Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

If, for some reason, you feel like you haven’t accomplished much lately, then boy, have I got some good news. Today, you will have the opportunity to read an entire book of the Bible and a devotional in a matter of minutes! Now, it is one of the shortest books in the entirety of Scripture, but a great one nonetheless! You can feel the same way I did whenever I couldn’t figure out how to adjust my fitness goals on my out-of-date Apple watch. The goals were set extremely low. I could literally stand up, and my watch would alert me with, “Congratulations! You met your goals today! Let’s see if we can keep the streak going tomorrow!” I don’t wear that watch anymore....  

All of this is beside the point, but it does remind us that even in Paul’s shortest of letters, the evidence of change through salvation can be seen. We see where Paul is writing to his dear friend Philemon, who is an actual house church pastor in the early church! If you need a sign to get plugged into a House Church, well, here you go.  

Paul writes to inform Philemon that his former slave Onesimus, who had run away for effectively stealing, had come to Paul and Timothy. In this seeking of the men, Onesimus is led to become a believer in Christ Jesus! What Paul has to say from there is a beautiful picture of the way a relationship with Jesus changes not only our lives but our identity. In Scripture, the common sentence for stealing by someone under a master was to be put to death. Now, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: Scripture does not condone the practice of slavery, and contextually, Paul wrote this letter before any thought of abolition. With this in mind, we see where Paul says something powerful in verses 15-18.  

"For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me. And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account."

Paul is telling Philemon to treat Onesimus just like he would Paul and even promises to take on his debt! Why? Because Onesimus is now a brother, not a slave. He’s no longer the one who prepares your meals, but the one who dines with you at the table. His identity has changed. The beautiful thing about how God works is the ripple effect. Not only is Onesimus no longer a slave, but Philemon is no longer a master. They are brothers in Christ Jesus. How do you view the people you interact with? How do you view yourself? What if we started viewing ourselves as a child, brother, or sister? Think of how different our world would look.  

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.