Fugitive

The letter to Philemon is a fascinating little memo written by Paul to his fellow laborer. Paul was interceding for a young slave of Philemon named Onesimus who had stolen items from Philemon and fled. Onesimus ended up in Rome and as God’s will would have it he ended up coming to Christ under the influence of Paul.

Now Paul is working as the consummate apostle in bringing forgiveness and reconciliation between the two men and uses a powerful tool to do it―the very name Onesimus. The name is a Greek word meaning “useful.” He contrasts this word in a play on words against “useless.” Before Onesimus came to Christ he was indeed a thief as he absconded with Philemon’s property. Paul sends Onesimus back, at high personal risk to Onesimus, for how could he know what Philemon would do?

Paul, in loving fatherly tones, highlights the changed heart and life of Onesimus―no longer useless, but now useful in Christ.

Onesimus, the young slave, a young, restless man entering into a life of sin and crime, and a life of the fugitive, both physically and spiritually, was useless in this fugitive status, but now with a new heart forged by the gospel from the hand of Paul he finds his purpose in Christ. For Philemon, Paul says, Onesimus is no longer a slave, but now a brother.

And it is this way with all of us. We are all born into a life of sin, fugitives from God our Creator. But he interceded for us on the Cross, dying in our place, forging a new heart in us, calling us into the world to pursue others for him, our pursuing God.

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10 I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, 11 who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. 12 I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.

Philemon 10–12 NET

©2018 by Ben Bounds. All rights reserved.

We can come to know Christ through confession of our sins and repentance (turning away from sin). Let me encourage you to do this by talking to God through prayer. Here is an idea of how you might do that:

"Dear God, I believe your son Jesus Christ died in my place on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day following his death. I confess my sins, all of them, to you now with a humble heart. I repent of those sins and ask you to empower me with your Holy Spirit in overcoming further sin. Amen”

If you prayed this or a similar prayer committing your life to Christ and becoming one of his followers, let me encourage you to find a good, Bible-believing church. If you live in the Weslaco/Rio Grand Valley area of Texas, let me invite you to the church I attend, Mid-Valley Assembly (www.midvalleyassembly.com).

Begin talking to God in prayer and reading the Bible daily. A good way to begin to read the Bible is to start with the Book of John in the New Testament. Feel very free in connecting with me if you need any further help in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can do this via the above email or facebook page or this web page.

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Mercy Road Ministries was founded and now led by Ben Bounds. Ben has pastored churches across Texas for over thirty years and is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). He holds a BA in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Assemblies of God College and did graduate theological studies at the BMA Theological Seminary.

Ben's first book, The Divine Chase: Responding to a Pursuing God, was released on 12.08.2017 through Westbow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. It is available in paperback and hardback through your preferred bookseller (Mardels, Barnes and Noble, etc.) and paperback, hardback as well as ebook through online book retailers (www.christianbook.com, www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.booksamillion.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, etc.).

Ben is the host of Staying in Bounds, an on-air Bible devotional broadcast multiple times daily on KWJV 103.7 FM Weslaco, TX which can also be heard worldwide online at www.kwjvthestar.com.

Ben and his wife, Linda, together have four adult children and nine grandchildren. They live in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Ben can be contacted for preaching engagements at benbounds695@gmail.com or 903.441.3279.

Ben can also be contacted via his website @ www.benbounds.com, which is also his blog and contains more information about his ministry.

Follow Ben @ https://www.facebook.com/mercyroadministries/ and this website www.benbounds.com.

©2022 by Ben Bounds. All rights reserved.