In every circumstance, God desires to work out something in our lives. Whether the situation brings us closer to God or farther away from Him depends on the quality of our response to that standpoint. It always depends on our response.
The letter of the Apostle Paul to Philemon shows how God can work in every party involved. Consider this: Onesimus, the slave who ran away, Philemon, the master who was wronged; and Paul, the apostle who was chained. One letter, one story, and yet through their relationships and dealings with each other, God was able to work out something good. Through their lives, God wants to work in us as well.
Onesimus: from useless to useful (Philemon 11). He ran away from his master's house, but God directed him to Paul. Through Paul's ministry, Onesimus became a Christian. Paul could have let Onesimus go and live freely, which is Onesimus' right, but he didn't. Onesimus must go back.
The surest road is the way back home. Onesimus ran away, and he could have gone anywhere. But even on the farthest place where his feet could take him, God was there, imploring him to go back. Friends, we may be free to go wherever we want to go, we can wander around and do what we want to do, but the surest road is the way back to God.
Home is where we find our purpose. When Onesimus ran away, he was useless. This is a bit ironic because his name literally means "profitable." When the Apostle Paul found him and kept him, Paul wrote to Philemon that Onesimus, who was once unprofitable, has become profitable once again (v. 11). We cannot make our own purpose in life, we already have one. We cannot fulfill our purpose anywhere, we must go back to God. Onesimus could have been free elsewhere, but it is only back home that he could live up to his name, his calling.
Philemon: from offended to openhanded (Philemon 18-21). We are not told what happened after the letter was handed to Philemon, but the Apostle Paul was confident that Philemon would more than accept Onesimus back to his household (v. 21). Philemon forgave Onesimus.
Good always happens when we forgive. When we forgive, we also receive mercy from our Father in Heaven. When we forgive, we start to see justice and cease from being vengeful. When we forgive, we allow God to work in us.
Bad always happens when we do not forgive. When we remain offended, we cause many to be defiled by our offense (Hebrews 12:15) because we cannot keep our bitterness to ourselves. We blurt it out, and our interactions are filled with hatred and unforgiveness. And people catch that attitude, and people start to give opinions and dissensions arise.
It is not enough for Philemon to forgive Onesimus. He must accept Onesimus back, no longer as a slave but as a dear brother. Philemon must trust Onesimus again. Likewise, we cannot forgive a person and not talk to and trust that person. The Lord said, "love your neighbor as yourself" and, "love your enemy." Love is not just a feeling; it is a decision. It is impossible to love someone we hate or has wronged us if we're just going to wait for the feeling to come. The Lord said, "Love..." It is an action; it must be expressed.
Paul: from zealot in Damascus to prisoner in Rome. From that road to Damascus to his house arrest in Rome, Paul underwent a major transformation. And even in the very end of his life, he was still available for God's work. He remained faithful to God, even in the midst of his sufferings, knowing that he is a prisoner of God and not of men.
It was not easy for him in Rome, but he was there because God put him there. Paul already did so much for the ministry, but there was still one more lost soul searching for home, and that soul was in Rome. Paul grabbed on that opportunity and was able to bring Onesimus back. Never mind his chains, never mind his sufferings; his work as a Christian will not be hindered by material and earthly limitations.
We may not have money. We may be alone. But we still do what God wants us to do, for we know that we are in Christ, and that we are raised up with Him in the heavenlies, and that through Him, we have become more than conquerors. We cannot be limited by our finances or convenience or personal longings and desires. God wants to work something in us, and through us.
Paul, Onesimus, and Philemon were vessels of honor. They were used by God for noble purposes, pleasing to the Master not just in this life but in the ages to come.
We may be running away from God like Onesimus, and we have to go back. There is no purpose in life without God. Onesimus found his purpose.
We may be wronged like Philemon, and we have to forgive. Love is a decision and an action that must be expressed. God loved us first, although there is nothing in us that is worthy for that love.
We may be in a difficult situation like Paul, but we still serve God. Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's, and we are always ready to serve God in and out of season.
No comments:
Post a Comment