The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(We conclude our consideration of the Apostle Paul's epistle to Philemon, one of my favorite portions of Scripture, and one of its most Christ-exalting and revealing revelations of truth.)
"Philemon"
Part 10 - "The Brothers Beloved"
The Apostle Paul's epistle to Philemon encourages us to not surrender hope regarding any relationship that requires repair and restoration. Surely Philemon and Onesimus did not anticipate that God would bring them together as brothers rather than the master/servant relationship that had characterized their initial knowledge of one another. Like Jews and Gentiles united in Christ, God had "broken down the middle wall of partition" between two men of such different lives and backgrounds (Ephesians 2:14). They doubtless found "the unity of the Spirit in the body of peace" in ways not recorded by Scripture, but which we can surmise beautifully revealed the redeeming and unifying love of the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 4:3).
"For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever, not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (Philemon 1:15).
As a child long ago, our Heavenly Father began to reveal such grace to me with my first best friend, Bruce. We got along well, and enjoyed playing sports, riding bicycles, playing army, and just learning what it means to be friends. Occasionally, however, we would have an argument or even a brief tussle. One of us would try to have the last word or shove, and then run for our house, often with the other in hot pursuit. After a cooling off period, we invariably apologized, usually not with words, but with little boy smiles and gestures that said, "Hey, no harm, no foul!" Intriguingly, after the disputes, our friendship invariably seemed stronger and closer than ever. I did not know it at the time, but a profound lesson regarding God's ability to rescue relationships presented itself to my heart and mind. The grace of the Lord Jesus so redeems the believer that we grow in knowing His love and in loving Him after times of wandering (inexcusable as they are). A deeper devotion arises in our hearts because He so graciously acts to redeem and restore us. I often think of Bruce and those occasions when we became better friends after briefly acting as enemies. I think even more about the countless times during my almost fifty years as a believer when our Heavenly Father's longsuffering mercy has so often revealed His love in a greater way, leading to the desire to love Him in far greater measure and dedication.
A thought occurred to me while working on this series of messages. Perhaps in eternity, if we ever wonder where Philemon might be, some fellow brother or sister might tell us, "Oh, as usual, I saw him with Onesimus, working in that vineyard where you'll find them so often together!" Such is the grace of the Lord Jesus, the freely given favor we receive that becomes the freely given favor we bestow upon others. We do well to often ponder the rescue and redemption of relationships our Lord is so able to perform, with Himself, with each other, and yes, with the brothers beloved, Philemon and Onesimus.
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
(Ephesians 4;31-32)
Weekly Memory Verse
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 5:20-21).
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