Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, June 30, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-06-30-2018

This is devotional thought number 75 in our devotional series titled, “The Gospel According to Paul.”

“Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.” (Philemon 7–18, NLT).

I realize today’s scripture focus is lengthy, but I am sure you can see why it was necessary that we unpack it a bit, in the context of our current theme, the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Paul was a straight shooter. Whenever he needed to love on people, he did so with all his heart. Whenever he needed to show compassion, he did so passionately. When he wanted to make a request, he used a level of persuasion that made it clear he would not take “no” for an answer. And, whenever he needed to blow the whistle on a fellow laborer who should have been more committed to Christ in the gospel work, he did so, without apology.

What intrigues me about the opening of his letter to Philemon is how tenderly he entreated him to accept the presence, ministry, and influence of Onesimus. This was clearly as a result of Onesimus recovering from whatever spiritual and other deficiencies that may have impeded the Lord's work where he was concerned. Now, Paul, the one who was known not to hold back any punches, zealously appealed to Philemon to accept Onesimus as though he were Paul himself. Are you getting this? Paul used his character, influence, and authority to show the redemptive qualities of one who once had proven unprofitable. He appealed to the love and fellowship of Philemon to welcome Onesimus.

Paul’s final statement in verse 18 is most intriguing to me: “If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.” Is this not the epitome of the gospel of Christ? Does He not offer the proven track record of His perfect character in place of our former unprofitability as a means of our acceptance into the eternal fellowship of God our loving Father and all the heavenly beings? Does he not call sin by its right name, and yet intercede for us as He empowers us to repent? Does He not, in the spirit of verse 18, also pay the debt of our sin wrongdoings when we repent, so we can be saved? Paul’s appeal is chock full of lessons for the keen seeker of truth. The most wonderful is that Jesus puts all on the line so we can be saved and accepted into eternity with God. Isn’t God good? If He is, give...