Scripture Reading: Philemon 1:4-22, Leviticus 19:11-18, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Galatians 6:1-2, Galatians 6:10, Colossians 3:9-15
This Is the New Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. As we read, we’ll gain a broader understanding of the redemptive story of Scripture. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we’ll finish our look at the Pauline Epistles and begin the General Epistles.
The Book of Philemon: During Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, he wrote this short letter to Philemon—a leader of the house church in Colossae. In it, Paul asked his friend to forgive Onesimus, who was enslaved to Philemon and came to faith after running away and meeting Paul. Paul also asked Philemon to restore Onesimus to his household, demonstrating Christian love by treating him as a brother in Christ.
How Philemon Fits into the Story: Philemon is Paul’s shortest letter, yet it is considered one of his most heartfelt. It also captures the true heart of the gospel. When we come to God in repentance and faith, He gives us a new status in the family of God. He welcomes us as if we were Jesus, who assumed full responsibility for the debt of our sin.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does today’s reading teach you about forgiveness and reconciliation among believers?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
Leave a Reply
83 thoughts on "Philemon"
Question 1: What does today’s reading teach you about forgiveness and reconciliation among believers?
I have a harder time with forgiveness and reconciliation when someone has done so much damage to me so many times it feels so scaring. I have been called by God to forgive people more just has Jesus as forigiven us even if someone has done so much damge to me.
Question 2: How does today’s reading shape your understanding of redemption?
That God can fix anything and that love is the greatest thing❤️
One more comment. Received a reminder yesterday that I have Jury duty next week. So I took special notice of Leviticus 10:15. “Do no injustice in the courts” So very timely!
Sure is! ❤
I”m not going to lie… I woke up in a mood. Not a good one. Frustrated and irritated over a host of inconsequential things that are outside my control but none the less are very wearying. I didn’t”t wan to read scripture this morning.because I just knew it would be convicting and I wanted to be childish in my self-pity. I read anyway..and I was correct! Sigh..I am a BIG fan of Forgiveness yet I still grumble at times when I have to offer it to others, Especially those who are actively annoying me.I”m working on it… maybe that’s the problem. I”M the one trying to do it in my own strength and not releasing it to God’s strength. Praise God that he is patient and kind.
Praying for you Sue Dalos, and Ines. Thank you all for sharing your wise and meaningful thoughts today. They make a difference.
❤❤❤ Prayers for strength to ‘turn the other cheek’. I deal with a similar battle. Even under the help of the Holy Spirit, repetitive intentional ‘annoyances’ are spritually, mentally, and emotionally draining – like a rat on a wheel. Keep praying, sister! His mercies are new every morning- that’s the reminder I wake up with each day and it does help. ❤❤❤
As a believer, we forgive because Christ forgave us. We cannot hold on to grudges, bitterness, and anger. No matter how wrong a person might have been, we have to pray and ask God to help us forgive. If we don’t, we are the one’s who will be held captive to bitterness in our hearts.
This I no know from personal experiences. It is the only way for us to be free.
Praying for all.
True! ❤
Reflection Questions:
1. What does today’s reading teach you about forgiveness and reconciliation among believers?
That I still have so much to learn and put into practice about forgiveness and reconciliation. That I need to do better in forgiving the people around me when they cross a boundary or make an honest mistake as that is one of the many forms of loving your neighbor.
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Love is patient, love is kind.
❤
So many prayer requests this morning. Thank you God that you hear them all and for the faithful woman who pray. I am adding one more. A strong typhoon(hurricane) is heading towards Okinawa. I have a niece and a nephew stationed at the USAF base there. I ask that you would pray for God‘s protection over them and the others in harms way.
Oh, no! Praying for all in this path! Please let us know when you get word of their situation. ❤
Sending prayers up for their safety.
I can really relate to Paul and his earnest appeal to Philemon for his new friend and brother Onesimus! When I meet a lady in jail, and she comes broken and in the pit, and I SEE the light overcome the darkness, it is so beautiful to see and be a part of that transformation. But I know that their family holds lots of resentment and fear against them. It is hard to trust them. Many relationships are severed at this point. And you can’t blame them. Yet…I always wish I could plead to them that I see them as Christ sees them now, not as their crime. (It is hard for us too!). And they most likely WILL fall and mess up again, and that, too, I can’t be disappointed and judging, because I too, did that so many times in my early walk with Christ! So we help them when they make mistakes, even as huge as coming back to jail again, or using again (which that’s a whole notha topic), or whatever the case. My heart longs for them to find true freedom and know that they are loved unconditionally and fiercely by God!!
