Philemon jumped out of bed and began his day’s duties.But before doing anything else, he went and opened his window and spent time in prayer with God.He had been a believer for just about two years now, and what a difference it had made!What an incredible change had been brought about in his life since that day the traveling preacher, Paul, had come to Colossae and had spoken of Jesus Christ!So many changes!So much to be thankful for!

His marriage had sure been changed!His wife, Apphia, just seemed more loving and cheerful.And she said that he too was a far more considerate husband. There had been plenty of conflict between them.In the old days, he had treated her like most Roman men treated their wives, as property to be bossed around.But now, he couldn't imagine that!He looked back from his prayer window and saw Apphia still sleeping in the bed, and felt such love for her. Together they had become believers; together they had joined the church in Colossae, and together, when the group grew too large for the home it was gathering in, they invited the church to meet in their own spacious home.What a joy to have such a partner in gospel ministry!

Philemon kept praying.He thanked the Lord for Apphia, and for Archippus.What a fine young man his son was turning into!Archippus came to faith in the Lord not long after Philemon and Apphia, and he made his parents very proud, because he had gone out into the city, among his friends in the taverns and sports arenas, and won others for Christ. Archippus had been witnessing his faith in Jesus as a soldier for the Lord, and Philemon thanked God for that!Next, Philemon asked the Lord’s blessing on this day. Today, as on every Sunday, the Christians would be gathering at his home to sing, pray, and hear someone recite for them the teachings of Jesus.And they would end by celebrating the Lord’s Supper, eating bread and wine, receiving Jesus’ body and blood, for assurance of their forgiveness.

Worship at his house was wonderful every Sunday, but today was especially important. Today, a special message was coming to the church, sent by the great missionary Paul!What an honour for our little church to have a special letter sent from Paul!How could he have taken time for us?There are so many churches springing up all over the Empire.And he is way off in Rome, under house arrest, awaiting trial. Surely he needs time to prepare his case and his energy to strengthen the church in Rome.How could he pay attention to us here in Colossae?

But they heard several weeks ago that Tychicus, one of their own, and a fellow traveler with Paul, was coming to see them, and that he was carrying a letter, just for them.Only yesterday, one of the believers who was out on a business trip, reported seeing Tychicus and someone else in Laodicea, just a few miles away.They were resting there and expected to be in Colossae today!Philemon wondered about who was accompanying Tychicus.No one had given him the name of the other visitor.Too bad!He would surely want to introduce him properly to the church!Oh, well, not to worry, there would be time to meet the stranger. Besides, there is so much to do today to get ready for worship!We need to clear the atrium, set up some chairs. Should be a good crowd today!

Philemon woke Apphia up so she could bake the bread needed for the Lord’s Supper, then went to the cellar for the wine. Other church members began arriving to help set up.They each had their jobs. Philemon’s son, Archippus, organized the musicians and began practicing the Psalms. Philemon started the real back-breaking work of moving chairs and couches and tables into place. Philemon summoned others to help him; he was getting a little old for this kind of thing.How he wished he still had the young, strong slave, Onesimus, to help out with this task!How much he needed those sturdy legs and strong arms!How awful and ungrateful it had been of Onesimus to have run out on him!Where could he have gone?And how cruel of him to have stolen out of the offering for the poor!It had taken months to collect that amount out of the goodness of people’s hearts!How could that ever be forgiven?Onesimus!His name means “profitable” or “useful”… What a joke that name is!“Mr. Useful” is “Useless”!

Philemon straightened his back from lifting something and looked around at how much work there was yet to do to get ready for the church to meet.It made him bitter to think of all he had done for Onesimus, and this is the thanks he gets!A runaway slave!Do you know what the law said about that?Not only could the master put to death the runaway slave, but more than that, if he even suspected the other slaves in the household of colluding in the runaway, they too could be put to death.All of them!Men, women, and children.That’s what the law allowed!Philemon caught himself.That’s what the law allowed.But Jesus had said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”Love.Hmmm.Well, actually, to be technical, Jesus had said you are to love one another.That doesn’t include unbelieving slaves, does it?Well, Philemon thought, there is nothing I can do about it now.He’s gone, and I need to hurry and get everything ready.We want everything to be ready for Tychicus and this mystery visitor to share Paul’s letter with us!

