PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Philemon 121 Subversive Paul

Time to reflect: Back in the bad old days this book was used as an argument for the acceptability of slavery, since Paul, on the surface seemed to be accepting of the institution and was sending a runaway slave back to his master. However, a careful reading gives an entirely different picture. If caught Onesimus (and Paul) would have been executed – probably horribly (boiled or skinned or various other forms of torture). Onesimus was dead no matter what Paul did, unless... He sends Onesimus back to his Christian master as a fellow Christian and exhorts Philemon to receive his “slave” back as a brother. So, without directly, and dangerously, attacking the institution he cut the ground out from under. We can't prove that it is the same Onesimus, but that was a rare name: shortly after this time there was a bishop named Onesimus!

Moving through the day: What evils need to be attacked in our society? Can they be attacked positively and subversively like Paul did here?

Scripture:

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

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

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

 4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Paul's Plea for Onesimus

 8Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[a] who became my son while I was in chains. 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

 12I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13I 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. 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16no 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 man and as a brother in the Lord.

 17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

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

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

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