We will talk about that today, we have spent 3 weeks of talking about God’s Fierce love for us, and today we talk about how that changes us!! And it should. First how we see ourselves and our mistakes and struggles, but also of how then we conduct ourselves and love others. We will be reading Colosians passage as well, so it was fun to see it added here today with Philemon!!
I hope that we as sisters in Christ, can have this urgency to SEE how God loves his children, all of them, forgives them, and therefore WE have to, must, forgive them as well. And go beyond that—plea for them! “Witness” for them. We have one wonderful butterfly that I want to send a letter to the judge of the conduct I have seen in her weekly for the last year. She is no murderer. It actually kinda crazy when you think that we put people on trial with accidental deaths of their children, yet there are women killing their babies by choice every day. We can package it as different, but it is making a deliberate choice to end their life, would we lock them up for life, or kill them? (sorry, didn’t mean to go off on a tangent!) I am thankful for God’s forgiveness and love for us no matter what we have done. All sin separates us and Grieves our God…But God, he sent his Son, to give us mercy and grace. Therefore! Therefore…we too, MUST..MUST…MUST give mercy and grace. It’s so hard to do when we feel betrayed and wronged. Thankful for this study that keeps driving the point home of HOW we conduct ourselves as believers in the faith. We are to be different from how the world sees things. Amen!
Writing that letter to the judge is a good and compassionate move. I pray it will help him to see another facet of this young woman’s character – if she is indeed innocent. I believe you know her well enough to be assured of what you speak. You are doing such good work! Have you thought of working ad a paralegal? ❤
Praying for your jail ministry dear Rhonda and the salvation of your butterflies. James wrote that having anger in your heart is murder. Thank you for sharing all inspiring me.
I am here with you every morning but don’t comment often. Today I come asking for prayers for the area where we live. On Saturday there was a mass shooting in Twin Falls Idaho. Four killed,seven more injured. This is a small, 51000 population city that is the middle of what is known as the Magic Valley. The whole area is reeling because in a farming area you can’t imagine it happening here, but it has. Thank you for your prayers.
That is so awful, Sue. I am sorry to know that has happened. May God give your town comfort and peace. May this town mourn and look to the God of justice and mercy. I am praying you remain steadfast and a light to your people, too.
yes, amen. How tragic for people just doing and everyday thing. Life can change in one instant.
How awful, Sue. Praying for your community.
Oh Sue, what a tragedy! Praying for your community to heal and feel safe going about their daily business, not living in fear. Thank you for letting us know. ❤
Praying Psalm 91 over the city.
Praying for your community in the wake of this tragic shooting! May God comfort each and every person involved. ❤️
Today’s readings teach us to choose love in all relationship situations, as Jesus did.
Yesterday afternoon, I experienced a heartbreaking miscarriage. Although my heart aches, your prayers, words, and messages have truly moved me to tears of joy and gratitude. I trust in God’s divine timing and know that this difficult season will eventually pass. The last sentence of today’s reading resonated deeply with me. Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Despite this loss, I find peace in my heart and gratitude in my soul.
Oh Ines my heart breaks for you. I’m so sorry. I’m praying over you right now
So very sorry, Ines ❤️
Oh, sweet Ines, I’m so sorry to read this. Praying our Father will give you His peace, which surpasses all understanding. I’m so sorry.
What a gracious, loving heart you have Ines! May God fill you with the peace of Christ!
Ines, I am so deeply sorry for your loss!! I understand first hand the heartbreak of a miscarriage, and I am so sorry that you are going through that. I am praying that God would bring you his overwhelming peace and comfort during this season and that he would bring you a healthy child soon. ❤️
I am so so sorry Ines!!! Praying for the Lord’s comfort ✅
Oops, ❤️
Dear Ines, i pray the Lord comfort you and strengthen you with his hope. Don’t give up hope sister.
I am so sorry for your loss Ines and adding my prayers to the others here.
Oh Ines, your words gave me such aw, that you can still find peace and gratitude in this loss! Prayers for continued peace and gratitude my Sister in Christ and friend and She! It is a strong testimony that you just gave us all today. I pray you can share with others that may need to hear that you have trust in God and His timing.
