It’s said that if we love someone, we must set them free. If they love us, they’ll return to us again.
That’s easier said than done. Our heart is ripped and torn, and the pain seems more than we can bear. Sometimes we want to cause as much pain as we’ve received.
The book of Philemon in the New Testament hides between the books of 2 Timothy and Hebrews, with only 25 verses. Turn two pages, and it’s gone. It’s written from Paul to Philemon, a man of standing and wealth, who was converted by Paul’s teachings.
Paul references a man named Onesimus, who was owned by Philemon, and who had run away and then come to Christ through Paul.
What a situation, to have two faithful Christians, one a master and the other his escaped slave, and to be forced to mediate between the two.
Paul encourages Onesimus to return to his master, and to Philemon, Paul writes in Philemon 15-16:
“Perhaps he departed for a season, that you should receive him for ever; not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto you, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?”
This passage has two layers of meaning, one legal, and the other intrinsic to the human condition. Philemon’s right as Onesimus’ master was to punish him. After all, the man was his property. Paul wished Philemon, instead, to treat him kindly as a fellow Christian.
Then there’s the deeper meaning behind Paul’s words. When someone we hold close is lost to us for a time, it changes our relationship. It can drive us apart and bring dissention into our interactions, or it can give us time for introspection, and we can become closer when we are together once again.
What about the church member who backslides? Do we welcome him when he returns? Our children who run away from home; how do we treat them when they show up at our door? In our business, the office manager who quits then wants to return, what do we say?
Let’s find God’s divine hand in the prodigal’s return and do as Paul suggested: receive him… as a brother beloved.
When we love those whom we have the right to hate, we’ve truly taken on the righteous mantle of Christ.
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Code: FGO.C.29.17d.vp.kjv