October 10
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PHILEMON 1
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. – Philemon 1:8-16
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PHILEMON 1 AN APPEAL FOR RECONCILIATION
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
To all those who have been given the faith in Christ Jesus
Remember how the Lord gave up his life for all of us
We are no longer consumed by this world or slaves to sins
Our desires no longer tempt us to sin, we are now slaves to Christ.
I appeal to all those who are still infants in their faith
Please consider growing the seeds that has been sown
Do not continue with your old ways before you heard the gospel
Be reconciled with your brothers and sisters in order to follow Jesus.
Do not allow the enemy to encroach at your heart’s door
Forgive other believers who have stumbled and hurt you
When you hold on to offense, forgiveness may be hard to grant
So, be quick to forgive and give others grace and let love prevail.
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REFLECTION
• What was the situation in this letter of Paul to Philemon?
• Why was Paul asking Philemon to be reconciled with Onesimus? What was their relationship?