Bible Study: Philemon

S - 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart

Philemon vs. 10-12 ESV

O - Paul met Onesimus while in prison and led him to the Lord.  Onesimus, whose name means "useful,"  is a slave who stole from his owner.  Paul is sending him back as a believer and useful person instead of the useless slave who stole from him.  Paul emphasizes this with his emotions by saying he is sending his heart.

A - “I am sending you my very heart.”

That’s not sentiment. That’s Paul saying, “This man lives in the deepest place I have.”

We all know a lot of people. Only a few make it all the way in. For Paul to say that about a runaway slave, something must have changed. And it did. The man who was useless became useful. Same name. New heart.

So here’s the question. Who have we written off? Who has someone else “put away” because of a mistake, a failure, or a season of bad behavior?

Rejected by people. Accepted by God. That’s where transformation happens. Relationship, time, and faith can take a person from useless to useful. Paul believed it. Jesus proved it.

Let’s love them the way He loves us.

R - Heavenly Father, You are love. Help us love beyond what we’re capable of today. People are hard. We’re hard. Let us see them through Your eyes. Give us the patience to stay and the faith to believe change is possible. Empower us to love them the way You do, so they can experience all of You. Amen.