Philemon 10-13 (God's Word)

Originally published 05/01/2014

God asks us to do painful and difficult things. Onesimus was a slave who escaped. "(I) ...appeal to you for my child Onesimus. I became his spiritual father here in prison. Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you. This is like sending you a part of myself. I wanted to keep him here with me" Philemon 10-13 (God's Word). Paul did not ask Philemon to release Onesimus from slavery, but he asked Onesimus to return to slavery. Obeying God does not mean we escape responsibilities or ignore them, but that we are even more determined to fulfill our obligations. Sometimes followers of Jesus think love means we do not make people accountable for their obligations. Lord, help me never to make a promise that I do not keep, regardless of how costly it is.

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