Accordingly, although I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) Philemon 1:8-11 (NIV)
Dear Lord Jesus, what a grace-story these few verses tell—the story of how one man’s “useless” slave became another man’s beloved son. Stories like this show and tell the gospel in a profoundly beautiful way. I relate to both Onesimus (a runaway slave) and Philemon (his “owner”).
Jesus, thank you for pursing, engaging, and rescuing me—even as Paul loved Onesimus. Overtly and covertly, I tried to ignore and avoid you. But you found me, bound me to your heart, and are freeing me to know more and more of the depths of your mercy and grace. The journey from spiritual blindness to the delights of the gospel isn’t always an easy one. Unbelief is a tenacious adversary.
Jesus, I also know what it’s like to be Philemon. I’ve been failed and hurt, betrayed and suffered loss. But forgive me for labeling anyone as useless. Paul saw something in Onesimus that Philemon didn’t see. Jesus, you saw something in me that no one else saw. Enable me to see what you see in others. Help me to look at people and my world through the lens of the gospel. Everybody is an image bearer of God and we’re all broken, in need of your mercy and grace.
Jesus, make clear to me whom have I’ve branded “useless,” with either my actual words or unspoken words. Who have I written off? Who have I renamed “failure,” “worthless,” “you’ll never amount to anything,” “never to be trusted again”? Forgive me, Lord
I know you’re not calling me to be naïve, but wise; so give me grace and strength to love others as you love me. None of us is beyond the need of your grace and none of us is beyond the reach of your grace. So very Amen I pray, in your chain-breaking name.