Saturday, December 14, 2013
Those Gone Before
Perhaps you know of one of God’s people that has recently left us to be with Him. Or perhaps someone comes to mind from the past that you knew that to you was a person whose walk with God you admired. There are a few of those people for me, and then there are some people that are recorded in the scriptures that cause me to reflect on my own life. For me, the letter to Philemon is one of those passages that causes me to admire those that have gone before.
Having only had a jail ministry but never been in prison myself, I only have a limited understanding of where Paul was coming from when he wrote this letter. But if you can, imagine being thrown into prison for telling people about your God? Again, this is difficult for me to image. So what did Paul do while he was there?
Philemon 1:9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
Here is Paul, and old man, a preacher and miracle worker. He is thrown into jail for spreading the kingdom of God. There he meets a younger man, a slave that likely was thrown in for owing money. While there Paul develops a relationship with this younger man and Onesimus repents and gives his life to God. It is time for Onesimus to be freed. What does Paul do? He writes to his boss/owner (if he was a slave) and asks that anything that Onesimus might owe Philemon be place on his (Paul’s) tab.
Philemon 1:13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
What inspires me is no where does Paul complain about being in prison. He looked at it as an opportunity to get things done for God’s kingdom. And instead of keeping Onesimus with him in prison (which somehow was possible), he sends him back to server his master. I am inspired because it is hard for me at times to not complain about my lot in life. It is hard for me to not want things my way or in my timing. I want to be like Paul and Jesus and others that had the trust and patience and willingness to believe in God, and were able to God’s hand working in it all. This is truly for me a worthy reflection on the sabbath. May God let us be like those that have gone before.
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the Most High God. You are our King, and we are so blessed to have You as our King. Please reach out to Your people today, and let them forgive each other. We are human, Father, and we make mistakes. Please help us to do better. Please deliver us from those that mean us harm. Please send Your healing and provision, that those that see us know You alone are God. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.