The gate creaked!Someone had arrived! Everyone hurried over to greet them. There was Tychicus!Philemon saw him, standing with the others, smiling, embracing, and greeting. Philemon sprinted over that way himself.“God bless you, Tychicus.We’ve been waiting and preparing for you.We are so excited to hear what news you bring from Paul.”Philemon embraced his friend, so intent on greeting his dear brother that he did not see who was standing just around the gatepost.But then his son tapped him and said, “Dad, look who has come with Tychicus!”Philemon looked, but could hardly believe his eyes. Standing in front of him was Onesimus!His slave.His runaway. Standing there with downcast eyes, looking like a lost puppy. Onesimus, here, now?But how?Why?Where have you been?Why did you show up right now?I don’t have time, I can’t deal with this, I…”

Tychicus held out his hand.In it was a small scroll.“Read this, Philemon.It’s for you.It will explain everything.”Philemon looked at Tychicus; at the scroll; at Onesimus; at the others standing around. A scroll?For me?Who is it from?What is it?“It’s from Paul, Philemon.It is a letter for you.”For me?But you are to bring a letter to the church, not just to me!We’ve gathered to hear you read Paul’s admonitions for us all.Not private things.“Philemon, please read it.It deals with Onesimus.It’s important.In fact, it’s important for all of us. Maybe you should read it aloud, Philemon.”Every eye was on him. Every ear seemed alert to hear.What else could he do?Tychicus was smiling so kindly.Very well, I will read it.(Read Philemon 1-21).

Philemon was stunned.How?Where?Paul?Onesimus?How did they get together? What is going on here?Here is my runaway slave, whom the law says I should put to death, a slave, and I’m supposed to take him back as a brother??That’s quite a request!And Paul said to charge to his account all that Onesimus has cost me?Does he have any idea of how much that is?Tychicus broke the silence: “Philemon, why don’t we pray about this?Let’s pray about what God wants us to do.”Oh no!Pray in front of Onesimus?In front of the whole church??

Tychicus began the prayer, “Lord of heaven and earth, before whom all men have become free, we thank You for bringing these our brothers together.You who are always about reconciling us to God and to one another, will You work in their hearts right now, to heal this brokenness?In the name of Him who broke down the walls of division, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”They were waiting for Philemon to pray.He tried.But the words stuck in his throat.He tried again.But he felt hot, embarrassed, pushed, threatened. Silence, only the breath going in, going out.He kept his eyes tightly closed, still trying to form the words that his heart wanted to utter.The old man felt a hand slip into his. A rough scarred hand. A hand marred by years of hard work. A hand wounded by the place where the slave chain had dug in. A hand that had stolen from him.It was Onesimus, and he was praying!He had become a Christian??“Forgive me, my Lord, for all I have done against Philemon. Forgive me, O Christ, for my selfishness and greed. Forgive me, O Holy Spirit, for not giving my brother the chance to make me his brother.”

Without a word, for there are times when words cannot express it, the master of the house, the convener of the house church, Philemon, the prominent man of the city, lifted his slave’s hand and clasped it to his heart.His eyes misting with tears, he used his other hand to raise the younger man’s downcast face.“My brother, My brother. Christ has made you free.And you are free indeed; but you are mine, and I am yours.Forever.In the Lord.”Onesimus had been useless and very undeserving of any love or forgiveness.He had racked up an unpayable debt.But someone who loved him had offered an unbelievable payment. Someone had offered to take his debts and charge them to his account!

Friends, who is it that you have run away from?Who is it in your life that there is a huge barrier between?Who are you in a dispute with that seems unresolveable? Who do you have so much trouble forgiving that the words can hardly form in your mind or mouth?Who is it, in our own church, that you think it will be impossible ever to get along with or accept as your brother or sister?Who is it, in your own family, that you see no possibility to become reconciled with?Is there conflict between you and someone else?Is there conflict between you and another brother or sister in faith?Is there conflict between you and a member of your own family?I bet every one of you could answer “yes.”We are often filled with anger and the refusal to forgive.

A young lady named Sally had a teacher in Bible College named Dr. Smith. He was known for his elaborate object lessons. One day, Sally walked into class and knew they were in for a fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture. One girl drew a picture of a friend who had stolen her boyfriend. One guy drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripped apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall. Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced. No words were necessary; the tears filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.

The Apostle Paul’s eloquent intercession for Onesimus can also be regarded as a reflection of Jesus’ loving intercession for us.Like Onesimus, we sinners have all wronged and run away from our heavenly Master.We deserve nothing but his wrath and condemnation.But, as Paul found and rescued Onesimus, Jesus has found and rescued us!He stood between the Father and us.He identified Himself with us by taking on our nature and becoming our substitute.He took all our sins and told his Father, “Charge It To My Account.”He not only offered to pay, but He did pay our sin-debt on the cross to satisfy divine justice and set us free.He continues to intercede for us every day, whenever we sin.The Father won’t refuse to listen to the intercession of his Son or refuse to pardon you and me, who by faith are Christ’s brothers and sisters and his own children!“We are Christ’s Onesimi,” Luther once said. Although we were undeserving and had racked up an unpayable debt, an unbelievable payment has set us free!Amen.

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