The Book of Philemon

What would you do if this was you? Would you pull out your faith card and apply it? Would you seek to do what is appropriate, right, and lawfully? Would you do the hard, difficult thing and adhere to a higher power? What happens when you are call to put your money where your mouth is, in a very public way? Do you really believe this verse Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (NIV) – and seek God’s will and favor? Are do you sit back, unwilling to put faith in action and promises fulfilled live. Wow, talk about renewing of the mind, and pleasing God, Philemon had a challenge on his hand. Onesimus was a runaway slave, met Paul, and was converted; now he is changed. How many times have we been confronted with this very thing. Could you look pass previous, historical behaviors that warrant no grace or mercy reprieve? Now Paul acknowledges Onesimus character, integrity, and worthiness was not the best in the past, but Paul spoke life into Onesimus life. He is changed really? I will use my spiritual imagination, and say Paul exchange was uncompromisingly truthful of the fact he, Onesimus, would have to return to accept whatever consequences for his actions. However, Paul knew his master, and sent a written character reference on his behave. Onesimus could not have known, neither did Paul have a guarantee how Philemon would act. He hoped Philemon would remembered him, his self-sacrificing way of helping, unwavering integrable character, and his word on someone or something is golden; regardless of his current circumstance (being jail for the cause of Christ). I’m not going to be a Pollyanna about the reality of Philemon situation, he was being asked to act in a way that is contradictory to the cultural normal. (God usually shows up in those ways). Paul went further, because of his strong love and belief in Onesimus was a change man, told Philemon to charge me, but he also had him to recalled the time he vouch for his transformation, the sharing of the faith and all good comes from Christ, he would not force him, and he honored his friendship by sending Onesimus back. But still, we cannot think this was an easy task, because it was not. Now, we cannot discount Onesimus because he did not have to go back, he could have taken a detour. The faith and love demonstrated leaves us all with a phenomenal model, an example to pattern our lives after.