Learning from Paul’s Letter to Philemon: final words

And so today we reach the end of this short letter from Paul to Philemon. Paul has asked what he needed to ask: now it’s up to Philemon to respond.

And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Philemon 1:22-25

The suggestion to prepare a guest room made me smile. I thought of OFSTED. Is Paul saying that Philemon should be ready for a visit for him at any time? That he may drop by unannounced to see how things are working out in Philemon’s household now that Onesimus has returned? In writing this letter, Paul does not consider his work to be done: he still needs to connect with Philemon to support him in fulfilling all that has been asked of him.

In the same way, we have a role to play in the lives of those around us. We need to be accountable to one another, to support each other on our faith journeys. It is not enough to ‘convert someone’ and then leave them to get on with it. We need to be checking in with them. We are called to ‘make disciples’. It’s an ongoing process.

We are each part of the community of believers: this worldwide community that stretches back to these first churches meeting in the houses of believers like Philemon. We have people working alongside us to bring the light of God into dark situations in our community, our land, our workplace, our home. We have people going through similar difficulties to us right now. We have people. We need to be there for each other. None of us can do this on our own. We weren’t called to.

Paul couldn’t do it on his own either. He had people all over the region supporting him, praying for him, working with him and helping him in practical ways.

And living in community like this isn’t easy. People get it wrong. People make mistakes. People are called upon to make tough choices to bring forgiveness and reconciliation, just like Philemon. Being accountable to one other can be pretty uncomfortable.

That’s why we need grace and plenty of it!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit today and always.