FRIDAY January 31, 2025

A Heartfelt Appeal

Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ––I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.
Philemon 4:8-11

As Paul wrote to Philemon, I can feel the depth of his love in this letter. Paul’s plea to his friend was not to punish his servant, but to restore him. As a thief, he deserved to die; but now he was saved––washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Spirit dwelt within his life.

Did you realize that all of us were like Onesimus? Before we came to Christ, we may have stolen from our employer or committed some other sin––lying, cheating, bad-mouthing people, or misjudging them. We have hurt people. If you seek reconciliation because you have hurt someone, I hope they will have a heart of forgiveness. As believers, bury the hatchet once and for all. It is not so easy to forgive, but when you do, you are at peace with the Lord.

A long time ago, I got a call from a pastor who I have known for many years. His daughter had just been murdered. His beautiful, young girl––his baby––was killed by her boyfriend. He was devastated and so angry. All he wanted to do was kill the young man who did it. What do you do as a father and a mother when your child is taken away from you like this? What a difficult place for him to be in––so sad.

I began to pray for him. He needed to rest in the love and grace of God. In the end, the pastor chose to forgive. Honestly, if we are not close to the heart of God, we can lose our minds in these situations. If we choose to be resentful and harbor hatred, unforgiveness and bitterness in our hearts, it will destroy our lives and the lives of those around us, too. God heals our own hearts through forgiveness.

Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.
~Corrie ten Boom~

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