Letters from Prison - Philemon 1:1-25
Pay close attention how Paul treats Philemon in this letter and the power of his example. For in this, we have insight into what you and I can do with others - appeal on the basis of love (verse 9).
Philemon 1:8-10 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.
Consider what Paul the prisoner did:
*He led Onesimus to Christ—You can do that.
*He risked a friendship to help a new believer–You can do that.
*He took a stand in a small way—You can do that.
*He applied the gospel to a personal need—You can do that.
*He saw God’s hand at work and gave God all the credit—You can do that. *He personally intervened to help someone in need-You can do that.
*He offered to pay the debt Onesimus owed—You can do that.
*He didn’t complain about an unjust system and about how he unfairly imprisoned and he didn’t focus on anything but the problem at hand—you can do that.
*He didn’t try to be a hero and change the world. He just tried to help out wherever he could—You can do that.
Paul didn’t do anything unusual, strange or extraordinary. He simply did what any Christian should do—and could do – on the basis of love. That’s the power of individual example.
