Slave And Brother

Scripture: 8 Although I am bold enough in the Anointed, our Liberating King, to insist you do the right thing, 9 instead I choose to appeal to you on account of love. I do this for my own sake since I, Paul, am an old man and am held prisoner because of my service to Jesus the Anointed. 10 I make this request on behalf of my child, Onesimus, whom I brought to faith during my time in prison. 11 Before, he was useless to you; but now he is useful to both you and me. 12 Listen, I am sending my heart back to you as I send him to stand before you, although truly 13 I wished to keep him at my side to take your place as my helper while I am bound for the good news. 14 But I didn’t want to make this decision without asking for your permission. This way, any goodwill on your part wouldn’t be seen as forced, but as your true and free desire. 15 Maybe this is the reason why he was supposed to be away from you for this time: so that now you will have him back forever — 16 no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave—as a dear brother. Yes, he is dear to me, but I suspect he will come to mean even more to you, both in the flesh as a servant and in the Lord as a brother. (Philemon 8-16 The Voice) I love to read/hear stories about slaves (servants, helpers) who become close friends with those they are serving. That seems to be what Paul is asking of Philemon. In our communities as Christians, I believe that we need to be careful about keeping a level ground – not putting position, wealth, or other things as a measure of who is in and who is out.

The gospel is a powerful social force for good, capable of making rich and poor, slave and free into beloved brothers. Father, help me to remember this, and to not treat one person better than another because of their status. You are so good to accept all who come to You, so help me to do the same. AMEN God, You are my helper. You are the One who keeps me alive. I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is a good thing to do. Psalm 54
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