17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. Philemon 1:17 (NIV)
Kindred spirits…soul brothers…brothers from another mother…partners. Ever witness that level of connection. They think the same, love the same things, and do the same things. I notice it at our own church: Little Sergio and Nathan—soul brothers: “I’m Ironman!” “I’m Thor!” As they battle evil together; doling out the punishment, avenging evil all before church starts. It amazing. They part ways for church—one in the nursery and the other in 4 & 5 year old class. But when church is over the battle continues. Energy blasts shooting from Ironman’s hands. Thor’s hammer flying around…evil doesn’t stand a chance. But then they hear the words they were hoping would never come, “Time to go.” You might as well have said that puppies have all been wiped off the earth or that Ironman and Thor are not real…and are wimps. They’re devastated. “Can life continue without my soul brother, without my partner? No one gets me like my partner.”—is what I imagine they’re thinking. Yes there are tears. No, not baby tears…little tough guy tears. What they don’t realize is that Wednesday is only 3 days away for the battle to continue.
“Partner” is an important word in today’s verse. It means “partaker” or “companion.” The idea in the word is that of having something strong in common—a principle, a common hope, a common attachment. It applied for those that hold the same principles and have the same hope of heaven. What Paul is saying is if Philemon regards Paul as a fellow brother in Christ, sharing with him in the principles and hopes of “religion,” than he should receive Onesimus the way Paul would. Since Paul and Philemon were “Partners” motivated by the same principles, Philemon needed to do as Paul would…accept Onesimus as a brother.
We don’t accept correction well. Why? We think we’re grownups now and correction was for kids. So when someone comes around and tells us we should do something or we shouldn’t do something we say: “Wait a second…who do you think you are?” We forget that we as believers are still a work in progress. We forget that in choosing to be a “follower of Christ” we’ve placed ourselves under a banner of principles to live by—the Standard of the Word of God. So when a brother or sister comes to remind us of those principles don’t reject them, don’t rebel, and don’t excuse yourself. Grow through submitting to the principles of God; it’s our common bond. It’s our family way.
Questions to consider:
Why is correction hard to receive?
Why is correction important to receive?
Why is correction hard to give?
Why do we need to give it?
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