Read: Philemon 1:15
Onesimus knew exactly where the coins were hidden. Hadn’t he helped his master find the perfect hiding place? He needed just a few of them to pay off his debt. Onesimus swore to himself he’d replace each one before his master could discover what he had done.
Having just tucked his small coin-filled bag under his cloak, he cringed when he heard Alaric’s voice growing louder and closer. Fearing discovery by his rival, Onesimus frantically rolled the stone back in place over the opening and leaped out the window to the landing. From there, he shimmied down the pillar and fled.
According to the above-imagined scene, the slave thought he’d escaped. But he was yet to encounter an older man named Paul, who would lead him to Christ and forgiveness. But that’s not all. The Christians he met treated him like a brother and not the slave they knew he had been. Onesimus found love and fellowship in ways he’d never imagined. The barrier of slavery between him and the wealthy had melted! Paul insisted they were all brothers and sisters in Christ, indeed the very children of God.
Then Paul took a step further and contacted Onesimus’ master, strongly urging him to not only forgive Onesimus but take him back as a brother.
Like Onesimus, we can now claim the highest honor, greater than kings, queens, or emperors, through Jesus Christ. We, of the brotherhood of God’s children, are called to live differently from the rest of the world. We are to forgive others as we are forgiven, as Onesimus was forgiven and could return to the man who was once his master.
Dear Jesus, sometimes, the hurt from others is so deep and painful, the memory of their deed so horrific, that we don’t believe we can forgive as we should. Yet, if forgiveness were easy, we wouldn’t need Your help. Through Your power and grace, help us to forgive because to love and forgive others is a way of life and not a feeling.
