I was sitting in front of my screen for an hour. My fingers are weak and cannot type anything on the keyboard that is worth keeping and not deleted immediately. I look for stories to tell, but there is not even one in my database of thousands. With a shock I realise that I do not even have one from my own life.

Maybe this is why the world looks the way it does.

There are no stories, or only a few and far between, of people who had repented.

I wonder how many people are lost because I didn’t tell Jesus’ story to them?

Are you wondering the same thing?

Paul didn’t let the chance slip through his fingers. Paul was in prison. We know why. But one day, another guy, Onesimus, ended up in that same prison. We don’t know why, but we can connect the dots. Later in the letter we read that he had been a slave. He had absconded and probably in the process also stole his master’s possessions.

One doesn’t go to prison for fun. No, you go because you’ve messed up well and good. The same was true for Onesimus. He was on the wrong side of the law. He deserved his spot in prison.

And normally we have an aversion to thieves and murderers and people who live on the wrong side of the law. We turn our backs on them. They don’t belong with us. But that is actually so wrong. These people actually need our help. They need people to go ahead and show them the way.

That’s what Paul does. When Onesimus ended up in jail, Paul had compassion for Onesimus. He couldn’t stop himself from sharing Jesus’ message of salvation with him. Onesimus met his father in faith.

¹⁰While here in jail, I’ve fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter—Onesimus!

Paul’s work and sowing in God’s New World bore fruit. A poor, fatherless child who was living directionless on the wrong side of the world, found direction. Found stability. He was saved from hell. He received Jesus’ salvation, and even more. For the first time in his life he found a dad. A dad in faith.

I want to challenge you. Why don’t you become someone’s mom or dad in faith? There are so many parentless children wandering through the world. They’ve made mistakes. They’ve made wrong choices and will probably continue to do until they meet their spiritual father or mother.

Let’s put our hands up. God will send them to us. Watch this space!

Scripture
Philemon 1:10-14

Reflection
Do you believe you can help someone?
Who can you help?
Do you ask God to show you where you can make an impact?

Prayer
Father, I feel too small for this command. But I can do it with the strength You give me. Show me. Please help me make a difference in someone’s life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.