Max Lucado devotional notes on Philemon;
"Paul doesn't ask Philemon to free Onesimus from slavery, but to free him from anger. He urges Philemon to offer grace rather than demand justice. Does this short letter have any application for your life? It does if there is an Onesimus in your world. It does if someone has betrayed you or offended you or turned away from you. What they did wasn't right. And to demand justice is only natural, which is precisely the problem. Getting even is natural, it's not spiritual."
"Paul doesn't ask Philemon to free Onesimus from slavery, but to free him from anger. He urges Philemon to offer grace rather than demand justice. Does this short letter have any application for your life? It does if there is an Onesimus in your world. It does if someone has betrayed you or offended you or turned away from you. What they did wasn't right. And to demand justice is only natural, which is precisely the problem. Getting even is natural, it's not spiritual."
10 comments:
My Beloved and I were discussing this the other day, within the larger discussion of the idea of REVENGE...how the human mind loves the idea of revenge! How many movies have been made featuring the vengeance of men! How deeply satisfying it is to see someone pay for their actions...
But how Godly is it? Ach, there's the rub...
It's also inevitable that we will feel betrayed by someone we trusted, at some time, because "We ALL stumble in MANY ways" James 3:2 (emphasis mine). We need to be prepared in our hearts to forgive even before the offender commits his offense, so that when it happens, we are ready to forgive and give less thought to the idea of revenge. Our obedience in this area will then be less of a struggle.
Blessings,
Jenn
Our Sunday school lesson was on this on Sunday... but I really like how Max Lucado has worded it, that he needs freedom from anger not from slavery... some really good thoughts to ponder. Thanks for sharing!
Blessings!
Headed to write that line down...Getting even is natural, it's not spiritual. Thanks!
Oh how this speaks to my heart. Thank you dear one.
-and can't you hear a child protesting, "But he started it!" This is one of the hardest lessons to learn in walking like a new creation.
it is best to let the Lord deal out vengeance...but not desiring Him to is even better...
knowing full well we are offending people as well and He will correct us also...
forgive or you will not be forgiven are the words the Lord quickly brings to my mind when I desire to retaliate...
it is beautiful when the Lord fights our battles for us...beautiful...
Philemon is a great book...lots of tongue in cheek mischief from the great debater Paul! Max Lucado has a wonderful way of getting under all the layers...thanks for posting this great quote
great reminder!! i have started praying for the people who hurt me years ago because i'm not convinced that i have a perfect heart about it!! this post is like the 3rd or 4th time that the subject has come up for me this week!!
A word in season!
Thanks heaps.
Adi
Post a Comment