Oh, Ines, I am so sorry! I missed seeing this this morning, but I am praying for you now! ❤❤❤
Sweet sister, my heart goes out to you! I am so sorry to hear of your loss! I have been praying for you and will continue to pray that God will comfort your heart! ❤️
Ines, I am so sorry. Thankful the Lord has given you His peace. I am praying for you! ❤️
Ines, I am so very sorry. Praying ❤️
I am so sorry this happened dear Ines. Praying for God’s comfort over you.
Sending love and prayers.
Praying that God’s grace and comfort carry you.
I love the book of Philemon and the beautiful picture it paints of love, forgiveness, and redemption. What Paul asks of Philemon is exactly what Christ has done for us!
.
I also love how Paul doesn’t command Philemon, but he appeals to his heart – just as God does us through Jesus Christ.
.
A beautiful example of how we should live our Christian lives. Although at times it can be very hard to forgive those who have hurt us, it is possible through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
—
@Ines – I hope and pray with all my heart that your baby is still safe within your womb. ❤️
—
Blessings to each of you today, my dear SRT sisters.❤️
Just as we are forgiven, we need to offer forgiveness to each other.
God’s love really is radical! Onesimus was Philemon’s run-away slave. What Paul asked of Philemon would have been so counter-cultural, to not only accept Onesimus back, but to see him as a brother in Christ. Philemon could have lost face and Onesimus may have suffered consequences. Paul didn’t command Philemon, but appealed to him on the basis of love. Isn’t that just what our Father wants of us? And above all “put on love”. We are called to do the same but it is not easy! The list of what love is and isn’t causes me to cringe a bit – I don’t always live like this… Thankfully when God sees me He sees Jesus!
❤️❤️
Paul literally shows the love of Jesus and puts himself in the place of Jesus, embodying the forgiveness, love, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He promised to repay any of O esomus
Yes I noticed that too!
I am requesting prayers for a friend who has been in a coma for four weeks. She had a stroke and there is a massive brain bleed.
Her son just graduated from high school May 2026.
The doctors are saying she will not get better. Her son asked me to hope that his mother will get better.
The lady is Rita and her son is Leo.
It is a small family of Rita, her husband and the one son.
Thank you Shes.
This is tragic. Yes, I will have hope and pray as well.
Tanya – I just prayed for Rita and her family. Lord have mercy!
Praying right now Tanya!
Tanya, praying for Rita and her health crisis. Especially for this young man, Leo. May he come to know the source of ALL HOPE through this crisis. ❤
Praying for God to do a miraculous work in Rita. Prayed for her this morning. Prayed also for her husband, son, and her medical team.
Praying for Rita and her family.
Praying for Rita and her family.
Paul told Phillimon with boldness in Christ he could command him to forgive Onesimus but Paul wanted him to do it out of love. Jesus also commands us to forgive our offender time after time if need be. But Jesus also tells us one of the greatest commands is to love our neighbor. And according to first Corinthians, if we do not have this love, even if we do great things we are nothing. We are just a clanging cymbal . So today, I’m praying for a new filling of God‘s faithful love, a deeper understanding of this love, to experience this love and that I would show this love. ❤️
Yes I want a deeper understanding of this love also!
I am with you. It’s so hard to love people with this kind of passion.
Paul told Philemon with boldness in Christ to command him to forgive own and miss
Philemon reminded me that forgiveness is more than letting go of an offense it’s seeing others through the grace we’ve received in Christ. God’s forgiveness toward me changes the way I’m called to love and forgive others.
Today’s reading also shaped my understanding of redemption by showing that Jesus paid the debt I could never pay, making reconciliation with God possible. Because of His grace, we are also called to pursue reconciliation with one another.
I was most stricken by the line “He welcomes us as if we were Jesus, who assumed full responsibility for the debt of our sin.” So often ego blinds me to the fact that I am forgiven and that Jesus has reconciled me with God. Similarly, I often forget that those who I’m in conflict with have also been covered by the blood of the cross. Even if I find it difficult to forgive in the moment or believe in the sincerity of an apology, I have no trouble believing that He loves them and He has forgiven and forgotten and maybe that has to be reason enough.
My pastor likes to say we are justified, “Just as if we never sinned”.
Amen Kay!
BG verse today Psalm 119:130
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
.
I am thankful!
.
Kinda put most of my thoughts in my reply to TINA ❤️ today …
.
