READING: 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 15-16, Philemon
If you are in a position of authority and power, it’s easier to get people to do things. The government passes laws we must follow. Our bosses give us tasks to do. Teachers assign us work to complete. Parents set boundaries for children. And, there are times—particularly in times of urgency and emergency—when authoritative commands are necessary. On the other hand, lasting change often best occurs when our strategy to lead others is not based solely on our position. Life change seldom takes place “just because somebody made me do it.”
Paul recognized that he could have, on the basis of his being an apostle, commanded Philemon to receive his runaway slave, Onesimus, as his brother in Christ—but that was not the approach Paul took. He could have, but he chose otherwise. Rather than force his request on Philemon, he instead appealed to love. Paul and Philemon had experienced God’s love. Paul also loved Philemon as a “dear friend” (v. 2), and Philemon was known for his love for other believers (vv. 5, 7). What Paul wanted was for Philemon to extend that love to Onesimus by forgiving him. Compulsion and obligation weren’t likely to take him there easily, but love should let him freely offer grace to Onesimus.
As an older man imprisoned for his faith, the apostle Paul was gently moving Philemon in the right direction. We who lead God’s church can learn something here from Paul. While we could fall back on our positional authority to convince others to take right steps—and, as noted earlier, we must at times takes this stance—appealing to love for God, for one another, and for others is often the better move.
PRAYER: “God, help me to disciple others not by compulsion, but by love that leads them to love in turn.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Kings 17-18, Psalm 119, Jude