Title: What Kind of Love Are You?
Are you doing content?
Philemon 8:4
It is ordained by God for a person to die once. This is something no one can avoid. We are the people who all have to leave this world. In that case, you should let go of everything that is tied up, and not go into an unsolved life.
After all, there is no doubt that we are all dying beings. When we think of this, there is nothing unfair that we cannot forgive, and there is nothing so shameful that we cannot be forgiven.
In today's text, you can find the beautiful image of the apostle Paul making his best efforts to solve the problems between the two of them with his love for Philemon and Onesimus with his love for Onesimus. And I hope that God will grant us the heart of love that he gave to Paul. Today, let's take a brief look at Paul's love by dividing it into three parts.
First, the Apostle Paul's love for Philemon.
Philemon was a man who served God well and was spiritually mature. So the apostle Paul could command him with apostolic authority. But the apostle Paul loved Philemon even when he humbled himself. In the text, the Apostle Paul took the posture of supplication. “Therefore” has been replaced with “on the contrary”. “I can command” has been changed to “I beg you”. “Because of love” was what made Paul change. Moreover, because Paul loved Philemon very much, he did not doubt that Philemon also loved him. So Paul appeals to the love in Philemon's heart in two ways: The first is that he is now old. And the second is that he is now in prison.
Second, the Apostle Paul's love for Onesimus.
The apostle Paul admits that Onesimus had previously been of no avail to his master Philemon. Moreover, Onesimus betrayed his wonderful master and stole money and ran away.
But now, after hearing the gospel that Paul preached, he has become a completely new person in Jesus Christ. He faithfully supported Paul by his side. And Paul believed in Onesimus and praised him. And now it is said that he will be a benefit to his master Philemon.
Third, Paul did not try to force himself to do good.
Love is not made by force, it is edification. No matter how good a thing is, it is not love in itself. And Paul in today's text sent Onesimus back to his master Philemon, who was serving him faithfully like his servant. The good thing Philemon forgave his servant Onesimus should not be forced. You have to make it come from the heart. It must touch the heart. Love is edification. True love is the first to consider the other person's point of view without insisting on my own opinion.
I hope that God will also give us the heart of love that God gave to Paul, so that we ourselves can always build a beautiful relationship with you and go one step further and make peace with those around us as peacemakers. .