"Brothers in Christ"

"Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast

toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints."

~ Philemon 1:5

This short book in the Bible is an example of what the love and grace of God can do. Though short in verses, it is loaded with great and powerful spiritual truth. It deals with friendship and forgiveness.

Onesimus, a runaway slave, came into contact with Paul. As a result, Paul wins Onesimus to Christ. Paul later discovers that Onesimus had Philemon as a master. Philemon also was won to the Lord by Paul. Paul knew the severe punishment that a runaway slave could receive. Using great wisdom, Paul persuades Onesimus to return to Philemon. He sent with Onesimus this recorded letter in our Bible. Paul loved both of these men and desired only that both the servant and master treat each other with love and respect. He especially desired that Philemon would treat Onesimus as a brother in Christ. He even told Philemon that if Onesimus owed him anything to put it on Paul's account, and he would pay it.

It would do us all well to read this special book as often as we can. Someday, we may find ourselves as one of these three men: Paul, Onesimus, or Philemon.

September 28th, 2014

From the bulletin,

Pastor James Baker