What a guy! Paul calls a spade a spade. He is writing this personal letter to his pal, Philemon, with one goal in mind: Philemon needs to take back his slave, Onesimus. Onesimus had messed up; he had stolen and run away. But now he has repented and must return home.

Paul knew Philemon well. He probably knew that Philemon was fed up with Onesimus and wouldn’t welcome him back with open arms like the prodigal son’s father. On the contrary, it was much more likely that he would make him turn around and chase him away.

Paul was doing everything he could to change Philemon’s mind. He would even pay Onesimus’ debts. But the key to what would happen next was in Philemon’s hands. And Philemon was standing his ground.

So, Paul pulled a dirty one on Philemon. ¹⁸If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account. This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?)

This might be a low blow, but Paul knew his customer well and knew how to get in the final blow. You, Philemon, have received so much grace and forgiveness. How can you not share it with the next person who deserves it as little as you do? Come on, Philemon, just be fair!

We’re sitting on the sidelines wondering why Philemon doesn’t want to take back Onesimus. Onesimus is a new person. He has found the Lord and has been transformed. He is no longer a slave, but a brother in Christ.

You see, the problem is not with Onesimus, it’s with Philemon. Philemon has to forgive Onesimus. But he also has to accept him as brother and an equal, and that is what is so difficult.

We humans are wired to want others getting what they deserve. If they’ve messed up, they have to take their punishment. When they’ve been punished, we might think of forgiving and forgetting. That’s our natural tendency.

But God doesn’t work like that. God forgives every sin we can think of and do. He doesn’t wait for us to be punished and only then consider forgiving us. No, He forgives as it comes, because his Son has already paid. Why should we be punished too?

And if you think about it, all of us should actually fall to our knees every day and simply thank God that we don’t need to take the punishment for our actions, because that would just be too heavy to bear.

We must remember how much hardship we are being saved from. We’ve messed up so much, but we are never punished for it. We must live that every day. We must forgive others the way we’ve been forgiven. We must take back those people who have hurt us, because God has given each of us another chance.

So, before you pick up the books to record someone else’s sin write down your own mess-ups and draw a line through it. Then it might be a little easier to take the other one into your house again.

Scripture
Philemon 1:15-20

Reflection
Do you understand how fortunate you are that Jesus was punished for your sin?
To whom must you do the same?
If you are struggling, why?

Prayer
Father, it is not easy for me to forgive others just like that. I know You have sent your Son to bear the guilt for my sin and I no longer have to bear that burden. But honestly, it’s hard for me to do the same. Amen.