Category: Philemon - Jethro TOOLS

Sacrifice, Service & Grace

6/6/2021

Philemon 23-25
David Brainerd was born in 1718 and died of tuberculosis in 1747 at the age of 29. He was very prone to bouts of depression especially after the death of his father when he was 5 and his mother when he was 14. It might not seem like he had much time to make a difference for the cause of Christ, much less deal with his own struggles, yet David Brainerd is known as a servant who sacrificed much for the cause of Christ. He had personal struggles and shortcomings, but God in His grace was at work through all them to bring glory to Himself and growth to the church. For four short years, Brainerd was a missionary to the Native American people of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware where he communicated the love and grace of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. His sacrificial life and spiritual example are held up as a model to this day. As Paul concludes his letter to Philemon he too lists several men who sacrificed and served so as to make a spiritual difference in the lives of others (23-24). Epaphras was a pastor, Luke was a doctor, Mark had been useless but was now useful, while Aristarchus and Demas served Paul while he was in prison. Each of these men served with the abilities that God had given them to see others grow in their faith in Christ. Paul reminds Philemon that God has shown grace to him through Jesus Christ (25). Knowing and accepting the grace of Jesus changed everything for David Brainerd and Philemon. Paul desired that the grace Philemon had received from Christ flow from his life in sacrificial spiritual service that will benefit Onesimus. May the grace of Christ flow through our lives, benefit others spiritually and bring God glory.

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Helpful Hope-filled Hospitality

5/30/2021

Philemon 21-22
My stomach was warmed by the meal and my heart was full from the conversation about our Lord and Savior. Snow crunched under my feet as I said goodbye, and the snowmobile rumbled to life as I headed into the middle of winter and the middle of the river that was frozen solid. There was nothing between where I was and home but an hour ride, and a red fox. I excitedly tried to follow the beautiful creature but he did not want my company and headed for the thick brush of an island. What a day! I had the privilege of enjoying good food, wonderful insight into a brother’s spiritual growth plus sighting one of God’s beautiful four legged creatures. It all started with my unannounced visit to a brother in the Lord and his offering of hospitality. In Philemon 21-22 we see Paul encourage Philemon to practice hospitality. Paul starts by affirming Philemon (21). He confidently believes that what has been requested will be done based on Philemon’s prior conduct as a partner and character as a brother in Christ. Philemon has been praying for Paul. As an answer to this prayer, Paul believes that he will be released from prison soon. Upon his release Paul desires to visit and stay with Philemon (22). Paul is encouraging hospitality toward all believers, including Onesimus, by providing spiritual accountability for the action of hospitality. At its core, hospitality shows Christ like love and acceptance. May our faith in Christ season our hospitality and our hospitality warm the hearts of others.

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Debt Payment Guaranteed

5/23/2021

Philemon 18-20
What is debt? Debt is something that is owed or due. Most often debt involves money but there can be other debt like a debt of service or love. Each one of us, most likely, has some debt. It may be an auto loan, a house mortgage, a credit card, a student loan or even a loan between family or friends. Debt is incurred because we assess our level of desire or need and decide to borrow from someone else so this need or desire can be met. The act of borrowing makes us indebted to someone else. Now, what would you say if I told you that I would completely pay off all your debt? Paul was offering to do the same thing for Onesimus. In Philemon 18-20 Paul offers to not only pay off any debt that was owed to Philemon by Onesimus, but he also personally guaranteed the payment. Going beyond this promise, Paul is encouraging Philemon to display God’s grace toward Onesimus, in the same way he has received God’s grace. Like Onesimus, Philemon did not deserve grace. In the same way, like Onesimus, we also have a debt of sin that we can’t pay, however Jesus offers and guarantees to pay for our sin. He becomes our substitute, taking on our debt, so we can live a new life because of His grace. By faith we must accept this offer and live a new life because of God’s grace to display God’s grace. Knowing Jesus as savior changes everything about debt for Philemon, Onesimus and us.

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Partnership with Grace

5/16/2021

Philemon 17
The “POP” and flash caused me to jump! The unexpected noise occurred when I turned on the light switch. Now I have a burnt out light bulb to replace. Have you ever had the unexpected happen when you expected the light to operate as normal? We all know that lightbulbs do not last forever, but that is what we expect of them. In this verse Paul is asking Philemon to continue functioning as he has in the past as a servant and encourager of the church. However, he is asking for more. This request requires new levels of spiritual practice. Paul first asks Philemon to trust him as a partner and to display grace to Onesimus by accepting the runaway, back. Paul wants all this to be done genuinely, as if he himself were standing in front of Philemon. This was most likely a life changing moment for Philemon. The past was no longer normal as Paul challenged Philemon to new heights and greater practice of his faith. This faith is based squarely on the grace that he has received from Jesus himself. May we like Philemon continually respond with God given grace to the unexpected explosions in life. Who knows, there might be someone like Onesimus that needs to see Jesus through us. Like Philemon, others in the church and community will be watching and they will learn from our example.

