...be reconciled...

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul — an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus — 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary” Philemon 1:8-14.

Paul knows the dangers of trying to force someone to do something. His style throughout this letter, written from prison, is one of gentle, Christian persuasion. What Paul is asking of Philemon is very, very difficult, but he is hopeful — if not sure — that Philemon will take the point and act on it. You see, Paul and Philemon have a close relationship, akin to that of father and son (verse 10). Philemon has come to faith through Paul’s preaching. Paul is conscious, as well, that he himself has been given a great authority by God, to be the church-planting evangelist through whom communities loyal to Jesus will spring up around major parts of the Greek and Roman world. Within the burgeoning Christian church, this gives Paul a status and position that would enable him to give commands. But that’s not the best way to do things, as far as Paul is concerned, so Paul is trying to encourage Philemon to think through the issues and come to the right decision for himself.

Paul’s appeal, then, is one of love. Paul appeals to Philemon’s love, and sympathy and affection, by describing himself as an old man and in prison. Paul probably wasn’t what we would call very old today; quite possibly only in his forties or early fifties. But in the world in Paul’s time where life expectancy was much lower than today he would be seen as a senior figure, with a natural claim on Philemon’s respect, if not, obedience.

So, Paul is now going to show Philemon that Paul and Onesimus have established a close bond. Onesimus is Paul’s “son” (verse 10); in other words, he has become a Christian through Paul’s teaching and love. (Paul quite often refers to such people as his “children” (1 Corinthians 4.14; Galatians 4.19). And, like a fond parent sending a son or daughter off into the wider world for the first time, when Paul sends Onesimus to Colossae, he is sending “his very heart” (verse 12).

Philemon is surprised when he discovers that Onesimus, his own runaway slave, has returned, and this is why Paul doesn’t want Philemon to see Onesimus as just a slave, but he wants Philemon to see Paul himself, every time he looks at Onesimus.

This is the foundation for the appeal Paul makes in his letter to Philemon!

What we are watching here, of course, is a living example of the Christian practice of reconciliation. There are lots of heavy theological words in Christian theology ending in “-ation”, and it’s easy for us to hear them and not really take in what beautiful things they are. We are often like someone seeing the outside cover of a vinyl record, being vaguely interested in it, but never listening to the music inside. If we listen, however, to the music of the word “reconciliation”, we will realize that it’s the music that will heal the world.

In Christianity, reconciliation is the restoration of the broken relationship between yourself and God, a restoration made possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Reconciliation involves God's grace, the forgiveness of sins, and ultimately leads to peace and the ability for all humanity to be reconciled with one another. It is a core concept of the Christian gospel, described as God reconciling "all things" through Christ, initiating and enabling peace and healing between people and God, and between people themselves. 

Paul’s letter to Philemon shows how costly it is, but also how explosive.

Three questions to bring to God in prayer today:

1. Where in your life today does reconciliation need to happen today?

= Ask God, in prayer, to bring this to your attention!

2. What social barriers or personal pressures stand in your way?

= Be honest, and bring your barriers and pressures to God in prayer!

3. How can you who believe in Jesus make it happen through God’s grace.

= And ask God to reveal that to you in prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Today’s Prayer

Oh God, today I come to praise You and to give you thanks.

I know I need to be reconciled with You and with others.

Restore my heart and soul,

and restore my thinking and my decisions this day — before You.

Come Holy Spirit and fill my heart with the choices You wish me to make,

and grace me to live faithfully in all things this day!

Oh Lord help me to love You and to love others.

And this I pray through Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen!