Philemon 1:8-10

New International Version (NIV)

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.

For Meditation

1. Do you remember that you were once a runaway slave from God, with a death sentence hanging around your neck (Romans 6:23)?
2. Do you remember that you had no hope for forgiveness and reconciliation and that you would have died a fugitive had God not intervened (Ephesians 2:12)?
3. Don’t you remember how, out of His love for you, God sent His Son to take your place and serve your death sentence to satisfy His righteous requirement for His justice (John 3:16; Romans 5:6)?
4. Have you soon forgotten the mercy and grace that have worked forgiveness for you in Christ Jesus (Col 1:14; Eph. 2:5, 8-9)?
5. So, what has that person done to you that is so painful that you have vowed never to forgive?
6. Is it your spouse, sibling, friend, colleague or neighbor?
7. Based on God’s love for you in Christ Jesus that has brought you forgiveness and redemption, can you forgive that person today?
8. Can you read Paul’s appeal to Philemon, asking Philemon to extend mercy and grace to his runaway slave, Onesimus (Philemon 1-22)?
9. Consider what Paul said: ^“If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul … will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self” (18-19).
10. Can you hear Jesus saying the same thing to you now?
11. Can you draw strength from it to forgive that person who has hurt you so badly?
12. I know it’s painful and that it has wounded you, but can you look to Jesus and turn to Him now in heaven for grace to help you to forgive that person (Heb 12:.24:16)?

I pray the Lord to heal your hurts and wounds in Christ Jesus, so you can smile again. Just throw yourself on Him, my friend, and may His grace bring you strength to let go and forgive.

Shalom