Doing What is Right is not Always Easy

Philemon.

What comes to mind when you think of Philemon?

How ’bout Onesimus?

I made it to Philemon in my Bible reading yesterday and this time as I read, the Lord brought something else to mind. Of course, when I say something else, you probably need to know the things I have previously learned from Philemon.

Philemon was a letter written from Paul, who was in prison in Rome at this time (about 61 A.D.), to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. Philemon was a prominent member of the Colossian church who was wealthy enough to own at least one slave, Onesimus. Onesimus had evidently stolen from Philemon and fled to Rome. It was there that he somehow became connected with Paul, heard the Gospel, and received Christ as his Savior. The letter was written as an appeal for Philemon to forgive Onesimus and accept him as a Christian brother.

That’s the back-story. And yes, there is more I could say regarding Roman slavery, but I will spare you all those details. Except to say that a runaway slave could be put to death. According to New Testament Bible History, “at best he could be branded with a red-hot iron on the forehead with the letter F, standing for fugitive runaway, and at the worst he could be crucified.”

In the past, my thoughts about this book of the Bible have focused on Paul or Philemon. We can see Paul as a picture of Christ (verse 18). He asked that any wrong Onesimus had committed be put on his own account, in the same way that Jesus took our sins upon Himself when He was crucified. Paul assumes Philemon will not only forgive Onesimus (and spare him the runaway slave’s punishment), but that Philemon will accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ and free him (verse 21). Philemon teaches us that we must have a forgiving spirit and welcome back those who have made a mistake.

This time as I read, I considered how Onesimus must have felt during all of this. He knew that in Christ, he was free. A relationship with Christ created a new relationship in which all external differences no longer mattered. God looked on the heart. However, he also knew that stealing and running away had been wrong. As a new Christian, he knew that he needed to make things right with Philemon. It meant that he had to be willing to subject himself to Philemon again and be willing to take whatever punishment his master felt was appropriate. Onesimus returned, not knowing the outcome. I can imagine the pit in his stomach as he realized what he had to do. I can imagine the fear, the worry that would have tried to keep him paralyzed in his walk with the Lord or sent him running again.

Why?

Doing what is right is not always easy.

However, Onesimus had the courage and faith to move forward. To do what needed to be done. And that is what we will do when we put our faith and trust in the Lord.