The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(Over the next few days, we will consider the 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 9 - "As Brethren"
As mentioned previously, Scripture does not provide the account of Philemon's response to the Apostle Paul's intercession for escaped slave Onesimus (who had become a "a brother beloved" in Christ through Paul's witness - Philemon 1:16). We can only surmise, based on the grace of God in the Lord Jesus and its power to change hearts and lives, that Onesimus returned to find the love of Christ awaiting him in the heart of Philemon.
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Romans 1:16).
Certainly, well over 99% of God's doings by grace have been largely unknown and unseen throughout the history of the church. Be it the Scriptural narrative, or the Lord's working throughout the world, we know little of the "wonders without number" performed by the Heart and Hand that "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Job 9:10; Ephesians 1:11). Indeed, we actually know less than 1% of all the Lord has done in our own lives as He mostly works behind the scenes, under the radar, in the mist, and in a manner whereby our left hand does not perceive the doings of our right (Matthew 6:3).
Consider words we have spoken, prayers we have prayed, and actions we have performed that resulted from the Holy Spirit's presence and working. Do we more than begin to know their effect, or rather the effect of God He administers by His working in us? Indeed, did Paul know his epistle to Philemon would be read and studied for more than 2,000 years after his passing? Did he have any notion the intercession would become part of the Biblical canon? Likely not. Nor does any believer have more than the smallest awareness of the fruits of grace borne as we trust our Lord to work in and through us. "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" said the Lord Jesus (John 7:38). But to us, thankfully and necessarily, it will only seem a trickle.
Regarding Philemon's response to Paul's request, we can make a Biblically educated guess that the letter was well received by Philemon. How else would the intercession have ended up on the pages of the New Testament? Philemon must, in great humility, have shared Paul's words with fellow believers, to the degree the letter became viewed as are all of the Apostle's writings found in the Bible: "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (I Thessalonians 2:13). Thus, we can imagine with much confidence that Philemon greeted Onesimus with love and grace, and that a new relationship through Christ became a lifetime - and eternal - bond.
Paul wrote a letter. The Holy Spirit who inspired the words has moved through them for twenty centuries in relationships that required the grace of God to become what He intends them to be. Rivers of living waters have indeed flowed, first unto Philemon and Onesimus, and then as grace and redemption to multitudes who find God's wondrous capacity to redeem us unto relationship with Himself, and with those we might never expect to know and love as brothers and sisters.
"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren."
(I Peter 3:8)
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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