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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “coming to know God more deeply” To know means ” to have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with the person. More deeply describes an experience in a way that is very complete, extreme, and strongly felt. “Coming to know God more deeply” therefore means developing a strong relationship with God by spending time with Him. Paul’s letter to Philemon is fundamentally a letter of love, forgiveness and reconciliation. Onesimus was Philemon’s slave but stole something valuable from his master (Philemon) and escaped. Philemon was also a church elder whose house hosted a church (Philemon 1:2). Onesimus was later arrested and sent to prison. During his time in prison, Onesimus met Paul who preached to him and through the power of the Gospel Onesimus became totally transformed. Eventually, Onesimus was later freed from prison and Paul wrote a persuasive letter of reconciliation to Philemon asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus and accept him “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.” (Philemon 1:16) We shall look at the following outcomes of coming to know God more deeply.

1. We experience total transformation from coming to know God deeply.
2. Coming to know God more deeply enables us to understand love, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Firstly, we experience total transformation when we come to know God more deeply. When Onesimus came to know God more deeply, he experienced total transformation, it is, for this reason, Paul wrote to Philemon, “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.” (Philemon 1:10-11) Dear friend, no one comes to know God more deeply through the Gospel and remains the same, he or she must experience a revival or transformation. So long as we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour we must experience the transformational love of God and come to declare with Paul that “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20). Onesimus, who was once a thief, a fugitive and a useless person has now become useful after coming to know God more deeply through Paul. We see the power of the Gospel at work in Onesimus’ life. He was transformed by offering his body as a living sacrifice to God and through the renewal of his mind. Paul gives us a vivid picture of one who has come to know God more deeply in Roman 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) Dear friend, we cannot know God more deeply through an encounter with the Gospel and still remain the same, there must a total transformation of our lives to the glory of God.

Secondly, coming to know God deeply must lead to love, forgiveness and to reconcile with those who have offended us. Paul wrote to Philemon “although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. … I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains… 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. 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. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.” (Philemon 1:8-10,16-21) Dear friend, how would you feel if your slave stole something priceless or valuable from you and escaped and out of the blue resurfaces holding a letter from a fellow worker asking you to forgive him and accept him back not even as a slave but this time as a brother in Christ? It was truly a difficult situation for Philemon. His faith and discipleship were tested! He was not just a Christian but a fellow worker with Paul or a leader in the Church. It was time for Philemon to practice what he has been preaching, to prove that he has come to know God more deeply since the day he embraced the Gospel and became a disciple of Christ. When you come to know God deeply, love, forgiveness and reconciliation are not an option, they are a must! A believer who knows God more deeply does not contemplate whether or not to love, forgive and reconcile with those who have offended him or her. It was for this reason Jesus taught to pray “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:9-14) Dear friend a believer who has come to know God more deeply will always love, forgive and seek reconciliation even when that which has been done to him or her is painful or hurtful. We have no business being disciples of Jesus Christ if we cannot say these words from our hearts “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

In summary, “Coming to Know God more deeply” is the theme for our reflection. We have discussed two important facts that the theme presents to us, one, we experience total transformation from coming to know God deeply and two, coming to know God more deeply enables us to understand love, forgiveness and reconciliation. May the Holy Spirit empower us to know God more deeply in our walk of faith.

PRAYER

Have you offended someone or hurt someone and have you been able to meet with the person to seek forgiveness and reconciliation? Have you truly experienced transformation in your life since you came to know God more deeply? How has this transformation affected your morality, spirituality and your relationship with others? Have you come to a point in your Christian life where it is fulfilling to love, forgive and reconcile with those who have offended or continue to offend you? It is not easy to be a follower of Christ, it is an extraordinary calling therefore pray for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit as you seek to do the will of God.

Holy Spirit, let the transformational power of the Gospel guide our emotions and will. Help us to always follow the perfect example of Christ in loving, forgiving and reconciling with others. Amen.