Philemon

Timeless Truth= v19 – When we are indebted to Christ we are also indebted to

his body of believers.

The truth I see here is the reality of what Christ has done for us; He has given us the freedom to lay down our rights. Paul saw this truth and desired for Philemon to see it. In my life I see that in many cases I fail to place others before me. Christ took the punishment and shame that I had merited. In this truth I see the imperative to lay down my life that He might be honored.

It is quite clear that Christ’s sacrifice, though a terrifying thought, was His great gift of freedom to us. Likewise when I sacrifice my rights, my needs, and my desires I have the potential to serve his body that they might see the freedom He has bought them. I see this truth is so necessary in the body as my flesh can make me selfish, unwilling to desire what I can do to bring others into the same freedom that Christ has shown me. To live as Christ’s heir is to see that I am no longer my own, I am His, that others might be blessed through me. His love should compel me to meet the needs of my brethren.

This is my roommate, Sosthene, from the Central Republic of Africa. He is an amazing young man who hopes to learn the Bible so that he can go back to Africa and be a force of change that his people can come out of the poverty which is destroying them.