Refreshed Hearts

~~~ Philemon 7:20 ~~~ Psalm 146 ~~~ Luke 17:20-15 ~~~

 

Paul speaks to his friend Philemon with words of inspiration.

Wouldn't you want a close friend to tell you

that because of you their heart was refreshed?

 

"...I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love,
because the hearts of the holy ones
have been refreshed by you, brother."

 

This is so much more than plugging in an air freshener

 you bought from the store.

What does it mean to have your heart refreshed?

Is it like adding a freshener sheet to the dryer?

 

Perhaps the love of a child or a grandchild is sufficient to refresh your heart.

Paul is writing about his fondness for Onesimus.

Onesimus was a slave to Philemon at one time.

Paul has the occasion to meet him while in prison

through the slave's father.

Onesimus had not been the best person while under Philemon;

in fact he had stolen from him.

His conversion takes place through his contact with Paul,

who was in prison.

 

God can use you for good no matter where you are or what you are doing.

The name Onesimus means "useful".

By sending Onesimus to Philemon he is in fact asking him

to forgive his former slave and to see him with fresh eyes.

Possibly Paul has even given this former slave

a new name reflective of his appointed mission.

He is now being sent to be 'useful' to the mission of Philemon.

 

Paul considers Onesimus to be like a son to him.

Living the gospel message should make us a better person each day.

Once Onesimus was 'useless' to Philemon,

but now by his conversion he becomes 'useful'.

 

Not only are you transformed internally through your relationship with God,

but your relationships with others

must also be evidence to this change of heart.

 

Returning to Philemon also requires a certain degree of humility

on the part of Onesimus.

He must present himself to Philemon

as one who has been changed by God.

He must have also experienced a certain amount of fear

at the idea of returning to his former master.

 

Onesimus was anxious to get Paul's letter into the hands

of his former master right away.

Paul in his old age is almost forcing Philemon

into a situation of reconciliation with this former slave.

Paul too is willing to assume whatever debt Onesimus owes to Philemon.

Paul loves Onesimus just as God loves us.

Jesus assumed the debt for our sinfulness out of his love for us.

 

 

As a sinner we can sometimes experience similar apprehension

 as we contemplate returning to God.

Repentance for previous offenses is not always

an easy proposition to entertain.

 

We should be able to put ourselves somewhere in this story.

We have all been is a situation where another has clearly wronged against us.

Today the message of God's forgiveness is being passed on to us

through Paul's letter to Philemon.

 

You may have been wronged in the past....

you may have committed offenses in the past...

but the fact remains that God forgives you...

he sent his son, Jesus, to make atonement for your offenses.

 

Forgiveness encourages change for all involved parties.

 

Forgiveness can Refresh the Heart!

 

With Thanksgiving just a week away,

now may be the perfect time to consider

who needs your forgiveness just within your family unit.

 

Forgiveness Refreshes the Heart!