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November 27, 2019

Philemon vv. 15-16
Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever — no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)

“Everything happens for a reason.” How do we know? We may think, “Well everyone says that, so it must be true.” But does the Bible say that? In the moment, we can’t always tell why something happens. We don’t believe that God causes every event in our world, or else he would be responsible for the evil people commit. So what do we believe? Why do things happen?

Paul was writing to his friend Philemon who lived in Colossae to ask him to take Onesimus back. Onesimus had been a slave who ran away from his master Philemon. His name meant “useful” but as a runaway he was useless to his former owner. On the run Onesimus met a new Master in Jesus. As a new believer he spent time with the Apostle Paul. With this letter, Paul restores him to his former owner but asks a favor: receive him no longer as a slave but as a brother.

In these verses Paul shows us the way that God works all things together for good. Slavery was not good. Onesimus’ behavior was not good. Yet, God worked it for good because in his flight, he became a believer. Now he could fulfill his name. Onesimus became useful for the sake of the gospel.

God never takes responsibility for all of our actions. He does, however, work all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. In time William Wilberforce in England and abolitionists in America would overturn the demonic chattel slavery of the 1700’s and 1800's. Our relationship in Christ comes from our Father. We are his children so we are brothers and sisters in Christ. The same grace that saves us brings us into a community of love. Here we forgive each other and release any bonds that we have over others. Together we serve the Lord. Today we stand against the rampant slave-trafficking in our world.

Pray with me:

Father, we thank you setting us free from the bonds of sin. Help us so to live that we proclaim liberty to the captives in our world. Give us your heart for others. Enable us to stand against evil. Help us to love our neighbors. Help us to love our enemies until they become our friends. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan. Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download
the app at readscripture.org. Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully,
Duane

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