SUNDAY February 2, 2025

A Reasonable Appeal

I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.
Philemon 12-14

Paul wrote to his beloved friend Philemon to petition on behalf of Onesimus who had stolen from him and had ran away. Miraculously, his slave heard the Gospel from Paul and was saved. Once he found salvation, Onesimus became a great help to Paul while he was in prison. Seeking reconciliation, the Apostle made a reasonable appeal to Philemon: I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains... (Philemon 10).

Paul was not forceful in his approach; he did not lord over people’s lives. He did not order Philemon to forgive his servant; he lovingly appealed to his friend to be forgiving. Again, he never forced him to do anything, even though he was given authority by the Lord in the Church. Paul simply urged his friend to listen to what he had to say. He wanted Philemon to take advice from him as a mature man in the faith.

Paul did nothing without his friend’s consent. He wanted a voluntary response from Philemon––a willing heart to do what was biblically right––to forgive. Paul also wanted his friend to see how the Lord had intervened in the situation. It was God who led Onesimus to Paul, and, in turn, the Apostle was used by Him to lead Onesimus to Christ. Now through regeneration, his runaway servant was profitable––he served the Lord Jesus Christ.

Within families, places of work, and the ministry, there is a need for leaders especially to have God’s wisdom in solving problems and bringing solutions, so that people are reconciled, and the situation is brought to a peaceful end. Seek the Lord and be that person!

Peacemaking is a noble vocation ... To be a peacemaker, you must know the Peace-Giver.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!