Postcards From The New Testament

Postcards From The New Testament - Philemon

This week in our series Postcards, we looked at the book of Philemon, where we are introduced to Onesimus. Onesimus had a debt he couldn’t repay, but in prison he encountered Paul, who introduced him to Jesus. Now Paul sends Onesimus back with a plea for Philemon to forgive, restore, and receive him in love. This personal letter reminds us that a life with Jesus is not only about our relationship with God, but also about how we treat one another in the light of Christ’s mercy.

Like Onesimus, we have all run from God’s authority, wronged others, and found ourselves in spiritual debt we cannot pay. We cannot fix ourselves or erase our failures by good works. We need an Advocate, Jesus, who calls us not slaves but friends (John 15:15). He meets us in our lowest places, just as Onesimus met Paul in prison, and He offers us new life through grace. In Him, we are no longer defined by our past, but by His forgiveness.

We are also all like Philemon. Each of us has been wronged, and with that comes the choice to retaliate or forgive. Forgiveness requires letting go of the offense so that we can live free. This does not come naturally—it requires God’s help. But when we look at the cross and realize how much we’ve been forgiven, we find the strength to extend that same forgiveness to others. Like Philemon holding Paul’s letter, we are invited to walk in reconciliation, releasing others as Christ has released us.

In the end, Philemon reminds us that Jesus is the best friend we could ever have in our low places. He meets us when we’ve run away, He gives us grace we don’t deserve, and He helps us forgive when it feels impossible. In Him, we find freedom, friendship, and the power to be made new.