CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7ajgjq-god-focus-this-morning-ep565-lessons-of-forgivness.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  LESSONS OF FORGIVENESS

The book of Philemon is a small book in the New Testament. It is basically a single letter from Paul to a man named Philemon. He was a rich man who led the house church in Colossae. Paul was trying to change Philemon’s thinking. Under Jewish custom if someone owed you money and could not pay, they became bond servants. Onesimus had taken from Philemon and then ran. Philemon had him put into prison.

Paul met Onesimus and converted him to be a follower of Christ. Onesimus started serving and helping Paul in prison. Paul tells Philemon he understands he is kind toward the saints in Colossae. He is asking him to extend that kindness to his new brother in Christ; Onesimus. He wrote the letter to get him to release Onesimus.

Philemon 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Philemon had every human reason to not forgive, as we often do. Feeling justified at making Onesimus work off his debt was normal. However, they were at the beginning of a new covenant in which Jesus said to forgive those who do us wrong.

Luke 17:3-4: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

There are many verses about forgiveness. There is even a parable about an evil servant who would not forgive another servant for a small amount he owed. This was after the master of the house had forgiven him a large amount of money. When the master heard he had not forgiven his fellow servant, he was very angry. He threw him into prison until he could pay off the debt.

Jesus forgave us for a debt we could not pay. We don’t want to be like the wicked servant and not forgive those who need our forgiveness. Holding on to unforgiveness hurts the one who is holding on to it far more than the one who needs forgiveness.

We can understand how hard it would be for Philemon to let go of being deceived by Onesimus. He has every reason to not forgive and be within his right, by human standards. But God calls us to a higher standard of forgiveness because he has forgiven us.  

Philemon is not mentioned in the book of Colossians; however, he was believed to be the leader of the Colossian church. Onesimus his servant is mentioned in Colossians. Which helps to tie the two books together.  

The book of Colossians encourages the believer to set their attentions on things above and not on things of the earth. It is full of instructions about how to treat others.

Col 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Forbearing means to restrain yourself, being patient when provoked. To hold back from justifiable actions of punishment. We need to forgive one another even when it is hard to do because Christ has forgiven us.

Paul encouraged them to put on love which is the bond of perfectness. I want to encourage you today to search your hearts. Ask God to show you if you are carrying any unforgiveness. It is easy to hold on to things that have made us feel hurt or betrayed. If you find something ask God to help you let it go, because that is what Jesus would do.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

• BLOG