17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I WILL REPAY IT. AND I WON’T MENTION THAT YOU OWE ME YOUR VERY SOUL!
20 Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.
21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! 22 One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.
Paul’s Final Greetings
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.
25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Tori's Comments:
It's amazing at how much confidence he is placing in this guy, even so much as to outright say he is.
And onto James :)
Terrie's Comments:
Paul is asking Philemon to extend practical grace to Onesimus. Paul feels so strongly about extending this grace that he is willing to repay anything that is owed on Onesimus's behalf. And he goes on about being confident that this grace shown towards Onesimus will go beyond just forgiving what he owes. How do we practically show grace to those around us?
I LOVE that Paul is telling Philemon to act on his prayers and by faith prepare a guest room for him. Paul had hope that God would answer Philemon's prayer for his return. Are we confident that God hears our prayers and is answering them enough to prepare and make room for the answers before we see them arrive?
JAMES IS GOING TO BE A BLAST! We are Jammin' Through James!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
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Please keep all comments respectful. We want to remember that each of us is at a different place in our walk with God. This is a place for us to share openly about what has been revealed to us as we open up Gods word and to learn from others. Please take every opportunity possible to build each other up in love :-)