Philemon 1:8-11 "Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, (9) Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. (10) I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: (11) Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me"
Paul previously acknowledged his bonds in Christ; that is, he was joined to the
Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of ministry of the Word of God. As he writes
to Philemon, he now comes to the purpose of this letter. God's wisdom shines
through the Apostle as he describes himself being bound and aged. He is telling
Philemon that wisdom is now speaking. We have no idea how old Philemon was at
the time of this letter, but in that day great value was placed upon wisdom.
Wisdom allows Paul to see life from both sides of this issue. He acknowledges
Onesimus to have been unprofitable to his master; but now he is a changed man.
The slave experienced conversion while in the presence of the Apostle and was
coming back differently from the manner in which he left. Certainly Paul
knows the impact of Jesus Christ on an individual since he also had experienced
such a drastic change in his own life. Therefore he could be bold in declaring
the man coming back was not the same as the man who left.
I think of such men as John Newton, the slave trader. He was such a rough man
of the sea; yet, he was drastically changed when the Lord came to him. We
experienced such a change when the Lord appeared to us also. We all can say,
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once
was lost, but now am found. T'was blind, but now I see." Paul
expressed it in this manner in his second letter to the Corinthians:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Aren't you thankful the grace of God can reach into the lowest pits to bring us
out and make new creatures of us?