"I know you feel hurt, but you should give them another chance," he said to me.
After hearing those words, I realised that my Christianity was not just a label. Living out this faith, involves growing. Growth involves challenges. Challenges mean I may have to do things that make me feel uncomfortable.
I have been hearing and studying a lot on forgiveness recently and then I came across the name of a young man in the book of Philemon called Onesimus.
Paul writes a letter to Philemon asking him to welcome Onesimus. What's so special about Onesimus?!
Well, scholars believe that Onesimus was once a slave to Philemon. It is believed that he either stole from Philemon or wronged him another way. Whatever he did caused him to run away from Philemon and somehow ended up in Rome finding Paul. Upon finding Paul, he finds faith in Christ as Paul calls Onesimus his spiritual child. Paul is now asking for Philemon to welcome Onesimus as a brother.
A letter that portays forgiveness and restoration of relationship stood out to me as I read these words:
This is the header that precedes the verses in the Amplified version. It just made me think, 'Who do I have in chains?'
When we choose not to forgive someone it's like we're holding them hostage to whatever they have done. I know how I approach situations where I feel someone has wronged me. I offer them no freedom and in return keep myself in chains. When we keep people imprisoned we limit relationship.
It's interesting that Paul says that there was a time when he was useless to you (sidenote - Onesimus means useful) but now he is useful to you. There are times when forgive and move on but there are also times where there is forgiveness and relationships must be restored. Like I said, the more hurt I experience, the more guarded I want to become. In my mind I've imprisoned a person, but I'm the one behind the prison bars, and this cuts me off from relationships. Friendships, relationships have the power to encourage us and build up. You've heard we're not supposed to live our lives in isolation-when we cut ourselves off from people, we potentially lose a source of encouragement and support.
Scholars believe that Onesimus went onto be the Bishop of Ephesus. Imagine what would have happened if Philemon kept him in chains.
Who do you have in chains?
I woke up thinking, 'What's it all for?' It could easily may be as some would say, "my free paper bun". Meaning my 2 week holiday is over and it's back to work Monday!
It could be be because I spent the two weeks in "sunny" England when I would have loved to have been on a beach soaking up the sun!
Whatever it was, the words 'What's it all for?' echoed around my mind. Those four words started to drown my heart and make me feel as though I'm a hypocrite. Living this Christian life and thinking a lot of things I do are in vain is an oxymoron! Then I remembered somebody else had the same thought.
King Solomon in Ecclersiastes 1:2 writes these words. The New International Version says "Meaningless!" He goes on to say we work, the sun goes up, the sun goes down - everyday consists of some mundane routine. Upon reflecting on the whole of Ecclesiastes, it's like King Solomon is saying all these things without God is meaningless. With a certain perspective theres no meaning. However if we take on another perspective, what is meaningless and mundane has a purpose. It made me think of another scripture I had read in the week.
Titus 3:14 talks about devoting ourselves to good works, meeting the needs of others and in that our lives will not be unproductive and unfruitful. I find more meaning when I'm living outside of myself meeting the needs of others. The happiest people I have met are not those who have attained the most riches or who are striving to, but those who love God and love people. In the book of John, Jesus is asked what the two greatest commandments are. His response? Love God, love people. King Solomon's concludes in Ecclesiastes 12 that we are to honour and remember the God of our youth. In doing so we will love God and love people. When we do that we will find that there is meaning to life...there's purpose to our lives.
Philemon 1:6 reads, "I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ."
This verse emphasised to me that there are good things to be experienced in Christ and I know that I have already, but there must be more! Paul in Corinthians says that we only know in part, so as we travel this journey we understand more and more what these good things are.
Another thing this scripture points out is that these things are OURS. These good things in Christ belong to us also!
There's a difference between borrowing something and owning something. There are good things in Christ that we don't see as ours also - we only see them 'in Christ'. Whilst I was studying a few years ago I rented a house with a few friends. Although we lived in the house, the house wasn't ours. If I wanted to make certain changes, put things up or move things around, who I would I have ask? The owner. Now (many years later) me and my husband now thankfully own our own house. We have the freedom to do to our house what we please. It is not borrowed, it's owned!
It's the same with the things in Christ. They are not borrowed, they are owned! They are ours. So we are free to use them as we please. It's not for us to gain the good things that are in Christ, but it is for understand that they are already ours!
