The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:8-20, ‘Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,

11 who formerly was useless to you but now is useful both to you and to me.

12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;

14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

15 For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,

16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;

19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self as well).

20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.’

Have you ever had the authority to require someone to do something, but wanted them to do it without any pressure from you? That’s exactly where Paul found himself as he wrote this letter to Philemon. Onesimus was Philemon’s slave, and he had run away from Philemon. Paul discovered Onesimus and led him to faith in Christ. Now, since Onesimus had also come to faith in Christ, Paul wanted Philemon to show love to Onesimus, too. This was further an opportunity for Philemon to grow in grace by also showing Onesimus forgiveness.

Isn’t this what we all ought to do? Find someone today to whom you can show the Savior’s love! Share your faith with that person. They just might be looking for what you have to share. God bless you!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

–Corrie ten Boom