HOW DO YOU LOVE GOD THIS MORNING? *By maintaining a worshipful heart *By faithful church attendance * Having prayer everyday…*Have you taken down the emotional barriers? of self protection *Have you rid yourself of anger and bitterness? *Are you showing unconditional love to others? *We have a tendency to show love and care when it is convenient. As we look at our scriptures we see that one of the components of LOVING GOD IS FORGIVENESS When we have an intimate relationship with JESUS it allows us to love, trust and forgive those human relationships that have been harmful to us in the past. Forgiveness is an outflow of loving God and involves trust and grace. Vs. 1-3Our scripture opens with The Apostle Paul, imprisoned writing a letter to Philemon on behalf of a runaway slave named Onesimus. Paul’s letter although mainly addressed to Philemon includes Philemon’s wife Apphia as she would be a party offended by Onesimus and it was proper to include her in a letter of forgiveness and reconciliation. He also then includes Archippus who was a minister in the church of colosse, Philemon’s friend and co-pastor. Paul is wise in including him as possibly he might be able to assist in furthering the good work of peace-making and forgiveness. WHO WAS PHILEMON PHILEMON was a wealthy slave owner, *a beloved friend and a convert of Paul’s. *A believer. *He was the owner of a large house as the Colossian church who met there. * He was probably the pastor of the Colossian church *Paul refers to him as a fellow worker and as Agapetos, meaning beloved. ONEISMUS * Was a runaway slave (punishable by death) AND HE WAS from the household of Philemon *He was a thief, a criminal – a worthless slave *He violated the trust of his master Philemon by depriving him of his services. Slaves were not actually considered persons under the law, but the chattel property of their owners.
Q……How do we steal in our relationships – jobs
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