Hi there
I pray you well.
Today’s Holy Nougat might require some prayer to swallow. Chew slowly before digesting the reflection.
“So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. But if he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge that to my account.”
Philemon 1:17-18 TLV
Wow
Is that manipulative or what?! Paul writes to Philemon, after whom the letter is named, on behalf of a runaway slave turned evangelist, called Onesimus. In the backstory we note that these were the days where the FULL extent of the law could (read should) be meted out. This ranged from whipping, to being branded, or even death! Going home should NOT have been an option for Onesimus. Not at all.
But he had found favour in Heaven and on earth. Paul determined to intervene-intercede on his behalf for grace. Grace – the gift that we often cannot extend to ourselves; but which is so often needed in relationships. Grace, like forgiveness, is the prerogative of the giver, not the receiver as it is the giver’s to extend whether requested or not. It is independent of the recipient’s willingness to acknowledge same.
Grace is not always forgiveness. Allowing Onesimus to live unpunished could be seen as forgiveness. Treating him as an honored guest in his former place of employ would be grace. Opting to wipe the slate of wrongs clean and taking instructions from him – maybe Paul was asking too much of Philemon.
Or was he?
This is a biblical pattern that is as old as Jacob and Esau, Moses and the children of Israel, Joseph and his brothers; and culminates with Paul and the disciples – with some variation. One could even understand it as radical forgiveness; like a 70 x 7 response for one wrong committed against us. Paul asked from personal experience of that grace being extended to him. Remember his story?! Paul KNEW it can happen. Radical and manipulative though it seemed.
And Paul, in making that very audacious request of Philemon, helps us see that God expects the same from each of us. To intercede on others’ behalf on earth, just like Jesus keeps doing for us where it truly matters – in Heaven.
On this day; are we being challenged by God through Paul to be someone’s Philemon; releasing them from debt-bondage and securing them with whatever they need to start anew? Or are we being challenged to be Paul – making the audacious request on behalf of one whose old self doesn’t deserve such grace?
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
