May 11

Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do that which is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:8,9.

Paul had the utmost confidence that he could order the churches to do what is proper. He knew full well that they needed to be corrected. Yet, he also knew that the way of grace would ask him to appeal to his followers in love. The way of love is always one that leads by appealing to the heart. We respond by wanting to do the things that are needed rather than thinking that we must do them. The latter way is one of law, and that can not be mixed with grace.

The irony that Paul experiences is that he regards himself as a prisoner of Christ. Does that sound like grace? To understand this we must realize that Paul has often called himself a bondservant of Christ. A bondservant is one whom was freed yet he deliberately chose to go back to his owner and serve him out of love. The former slave realized that he had never had it so well when he was serving his master. So it is with Christ, the master. We find ourselves as prisoners, yet it is a relationship of love. It just does not get any better than this!

Father, I am so thankful that You have chosen a way of love for us. We respond in love to You, who loved us first. If I were to approach You by my own merits, or by trying to keep a set of rules, I would utterly fail. Thank You for the offering made by Christ that provides everything for us when we accept You in love. All praise is to Your Son, Jesus. We pray in His name. Amen.
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