Onesimus

Today’s Reading is found in Philemon 1:1-25 and Phillipians 1:1-2:11.

Philemon was a friend of Paul’s, and the master of a slave by the name of Onesimus. Apparently, Onesimus had wronged his master somehow, perhaps by stealing from him and running away, but the issue really isn’t explained in full for us. Onesimus and Paul got together, which was no coincidence. Paul was in a large city and a chance encounter with the runaway slave of a friend sounds unlikely. As a result of their encounter, Paul shared the Word with Onesimus and a slave to a man became a slave to Christ. Paul sent him back to his master with a letter, urging him to accept his slave again as a brother in the Lord, even asking that any wrong that would be held against Onesimus be transferred to Paul for payment.

There are some real lessons within this short letter from one friend to another. Mankind started out as slaves to God, happily doing His bidding and tending to His garden. We betrayed His trust as the common ancestors to us all ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and that sinful nature from Adam (A.K.A. original sin) has stayed with us ever since that day. Only by a miracle are we allowed back into good standing with God. Within this miracle, all of our transgressions are debited to Jesus’ account. But first comes the very miracle of finding God within the busy city of life and seeing wonder in this encounter.

Imagine Paul by this time. He had lived a full life and was getting up in years. He was likely very scarred from the stonings, riotous mobs, and other dangers he had faced in his life. Once again, he was imprisoned and again he was using his position to spread the Gospel and speak with those who were guarding him about the wonder of salvation. His life was closer to the end than the beginning, and he could feel it. He was at a point in his life where he wasn’t sure what he wanted. If he were to die, he knew he would stand in the glory that is God. To go on living, he could assist the church’s progress as he had thus far. It takes a big man to admit that the temptation of a blissful rest is rivaling the joy of working the vineyards of his redeemer.