Philemon 1:20 (ESV Strong's)
Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
We Give Up Our Rights for Christ
To understand the above verse we have to understand the context of the book of Philemon. Philemon was a slave owner. His slave (Onesimus) had run away. And, apparently, in that running away he had either stolen something from Philemon or dishonored him in a special manner. In those days, the penalty for a slave who runs was either an extreme beating. But, if you were also a thief it was more than likely death. In Onesimus’ running he, apparently, ran into Paul. This may be when Paul was unlawfully imprisoned. Perhaps they were chained together, as the Romans often did. Somewhere in this process, Onesimus has now become a believer. Paul, now is appealing to Philemon to not only forgive Onesimus, but to put anything he has done wrong on Paul’s account (this is a great picture of the substitutionary death of Christ ... our sins are put on His account). Why does Paul want Philemon to respond this way?
Philemon 1:20 (ESV Strong's)
Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Paul’s appeal is that Philemon’s behavior would solicit a benefit for Christ. Our unusual behavior in these ridiculous circumstances is an act of the grace of God in our lives and producing a behavior that glorifies Christ.
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