S) "8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—"
Philemon [1:] 8-9 (NASB)
O) The whole purpose of Paul's letter to Philemon, seems to be that he wanted to have a slave restored to Philemon. There was a man whom Paul calls Onesimus (which means "useful"), whom Paul led to faith in Christ (v.10). While they were imprisoned together, apparently Paul found him very useful (v.13), hence the name Onesimus. It's a little unclear why Onesimus was with Paul, but there is perhaps a hint to why in vv.18-19. If the man was imprisoned because of theft of fraud, or just being a worthless slave, it's possible that Paul is vouching for him because of his new faith in Christ. That would make sense as to why Paul would even go so far as to change the man's name, to help him with a fresh start and a new identity in Christ. Paul seems to use somewhat serious legal terms, so it seems somewhat likely. It's possible he was lent to Paul, with a command to aid Paul all along (although it seems a little wrong, if Paul needed help, to send a slave who has a bad reputation), but either way, the overall point remains. This slave was not well regarded by his master, Philemon. He came to faith in Christ while with Paul. Paul was sending him home to be reconciled (vv.15-16). Paul would like to have kept him around. But, perhaps most important, Paul didn't want to outright tell Philemon how he should handle this, although Paul had the confidence in Christ that he could speak authoritatively about it. Instead, for love's sake, Paul appealed to him so there would be peace and unity about this.
A) Because of the very personal and circumstantial nature of this letter, it would probably have been a little hard to relate to it, even without the complicated history of slavery we have in this country. Two things come through very strongly with this letter, though. One, is Paul's desire for reconciliation. Two, is Paul's desire for Philemon to come to this conclusion without having to be told directly to do it. This shows a transition, of sorts, from being more of a teacher to becoming more of an equal. This is something like what I see in my parenting. As my oldest has come to her own faith in Christ, I want less and less to outright tell her what to do - although I have the confidence in Christ to do exactly that. Instead, I want to appeal to her, for the sake of love, that she would consider what is proper on her own, because of her own relationship with Jesus. Even at eleven years old, I still have a lot of instructing to do, but as she grows into her teenage years, I know it will be less and less about disciplining her, and more and more about helping her be a better disciple of Christ. My wife and I will always be parents to our kids, but how that is done will change shape and transition, as they get closer to adulthood, until they are on their own with Christ.
P) Father, thank You for the grace already at work in my children. I pray that all three of them would develop relationships with You that are even stronger than my own. Help me raise them right, to transition from being told what is proper, to them seeking it out because of their love for Christ. Give me the wisdom I need, to know when strict instruction is still crucial, and when to hold my hand more openly to them. Let me remember that I am only a steward of my kids, while they are young, and that they ultimately belong to You, Lord. Let Your will be done in their lives, especially by me. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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