Philemon

In the 1st Century, one in every five or six persons in the Roman Empire was a slave. Slavery was a practice that was neither condoned nor condemned in the writings of the Apostle Paul, but simply accepted as fact. In many situations slavery was a business arrangement in which the slave was working off a debt that he could not pay in a normal way. While we think of slavery in racial terms as Americans, in Paul’s world it was not racially oriented — but it was still wrong. Christians did not have the political pull to change laws regarding human ownership, but they had something far more powerful than laws: the gospel! The gospel could transform individuals, which would transform relationships, which would transform social systems.

Paul’s brief letter to his friend Philemon was a strong statement on how masters and slaves should consider one another within the church (and in light of the gospel). Philemon, who had been saved under Paul’s ministry, was a landowner who lived in Colosse. He was a generous man who had supported Paul financially and had opened up his home as a meeting place for the church (v.2). He loved the Lord and His people (v.5). The subject of Paul’s letter to him was a man named Onesimus.

Onesimus was a slave of Philemon who had evidently stolen from him and then escaped before he could be punished. In the providence of God, the runaway slave had found his way to Rome and met Paul, perhaps in prison. Paul led Onesimus to Jesus and discipled him (v.10-11). Through Paul’s friendship and influence Onesimus became a faithful believer and a very useful assistant. In time he realized that he needed to return to Philemon and face the music.

Paul sent this letter with Onesimus in order to help Philemon understand the change that had taken place in the fugitive slave’s life. He was no longer just a slave of Philemon, but a Christian brother and a partner in the gospel — they were now equals in Christ (v.15-16). Paul had the authority as an apostle of Jesus to “command” Philemon to forgive Onesimus, to give him a second chance and a fresh start (v.8). Legally, Philemon had the right to punish (or even kill) a runaway slave, but Paul encouraged him to receive Onesimus back and to treat him as a brother. Paul even offered to pay for anything his new friend may have stolen before he ran away. He put his own reputation on the line in order to mend the broken relationship.

I take away three things from Paul’s appeal. First, I can relate to Onesimus: I have often found myself in need of forgiveness and a second chance. When I have offended a brother or sister in Christ with my words or my actions it is not easy to humble myself and seek restoration. My flesh wants to distance myself from them and avoid facing the one I have wronged. But Christ in me gives me the strength to do the right thing and mend the relationship.

Second, I can relate to Philemon: sometimes I have been the one who is offended; I am the one who has been wronged or slighted. My flesh wants to withhold forgiveness and make the other person suffer, but Christ in me gives me the grace to forgive.

Third, I can relate to Paul: two Christian friends are at odds, and I am in a position to bring them together, to facilitate restoration. My flesh resists getting involved, but Christ in me gives me the desire to step in and be a peacemaker.

Can you relate to one (or all) of those situations? If so, trust the Lord and make your move. You’ll be glad you did.

2 Corinthians 12

If anyone had a right to brag about his spiritual résumé, it was the Apostle Paul. Beginning with his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, he had seen and done amazing things in service to Jesus. He experienced one such vision (v.2) fourteen years before the writing of this letter (Note: many scholars believe that the “man in Christ” Paul was talking about was himself, and that his self-reference was made in the third person to emphasize his humility; I concur, as verse 7 seems to support this view). In this special vision of the “third heaven” the Lord transported Paul beyond earth’s atmosphere, beyond planetary space to His home in heaven! Paul saw and heard things there that cannot be described in human terms.

Special experiences like that could make a man prideful. Paul could have lived with his head in the clouds, but something kept his feet on the ground: his pride was held in check by his suffering.

The nature of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” has been debated for centuries. It is often assumed that it was a physical ailment like an eye condition, epilepsy, arthritis, kidney stones, or even migraines — but Paul used the word “flesh” in his writings to refer to sinful humanity more than for the physical body (Romans 13:14 for example), so we don’t have to understand the “thorn” as a physical problem. My personal opinion is that this “messenger from Satan” was a demonically-empowered person who tormented Paul, most likely one of the “false apostles” he mentioned in the previous chapter (see 11:13-15). Whatever (or whoever) this thorn was, it was effective in focusing Paul on his need for God’s grace and strength rather than on his own abilities and experiences. He had learned to be content with anything that made him rely on Jesus (v.8-10).

Do you have a “thorn”? Is there any hurtful thing, any aggravation God has allowed into your life that forces you to lean on Him and to trust His grace? Anything that highlights your weakness “so that the power of Christ may rest upon” you (v.9)? Have you learned the secret of contentment and finding God’s strength in your weakness? Could it be that you have mistaken that blessing for a curse? I often do, and I am trying to learn this lesson. I think I have learned this much so far: the longer I walk with Jesus the more disgusted I am with my pride, and the more aware I am of my need for His strength.

The remainder of this chapter is a testimony of Paul’s pastoral love and concern for his brothers and sisters in Corinth. He was committed to their welfare, their discipleship, and their holiness — so much so that he was willing to serve them at his own expense (v.14-15), to be misunderstood (v.16-19), and to endure the awkwardness of confronting their sins (v.20-21). May we all have that kind of commitment to Christ and His people.

2 Corinthians 4

Paul faithfully ministered to the church at Corinth (and many other churches) in spite of all the hardship in his life. His ministry was not an easy one, but he refused to give up (v.1). He was unswervingly committed to preaching and teaching the gospel that had transformed his life. And he was committed to the purity of the gospel message: Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead to save lost sinners. He refused to pollute that message with slick-talking sales tactics or “tampering” with the truth of Scripture (v.2). He was determined to pierce the darkness of sin-blinded minds with the light of Jesus (v.4-6).

I love Paul’s description of believers in verse 7: “We have this treasure in jars of clay.” He compares our lives to the kind of clay (terra cotta) pots in which we plant flowers. These clay pots are cheap, common, and easily broken; they are made of dirt, so they aren’t meant to last very long. They are not ornamental — not made as objects to be admired — but designed to be containers. In Paul’s day clay jars were used as receptacles for household garbage or as “chamber pots”. Believers are like these clay vessels, but there is more to us than meets the eye! We are perishable containers with priceless contents. We contain the priceless treasure of the life of Jesus Christ!

If you have ever worked with clay pots, you know that they are fragile. It doesn’t take much pressure or much of a blow to chip or crack one. But because of what — or rather who — is in us as believers, we are unbreakable! Paul said that he was “afflicted in every way”, but not crushed. He had been knocked down, but not knocked out — not because of his own strength, but because of the strength of Christ in him. If you are going through a difficult time, remember that the force of life’s external pressures will never exceed the internal force of Christ in you!

When life beats you up and knocks you down, don’t lose heart (v.1, 16). In comparison to the glorious future God has prepared for you in heaven, anything you go through in this life is just a “slight momentary affliction” (v.17). When your old clay pot is finally broken beyond repair, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise you, too (v.14). Until then, with eyes of faith, keep your focus on eternal things — like the gospel, the glory of God, the hope of heaven, the Bride of Christ, and the love of Jesus (v.18). Hang in there. Don’t give up. You may be a “cracked pot” but the life of Jesus can be “manifested in your mortal flesh” (v.11). Let His light shine through the cracks and holes life has knocked into you!