KELLY (NEO) praying for young mama and for the best rehab facility for her. Thankful family is willing and available to care for little one, that he feels loved and safe, that it is nourishing and flourishing for both him and those caring for him❤️
INES HODZIC ❤️ continuing to pray
LINDA IN NC ❤️ praying treatment resolves the asthma flare!
RHONDA J ❤️ “It is only when we stay in the word, prayer, and listening to the Holy Spirit, will we change. And how wonderful it is. We will still make mistakes, and sin, but we feel the conviction. We know we are doing wrong.” Amen, praying we all pay attention when we feel the conviction.
CEE GEE ❤️
B ❤️
“pay attention when we feel the conviction.” Yep and amen! ❤
❤️
It’s going to be a beautiful day! Very last verse that I read from today’s reading was the verse from Colossians. “And be thankful.” Assembling my gratitude list right now! ❤️
Forgiveness among believers is not really optional. It may take time but is a necessity for our own spiritual health. Reconciliation is the ideal end game when at all possible and all involved parties are actively pursuing repentance/forgiveness.
.
Today’s reading shows me that the redemption journey involves hard and humbling things of me to become more like Jesus and “that [my] participation in the faith may become effectivei through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.”
.
My young mama will need to be transfered to a rehab facility. Please pray that a good one will be found. Her little one will be going to out-of-state family to stay until she can care for him again. Please pray his transition is not too traumatic and he flourishes while in their care. Thank you for your prayers.
.
Praying for your requests
Praying! ❤️
Praying Kelly❤️
Yes, Kelly, continued fervent prayer especially for this little one- what is he now 3-3 1/2? Praying for compassionate, safe environment and security and peace for his little heart. Prayers also for mom’s care and healing! Thanks for the update! ❤❤❤
He just turned 2 :-)
☺ ❤
Praying. “Reconciliation is the ideal end game when at all possible and all involved parties are actively pursuing repentance/forgiveness” – so good.
Amen❤️
This is such a timely Scripture for my heart! As believers, we are called to love, forgive, and do good to others, especially those within the church. This love and sacrifice of our “rights and wrongs” should be motivated by the love, forgiveness, and grace we have received in Christ! We have been forgiven much, so we also ought to forgive and live life in such a way that we reflect the incredible grace that we have been given both in our salvation and our walk day by day. Lord, help me to love like you!
Amen!
❤
❤️
In answer to the first question, it’s not always easy but it is most definitely essential, if nothing else, for our wellbeing! I think, if we don’t, we will never find the peace God wants to give, if and when we hold onto the wrongdoings and malice towards the offender..
.
BUT GOD..
.
BUT GOD..
.
HE sent His Son, JESUS CHRIST to pay the price for our sins, our wrongdoings, our iniquities, to give us a HOPE that we can carry daily.. to give us a new life covered in His love and blood, in the forgiveness of our sins, and along with this new life, we are given in the Word how best to do this life as a believer and a follower of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 13, one of my favourite verses, not only speaks to the bride and groom on their wedding day, at the church, but also to us in our daily lives..
Be patient and kind.
.
Do not be jealous or conceited or proud.
.
Do not be ill-mannered, selfish, or irritable.
.
Do not keep a record of wrongdoings.
.
Do not be happy with evil.
.
Be happy with the truth.
.
Never give up, for when you have Faith, wrapped in Hope, and covered in patience Love, NEVER fails..
.
So today I will put aside any childish ways, and as an adult, I will make myself accountable and live in the gift of redemption through Christ Jesus, for I can only be my true self, when I walk in faith, hope and love as I should, in the Name of Jesus.
.
May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace..
.
AMEN..
.
Happiest of Wednesdays, my dears,
Much love, always..
Tina ❤️
Amen!
“we will never find the peace God wants to give, if and when we hold onto the wrongdoings and malice towards the offender.” ❤️ Amen, sister. As I have mentioned before, I work to pray over and lay down the things that are really not important and then move on from the situation/subject. Most things that trigger my temper and raise my bp through the roof have little to no longevity so why am I wasting my time getting angry, trying to tame my tongue and get cooled down emotionally? When compared to eternity, nothing here has any longevity. Not trying to dismiss issues and situations that require attention/action to resolve or are dangerous however, just the irritation and anger preceding any real progress towards a solution.
“… I can only be my true self, when I walk in
faith,
hope and
love as I should,
in the Name of Jesus.”
Amem and amen!
❤❤❤