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Philemon 1:1-25 – Onesimus, the slave of Philemon was suddenly gone. He didn’t show up, he had run away. Even before running away Onesimus was already a disappointment, he wasn’t a very good servant.
How might Paul and Onesimus connected in Rome? We don’t know. Did things get bad for Onesimus and he hit bottom and thought about Paul? There is a good chance that Onesimus remembered Paul from his visits to Philemon. Regardless of all the details, Onesimus became a Christian, and he returned to Philemon, the man who owned him.
Not only was Onesimus redeemed now, he became a useful servant.
- Dedicated – A useful servant of the Kingdom is dedicated, even unto death. Jesus came to be a servant, not to be served. Not like slaves to a conquered country, but a personal surrender to become a bond servant. Fully dedicated to service. A life of worship through action. Devoted first to God, serving for the love of Jesus our master.
- Perceptive – Do we see a field of service? When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians he was in Ephesus, he wanted to visit Corinth but he said he would stay in Ephesus for a time. Servants vary in how easily they recognize the work, but Paul saw opportunities for effective service all around him.
- Faithful – I’m yours God. This day is yours. I am yours. I am your servant. Wherever you find yourself, it is worship to serve the Father and the Kingdom where you are. Jesus was a faithful servant to His Heavenly Father. Paul was a faithful servant. Let us be faithful as well.
Scriptures used – Hebrews, Philippians, Philemon, 1 Corinthians, 2 Timothy 4, Ephesians 5:15, Luke 17:10