Joel M Bradshaw

 15Perhaps the reason [Onesimus] was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16no 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.–Philemon

In Context: Onesimus was a runaway slave and Philemon was the slave owner. While on the run, Onesimus encountered Paul in prison and became a follower of Jesus. Now Onesimus was traveling back to Philemon with this letter from Paul. But Onesimus wouldn’t just be Philemon’s slave, but his fellow follower of Jesus. He was like Paul’s new spiritual “son.” In society’s eyes, they wouldn’t be considered equals, but they were both now fellow followers of Jesus. Paul called the slave his brother and expected the slave owner to do the same. Just take in how ground-breaking and counter-cultural that would have been.

For Us: I often invite counselees and clients to take an interpretative step back from their situations. I encourage them to ponder what God is expecting them to learn as they go through their struggles and stresses. To consider how God is at work in and through their difficulties. I have spent decades doing the same thing as I go through my hardships. Joseph in Genesis spent an extra two years in prison even when his friend promised to get him out, and didn’t come out bitter. He saw God at work in his situation. I invite you to do the same. Life sometimes stinks, but God is always faithful. Philemon needed to take a step back and look at his situation through the eyes of faith. You might need to do so, as well.–JMB