Thursday – Letters

Reading – Philemon

Highlight Verse:

“So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.”
‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This whole short letter is geared toward convincing Philemon to release his runaway slave Onesimus.

I find it interesting that a letter that could have been spent rebuking Philemon for having slaves in the first place was couched in such diplomatic terms.

Of course, while we never see Philemon’s response, this letter is also addressed to everyone in Philemon’s whole church. In light of all those witnesses, Philemon would have had no choice but to agree with Paul and free Onesimus.

The message to Philemon and to us is that people are equal in God’s eyes, no matter what the race, color, or social status.

It also shows us a very graceful way of correcting a fellow believer’s wrongs. The letter exudes grace but makes it very clear that Philemon should not enslave a fellow believer.

Have you ever been so gracefully rebuked?
How would you react to this letter if you were Philemon?