Onesimus is a runaway slave who in the midst of his running, found Christ through Paul’s preaching.  Onesimus has returned to his home and was a part of the group presenting Paul’s letter’s to the Church at Colossae and to Philemon.  While this letter was being read to the entire group, Onesimus was standing there listening and watching for their reaction.

We don’t know a lot about Onesimus, but I want you to try to put yourself into his shoes.  He was unsure about the future, and not garaunteed anything.  Would he find kindess from his employer or justice?

Paul in Philemon makes a grand statement,

“I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains”

From an outcast runaway to a son who belongs.  Can’t we all identify with that story?  It’s the story of every person who enters in the Kingdom of God.

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” (Colossians 1:21-22)

I am sure that your day may be crazier than mine.  I am in control of my time (for the most part) and I still feel out of control most of the time.  How in the world can I grab a moment to read the Bible, let alone memorize it.  This is the multi-tasking, fast paced, soul sucking environment we dive into everyday.

Slow down for 15 minutes. Long enough to read this passage.  Think about it.  Write it for yourself.  Try to write it like you are the author.  The Holy Spirit is giving you these words to share with someone else.

Here we go:

“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (13) Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:12-13

Man..I needed that today.

Have you ever listened to yourself pray?  This is a hazard of the trade for me. One of my primary roles at TrueLife is to teach the application of Scripture each Sunday.  I feel a weight of responsibility to be the best I can be at this. So, I listen to my own sermons, and evaluate how I did on communicating what God intended for that week.  Can I admit to you that my voice sounds awkward to me when I pray?  (I guess I just did admit it)

How long do you think it took Paul to write these portions?  I believe Paul was guided by the power of the Holy Spirit when writing these passages, but that does not guarantee speed.  Paul’s prayers are packed full of deep theology.  You can hear it and sense it.  They are worthy of study and application; reading and memorization.  Paul certainly  has a pattern to his prayers.  Did you see it?

How about you?  What is your pattern of prayer?  Can you pick up some new words, new phrases, and new thoughts from Paul’s prayers to use in your own?  Don’t worry. It won’t be plagiarism.  It’s exactly why the Holy Spirit penned these words.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in  knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God”(Philippians 1:9-11)

Try that prayer on for size.  You can pray that over your family, parents, kids, neighbors, co-workers, and dogs.

Can you sense the confidence that Paul has in Christ -

• “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, but the will of God..” (Colossians 1:1)
• “Paul, an apostle – sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father…” (Galatians 1:1)
• “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope”  (I Timothy 1:1)

How would you write an intro?  Here’s mine:

Mark, pastor of TrueLife through the command of Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church, and through whom all hope is found.

LOL… I like the sound of that.. maybe I will start Sunday’s message with it.

Here is my point.  Having a sense of God’s leading is not reserved to Paul or to pastors.  You can be called and equipped to be a teacher, business man or woman, parent or foster parent, retiree, accountant, tax collector, student……

What does your intro sound like?

Here is the key… did you see it… in the text?  It’s all about relationship!!! Look closely.  Paul does not talk about the square feet of the house, nor its location in a prestigious neighborhood.  Simply put.

• Wives, loves your husband
• Husbands, be worthy of that love
• Children obey
• Dads don’t be harsh

Unpack what that means in practical relationship, and you will have a home full of love and honor.

You can apply the same thing to work.  It’s not about a prestigious office or more money.  The key:  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Get in right relationship at your home and work, and your will be living the life God intends for you to live.

But my life should be full of different headlines: ” ¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 1:12).  Living like this will not sell newspapers, but it will build great kids, great marriages, great communities, great schools, and great peace.

What is the headline of my life today?  Verse 5 or Verse 12?

I just completed today’s challenge with the help of my eldest son.  (that just sounds biblical..lol)..  I hope you have enjoyed the first week.  I’ll see you tomorrow.