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Motives for Life and Ministry

5/9/2021

Philemon 12-16
What motivates you to respond to the situations that surround you? Years ago, I had an assignment for a class that I literally took to the streets to see how people would react. I dressed like a homeless person and sat on the sidewalk right outside the main entrance of the Bible School I was attending. As I called out to different ones, they all walked past and even tried to stay as far away from me as possible. Yes, those who did nothing were from the same school I was attending. Most responded out of fear, annoyance, safety or security. One young man had his conscious pricked, and he circled back to double check on me. After a short conversation I told him that I was a student like him and this act was part of a class project. He was shocked that he was the only one to stop. Again I ask, What motivates you to respond to situations you see? As Paul writes to Philemon in verses 12-14 he addresses the motives of service that are based on relationship, function or compulsion. However, in verse 15-16 he emphasizes a motive of spiritual purpose that has an eternal perspective. Paul desires for Philemon to respond to Onesimus as a brother in Christ and seek his best interests. Today, Are we doing what we do out of service and love for God? Are we serving to bring God’s perspective and spiritual change in the lives of others? May a love for God guide our motives and direct our service so we respond correctly, as God would have us, to the situations around us.

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The Cost & Value of Returns

5/2/2021

Philemon 8-11
Have you ever returned an item you had purchased? I have seen people return perfectly good tools for a full refund, after they were used once, because they were no longer needed. It has been estimated that retail businesses world wide lose 600 billion dollars to returns with retail sales in North America making up almost 1/3 of the total amount lost. The numbers are astounding but we should not be surprised because that is a human reaction. When something no longer serves our purpose we seek to remove it in a way that will benefit us. That is exactly what Paul is trying to avoid as he writes Philemon about Onesimus, his run away slave. As the owner, Philemon had a number of options in dealing with Onesimus, including death. Paul makes his appeal for Onesimus who is a new person through his belief in Christ as savior (10) which results in a new relationship and value for this slave (11). Paul could have forced Philemon to do what he wanted (8). Instead, he made his appeal to Philemon that he base his reaction to Onesimus on the love of God (9). Today we face many relational challenges where our world tells us that we have the right to respond a certain way. The question is, how would God want you to respond? God is calling us to find the value in others because He loved us first (1 John 4:19).

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Problems? Try Refreshing

4/25/2021

Philemon 4-7
Computers are great but they can run into communication and connection problems which causes you not to see everything that is available. That is when the refresh option comes into play. This simple feature takes all of the old information and requests new information. After a few moments the newest version of the information is sent and you can now access all the fresh, new items. The refresh option takes the old, adds a new perspective and gives it new life. In the letter to Philemon we see Paul record a prayer that he is praying for Philemon (4-7). In that prayer Paul notes that he is encouraged to see Philemon displaying Godly love for other believers (7). Philemon has been influential in refreshing others. He literally helped calm their inner emotions. Have you ever had someone step into your life and give you a new perspective that calmed your fears? Apparently Philemon was one who started with the current problems and helped others see their problems from God’s point of view with God’s solutions. His faith (5) naturally caused him to display God’s love and refresh others through God’s love with hope and a new Godly perspective. May God help us be ones who refresh those around us, just like Philemon.

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Problem People and Grace

4/18/2021

Philemon 1-3
A favorite comic strip of many comes from the creative mind of Bill Watterson and his realistic yet devious characters of Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin is just a young boy with a wild imagination and his stuffed tiger named Hobbes. These two have a way of getting into all kinds of trouble. In Bill Watterson’s book, The Revenge of the Baby-Sat, he tells the story of Calvin and Hobbes backing the car out of the driveway and getting it stuck in the ditch across the street (p 75-80). In complete fear of their punishment they rush home, gather food and supplies then run away. In reality they end up in a tree behind the house and that is where Calvin’s Mom finds them. She reassures Calvin that the car will be fine and that he can come home. Still not completely convinced Calvin simply states that he wants to hear his Mom say that she loves him. The short book of Philemon contains a reminder to Philemon of how God has saved him and changed him so he could show grace and display redemption to Onesimus, a slave who ran away with his money. Paul is asking Philemon to accept Onesimus back and fully restore him because he is now a believer in Christ and therefore a spiritual brother. In the first two verses of this letter Paul addresses not only Philemon but also his wife, church leadership and the church as a whole. Paul wants to make sure that everyone understands that grace is needed and work to bring peace between these two men. Have you ever felt like your actions were unforgivable like Calvin or Onesimus? This letter makes it clear that God will continually remind us of His love and grace. The best part is that we get to pass it on to others as well, just like Philemon.

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