in the Lord - 32nd week thursday 2014

Today we read the shortest of Paul’s letter and also one of the most beautiful.  Philemon was a convert of Paul and by some circumstance Paul met in prison and converted a run-away slave by the name of Onesimus who was owned by Philemon.  When the slave was released Paul gave him this letter, the letter to Philemon so that the slave Onesimus could deliver it to his master.  As the owner of a runaway slave Philemon could have Onesimus executed, but Paul interceded to Philemon to accept him back, no longer as a slave but as a brother.  Why?  Because he is a fellow human being and in the Lord.

Paul would always repeat this in his letters, the phrase  – “in the Lord.”  What does it mean to be “in the Lord,” what are the consequences of being “in the Lord?”  To be conscious that we are “in the Lord,” that everything we do should be done “in the Lord,” that my action would always be affected by the fact that I am living my life “in the Lord.”  In effect Paul is saying, by law you have all the right to do what you are entitled to do to a runaway slave, but you are not just a citizen, you are not just a slave owner you are “in the Lord,”  and that changes the whole equation.  In your life today, in the decisions you are to make today, what does it mean to be “in the Lord?”