Philelmon

Today I thought I'd change it up a bit.
As I'm using Dad's bible to write this.

This is an interesting story, because again Paul is writing it.
Paul is again in prison, so we think, and comes across a run away slave, called Philemon.

A slave that has run away from his master.
Paul starts of in his letters with thanks giving prayer.
He calls us to pray, that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding, of every good thing, we have in Christ. He later goes on, about love and encouragement, because you brother have refreshed the hearts of the saints.


Now, we all need refreshing, and we all need to know that we're  encouraging and building each other up.
As Paul comands us to do, in the bible.

It says here, that they were so active in their love, that they refreshed the hearts of the saints.

We are saints, in fact, we're more, than saints, we sons and daughters of God.

Made alive in him.

Paul's plea for Onesimus,
This is where it gets exciting.

Paul is getting older, he has written to Timothy to take over the mantle, and to be  strong in the faith.

Paul is in prison for his faith, and finds Onesimus  who became like a son to Paul while he was in chains.

He states that formally he was useless to you, but now he has become useful to you and me.

While we're here, we may as well be useful to God and serve him in many ways.
Not just in one way and be done with it.

Our lord is interested in everything we do, we are called to be resourceful with what we have.
If it's the power of the word, then teach it, run with it.
If it's writing do so that it will edify, the lord.
If it's caring for others less that yourself, do it as the lords hand is on it.

Onesimus had a change of heart, perhaps prison taught him a few things, while he was in there with Paul.

It's in those hard times, when we're face with, that we press into God.

And pray in the spirit, free people in the spirit.

Sometimes it seems easy to keep a lid on all the things, that we go through, it's not until we take the lid off, we see that it was a fruitless excersise.

Onesimus was made useful in the pit, in the jail, and Paul does something about it.

He writes to Philemon his boss.

Now, I'd imagine ,that Onesimus was scared to go back, he probably ran away with good reason.

We all need a little time on our own to find out who we are.
And find the true God given Identity in him.

We find out as we grow older, we can't depend on our Parents faith, and prayers.

We read in verse 17, If you consider, me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

This is like a new version of the parable of   the prodigal son, but in the New Testament.

 It is so easy isn't to welcome the people that you're friends with, but what happens, if you welcome people outside of your bubble?

To give hospitality, to them?

We have so many rules about what we can and can't do

But what if, we break some of those rules, and pay for someone's grocierers, or if we're in lines at the supermarket, let others go before us?

Or something dear to my heart is picking up another child from Tear fund?

Or timely words to refresh the soul?

Paul says, if you consider me a partner  welcome him as you would welcome me.

How is God humbling your heart today?

We are welcoming God, when we let others in on our lives.

We arent' suposed to live as hermit crabs just sticking to what we know.

The fact, that Paul was in chains writing this letter to Philemon, meant that we  are called to do something about other peoples, outcomes.

It might be welcoming a child, having someone stay in your your place for  a time.
Offereing your garden as a therapy sanctuary to those people who need refreshed.

And those ideas, that God gives you, they come from him.

So my challenge for you today is.

In what way can you be like Paul who saw Onesimus who had a new given goal, to become useful to serve Christ?

Lock down isn't an excuse, start to plan now, for ways to serve him.
You might be surprised that   you might already be doing it without thinking about it.

You might already be using your gifts he's given for the benifeit of others.

Jesus will show you the way, if you only just trust him.

Chloe