Welcome Him
“So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would
welcome me. If he has done you any wrong
or owes you anything, charge it to me.”
Philemon 17-18
At the cross Jesus stood between
not just two thieves, but between all humanity.
He positioned Himself on that cross in the gap and occupied the space
that only He could. He brought about a
result that only He could. In doing so,
He created for us who follow after Him to emulate what He did on a smaller
scale. That is precisely what we find
Paul doing in this passage.
It is as if we could hear Jesus
say the same words – “if you consider Me a partner (in the gospel), then
welcome him or her as you would welcome Me.
If he owes anything, put it on My account.” Paul met the slave Onesimus on prison. They became friends; in fact, Paul refers to
him as his son. Onesimus, whose name
means “useful” met Paul when he was considered by society to be useless. The gospel message and the love of Christ
changed all that. Paul then writes to
Philemon, the very man Onesimus had betrayed.
Paul and Philemon were partners together in spreading the gospel. Paul places himself in the gap – the space
between betrayer and betrayed. He
strategically positions himself between the two and brokers
reconciliation. Paul takes on what some
would say belonged to Onesimus. On the
other hand, Paul is also taking on what some would say belongs to
Philemon. He steps into the brokenness
and offers himself. Paul takes on the
burden so the relationship can be repaired.
He operates in the ministry of reconciliation that has been given to
him, and to all who follow Christ.
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