"[God] has committed to us the word of reconciliation. "
2 Corinthians 5:19
LOVE THAT PERSON?
Read It: Philemon 4-7
It's obvious that Paul loved Philemon like a brother (v. 7). And he considered sidered Onesimus to be his spiritual child (v. 10). One reason Paul felt this way was that he had brought them both into the kingdom. Paul is setting Philemon up gently for the request he's going to make of him. These are amazing verses. Think how it must have made Philemon feel to know that his spiritual father and discipler saw this much love and faith and knowledge in him. If you're on the learning end of a discipling relationship tionship today, you couldn't do any better than to pray that God would make you this kind of disciple. And if you're working with younger believers either individually or in a group, notice Paul's delight in seeing Philemon's spiritual maturity. There is no joy in the world quite like that of seeing your spiritual children grow. Now I haven't forgotten that we're talking about what being a disciple ple means in terms of our relationships with others. Paul commends Philemon on his love for Christ and for his fellow believers, which is going to be important when he tells Philemon he's got a new brother he needs to love and accept, Onesimus. See, Philemon couldn't say, "I love God, but I hate Onesimus because he stole from me and ran off." John says the way you show your love for God is by loving your brother. Conversely, if you do not love your brother, something is seriously wrong with your love for God (1 John 4:20). You say, "Yeah, but you don't know what he did to me." God's response is: "You don't know what you did to Me. But I demonstrated My love toward you while you were still a sinner. My Son died for you when you were at your ugliest" (Romans 5:8). Paul knows there is one name Philemon does not want to hear, so he's easing him into it. All of us have that one person whose name we don't want to hear, especially if the subject is forgiveness and reconciliation.
It is a good thing God didn't feel that way about you and me when our names came up for salvation! Think About It If you have that one person you can't bring yourself to love, you need to get that mess fixed. Take the first step yourself if that's what it takes.
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