Daily Lesson for February 28, 2014

Today's Lesson is from the book of Philemon - it's a story about learning to think differently about letting go of whatever recompense you think other people owe you:

"17 So if you consider me your partner, receive [Onesimus] as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self."

Philemon was a man Paul met and apparently converted in Colossae in his missionary journeys. Later, while in Rome, Paul met a man named Onesimus. As it turned out, Onesimus had run away from Colossae and his master - you guessed it - Philemon. 

Somewhere along the way, Onesimus became a Christian and served as a great resource to Paul while Paul was in prison in Rome. But it troubled Onesimus and Paul both that so long as Onesimus was always a runaway, he would never be quite free either in the eyes of Roman law or in his conscience. Paul and Onesimus agreed that Onesimus would return to Philemon with a letter from Paul asking for Onesimus' freedom.

In the letter, Paul recognizes that Onesimus had broken the law. But then Paul appeals to a higher law. Paul says, the higher law is that Onesimus and Philemon aren't so much slave and master as they are both brothers in Christ. And because they are brothers, Paul says, Onesimus doesn't owe Philemon anything. 

In fact, Paul says, when you think about it Philemon himself is actually indebted. "Ok," Paul says, "I know you feel cheated of Onesimus's monetary value, so go ahead and charge that to my account. And by the way, remember that I introduced you to eternal life in Christ - when you put a monetary value on that it should be enough repayment for Onesimus."

This is a good thing to think on when we feel cheated and want to assert our rights for recompense over someone. Brothers and sisters wrong each other all the time and the wrongs are often significant. But then Jesus says to us, "Charge it to my account." And we do, and then we check the balance and we realize we really aren't owed anything afterward. We're still in debt, because He paid it all. And so we don't really have any reason to demand anything from anybody else. Instead, we learn to forgive our debtors as God has forgiven our debts.

It's a sobering word about all of our place in life - all debtors to God's grace. Not masters lording it over others, but slaves made sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, in the house of God.

Thanks be to God!