Hello and welcome to series three of Van Life Devotions where Leisl and I, with a group of friends from our church and other churches are visiting areas in Turkey and Greece where the earliest of churches were established. Today we are in Colossae. In previous devotions, we shared about how the church started, why Paul wrote his letter to this church, and where they met. Today, I want to share about one individual who needed to be welcomed and accepted into the church that met here.
In Colossians 4, Paul lists several who blessed and encouraged him while he was in prison in Rome. One of the people is Onesimus. Verse 9 says, “I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here” (Colossians 4:9 NLT).
Onesimus had a past. He was a runaway slave. Back in those days in the Roman Empire, big money was offered for the capture of runaway slaves. There were even professional slavecatchers. Advertisements were posted with descriptions of escaped slaves and offered rewards. If caught, the runaway slave could be punished by being whipped, burnt with iron, or killed. Those who lived were branded on the forehead with the letters FUG, which in our language stood for fugitive. Sometimes slaves had a metal collar riveted around the neck.
For Onesimus, he had a past. He was a runaway slave whose future didn’t look great. Somehow, he ended up in Rome and was converted to Christ. It may have been Paul that led him to Christ, but certainly, Paul and Onesimus became close. Paul believed in Onesimus. Afterall, Paul also had a past too. If Jesus can change a persecutor like him, He can change Onesimus. Paul believed in Onesimus and convinced him that he needed to go back to his master, and so he sent him back with Tychicus to Colossae. When Tychicus handed over Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, they would have read Paul referring to this runaway slave as “a faithful and beloved brother” in verse 9 and how he is one of them – meaning he is now a fellow Christian.
When Tychicus handed that letter to the church he also handed a separate letter just to Philemon. Philemon was a wealthy citizen of Colossae and whose house the church met in. Philemon was Onesimus’ master. Knowing what could happen to Onesimus for running away, Paul asks Philemon for a favour (Phm 1:8) and then wrote this: “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me” (Philemon 1:15-18 NIV).
Onesimus had a past, and yet Jesus changed him. We all have a past. And yet statistics reveals that for 90% of us, someone believed in us and encouraged us to learn something about Jesus Christ and His saving grace. Whether someone invited you to youth group or Christian camp or to a church or they simply told you about Jesus. Somebody believed in you as Paul believed in Onesimus.
There may be a person in your workplace or youth group or a grandchild that has a troubled past. Believe in them by going into bat for them and sharing the gospel of hope.
Let’s pray.
Thank you God for those who believed in me, shared the gospel with me, and even went into bat for me. Help me to bless a person who needs someone to believe in them.
O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
David Moyes
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