Thoughts for another day

December 5, 2008.

Today's verse: Phlm. 1:11. Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Among all the letters of Paul in the Bible, this stands out for its difference in content and its length. It’s not so much the length, but the difference we’ll dwell on - of which Paul is writing to Philemon about his slave Onesimus, who had run away, probably having robbed him too. Paul urges Philemon to take him back even if he’d caused him distress because Paul says Onesimus had transformed after his conversion. The important aspect is that Paul expects Philemon to forgive Onesimus and welcome him back, that too as a beloved brother. Paul’s argument is the redeeming work of Christ in Onesimus which had transformed him and made him precious to Paul.

There are two aspects of Christian life that Paul touches upon here. One is the need to forgive, even if painful. Onesimus had caused Philemon much hurt yet, Paul through whom speaks our Lord and Master, urges Philemon to forgive and forget despite the hurt. See, for a Christian, anger, hate, revenge and such like things are not to be harbored in the heart for they tend to poison the mind and destroy inner peace.

The second and more important aspect is Onesimus’ transformation. So much was he transformed by the touch of Jesus on his life that Paul calls him his own heart (1:12) and we can deduce that Onesimus now had the heart of Christ and he could be trusted to even carry Paul’s message to the Colossians in Colossae (Col. 4:9), which would be a great responsibility. It is this aspect, i.e. positive change, which is the hallmark of a Christian. In accepting Christ, transformation must happen in us. This transformation can then bring about change in the world and spread the love of God everywhere. It is this more than anything else, which will cause men to come to Christ.