Meditation

Hi there,

If yesterday's appeal was for grace and for the gospel, today's is more personal as the gloves truly come off. Paul's final appeal to Philemon could be summarized simply as a request to "do it for me."

"Welcome him as you would welcome me" says it all. And then he goes much further. Paul doesn't just advocate for Onesimus, but, in a remarkable allusion to, and imitation of, the gospel; he offers to pay his debts in full.

Onesimus is much like Jonah. In the act of running away he has run right into the arms of undeserved grace, forgiveness and the cancelling of his debt.

We see Paul in this letter not simply preaching the gospel, but personally embodying it as he persuades Philemon to embody it too.

Today's text is Philemon 17-21

Philemon

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.

6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.

7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.

14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.

15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no 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.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.

19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Encouragement

The main purpose of Bible Copy Club is to encourage you to write passages of the Bible out in your own hand to take you deeper into the word, increase your understanding, retention and enjoyment of it, and to leave a legacy of devotion for you and others who follow you.

Paul states boldly that he is "writing this in my own hand" as a sign of his commitment to his promise and his authenticity in making it.

There's something about committing God's word to paper in your own hand that marks a dedication to it that works in us and on us each day.

I'm adding a day this week, because I want to make a special point about the last words in this letter. Look out for an extra email tomorrow.

​
​Andy

God's word in your hand

Be Encouraged. Join our 1000 strong Facebook Group

Post a picture of your completed page to our Facebook Group today.

Join over 1000 club members doing the same. Your pictures will be a great encouragement to everyone else in the club

...and don't worry about your handwriting.

It is as unique as you are, and God's word looks beautiful in it.

P.S. BCC is even better when shared

If you know someone who would also benefit from Bible Copy Club's daily prompts to copy out scripture by hand, please forward them this ​link​.​