others as You love the church. Fill me with Your love and let it pour out on others. Amen 

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