Heart to Heart

Philemon
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlaborer.  verse 1


LET IT GLOW


Sometimes it is needful to sit down and have an indepth discussion with my husband. It's not just a time of expressing what I think or how I feel about something in particular. I also listen to his point of view concerning the topic. Now that's what I call having a heart-to-heart discussion. It's not surface words nor what I think he wants to hear, but an open expression from my heart to his heart. (We don't do it often enough.) As I read through the letter,  I got the feeling that Paul was having a heart-to-heart discussion with Philemon about the subject of Onesimus. Shall we look a little closer?

Instead of identifying himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ, as Paul usually does, he identifies himself as a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
The definition of prisoner, stated in Thayer's Lexicon, means "bound, in bonds, a captive; it reads 'whom Christ, in his truth which I have preached, has put in bonds.' "

Timothy was visiting Paul in Rome, though not detained.
All true believers in Christ are brothers. (Falwell)

As you will recall, Paul lead Timothy, Philemon, and Onesimus to salvation in Christ. While Paul was on his first missionary journey in Lystra, he lead Timothy to faith in Jesus.( See 1 Timothy 1:2, 18;
1 Cor. 4:17; 2 Tim. 1:2.) Philemon's conversion took place 5 or 6 years prior through Paul's ministry in Ephesus. Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon's, fled Rome, where it just so happened that Paul was. By God's providence, the two met and Onesimus was converted to Christianity.(Paul spent two years ounder house arrest there.)

I see why Paul used the adjectives brother and dearly beloved to describe these guys. Can't you? These were men of faith, dear to Paul's heart. They had a bonding.
We will talk more about Philemon and Onesimus in our next couple of lessons.
Keep in mind that this letter was also to be read to the church there at Colossae.

What do we find Paul saying in this letter?

• He sends his common greetings of grace and peace to his readers.
• He prays for and praises Philemon. (verses 4, 7)
• He pleas to Philemon to show love to Onesimus. Paul had deep affection and admiration for Onesimus. Actually, Paul would have liked to have kept Onesimus with him in Rome.
• He plans to visit Philemon once Paul's case in Rome is decided. (verse 22)
• He wants Philemon to remember him in prayer. (verse 22)
• He sends greetings to nine specific people, which Paul names. (verses 2, 23,24)
• He ends this letter by sending the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ toward Philemon and his household. (verse 25)

LET IT GROW

What does Paul say to me in my present time?

• Show Christian love.
• Forgive and don't hold grudges.
• Be grateful for the best in others. (verse 4) 
• Seek the welfare of others. (verse 10
• Deal honestly with others. (verse 12)
• Bear the burdens of others. (verse 18)
• Believe the best of others. (verse 21)

[Rseource: MacArthur Bible Commentary]

LET IT GO

Have a heart to heart talk with the Lord.

Allow Him to change me into what He wants me to be like.

If needed, have a heart to heart talk with others if our relationship is smudged.