Philemon 1:16

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Philemon 1:16 

“No longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.” – Philemon 1:16     

The main theme in this book is Onesimus, a runaway slave from Philemon. He was a fugitive who had robbed his master and then fled to Rome, where he believed he could hide in the large city and thus not be found. Onesimus encountered Paul, who was in prison, who helped him become a Christian. Then finding out that he was a slave of Philemon, Paul wrote this letter to him regarding Onesimus. “Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do that which is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you. since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus “ Philemon 1:8-9. Paul starts by saying he does not want to enforce compliance with his words but wants Philemon to do this of his own accord, in an attitude of love which governs the Christian. And by  mentioning his age and imprisonment, he can expect that Philemon will pay due respect to what he has to say.

Then he brings up his request. “I appeal to you for my child, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, Onesimus, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. And I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,” Philemon 1:10-12. Paul had led Onesimus to salvation through Christ while he was imprisoned. Obviously, his conversion was real, and Paul wanted to get this truth across. Then he uses a play on words. ‘who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me’. The name Onesimus means useful or profitable. It was a common name for slaves in that day. Prior to his salvation, Onesimus had been useless or unprofitable to Philemon, but now he had become beneficial to both Philemon and to Paul. Upon becoming saved Onesimus lived up to his name.

Paul wrote this letter to Philemon, asking/pleading him to accept Onesimus back, but not as simply a slave but as a Christian, a brother in Christ. Paul really loved Onesimus because of the great blessing he had been to Paul. In fact, in the next verse he would have liked him to stay. “Whom I wished to keep with me, that in your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; but without your consent I did not want to do anything, that your goodness should not be as it were by compulsion, but of your own free will. For perhaps he was for this reason parted from you for a while, that you should have him back forever,” Philemon 1:13-15. Paul would have liked to keep Onesimus with him, for he had rendered faithful service and could continue to give to him. Nevertheless, he does not want, under any circumstances, to encroach upon the decision which only Philemon, as the slave’s rightful master, could make. He wanted Philemon to make the decision on his own without any compelling by Paul.

Then he says, if he goes back, the following in our focus verse, “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.” Philemon 1:16. He asks him not to receive him back as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. That is how Paul saw him, and he was encouraging him to feel the same. And then finally, “If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.” Philemon 1:17. Paul wanted Philemon to accept Onesimus as he has and would accept him. Their fellowship is grounded in their belonging to one Lord. This deeply binding relationship draws them together into common activities, in faith and love. On the basis of this bond, Paul makes his request in which he not only intercedes for Onesimus, but even identifies himself with him. All the love that Philemon will give to Onesimus will be considered as love that he had given to Paul himself.

We need to exhibit these characteristics in our lives. Employers, political leaders, and parents must follow the spirit of Paul’s teaching by treating Christian employees, co-workers, and family members as members of Christ’s Body. Christians in modern society must not view helpers as ways to achieve their ambitions but as Christian brothers and sisters who should receive gracious treatment. Also, all Christian leaders must recognize that God holds them accountable for the treatment of those who work for them, whether the helpers are Christians or not. We all will eventually answer to God for our actions toward others.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Colossians 3:12

Verse of the Day Devotion:  Colossians 3:12 

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12

Paul starts with telling the Colossians they have changed from the ways of the world to the ways of God.  “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” Colossians 3:9-11.  They are not the same persons they were prior to becoming Christians.  They have put on the new self, ones who have abandoned the ways of the world with all the evils that were the norm of their old lives.  For they have put on the new self that comes with accepting the salvation Christ presented and have become a totally different person.  They are not who they used to be.

Paul then moves forward with this idea by saying, in our focus verse, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12.  The idea of the word “So” is “Therefore”.  He is telling them they have been saved and are now Christians, they should therefore live as such.  Because they have chosen to accept Christ as Savior, have put on Christ, it is essential that they show forth the attributes that signify this change.  They cannot put on the new life without living it, because this change is not by name only, that is they are Christians as opposed to not being a Christians.  Paul is laying out what putting on the new self actually means.  He lists five attributes that show the reality of this change in how they deal with their fellow men and women, whether they be Christians or not.

First, there is compassion.  This is an inward, tender and real mercy shown to all men.  It is doing good in  providing for the real needs we see, either in providing goods or in showing love and encouragement to them.  Next is kindness, showing love and mercy with cheerfulness to all men.  Third is humility, in essence looking at others more highly then ourselves, putting others before ourselves.  Then gentleness, or meekness, which shows itself in not being envious of what others have or what they can do.  And finally, patience.  This is probably the most difficult of the five.  This is bearing the evil words or actions of another and is not easily provoked to wrath or anger themselves.

He them goes on in verse thirteen with, “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” Colossians 3:13.  These are important qualities that go along with our focus verse in showing how Christians should be.  All of these acts in verses 12 and thirteen, should be expressed no matter what has occurred.  They should be universally acted out, no matter what has occurred by whoever.  This is especially true though in  our interactions with fellow Christians.  Note the words in the above verse, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, just as the Lord forgave us.  Paul told the Corinthians the following, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1.  Paul was saying, follow my ways where I follow Christ’s ways. 

This should be our focus in this life, do as Christ did.  And the only way we can do this is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit that resides in us.  It is hard sometimes to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient with others.  It can also be difficult to bear with another and forgive when a serious wrong is done against us.  However, this is our calling in Christ.  Nobody ever said this life was easy, but it is what we are called to.  We are to reach out to a lost world, and how better to do that than to be loving to them, showing them the better life God has promised us by our actions and words of grace.  And no matter how difficult it gets, God will be with us, just as He was with the Israelites while journeying to the promised land.  And these words Moses spoke to all of Israel as he tells them He will not be crossing the river Jordan with them are applicable to us today.  “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6. No matter what God calls us to do, He will be with us all the way.  And He is calling us to live a pure and holy life as outlined in Colossians 3:12-14.  And also the word of Paul to the Colossians to comfort them, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body: and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:15-17,

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.