Head Scratcher — Philemon - Monday
Today’s Verse
Philemon 1:4–5
I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. (ESV)
When I was in law school, I often studied at a small coffee shop just off campus. The owner, Jim, was a wiry man in his sixties who wore a faded apron and a kind smile. He ran the place with his wife, and together they created a haven for tired students, lonely hearts, and caffeine addicts. But what stood out most about Jim wasn’t the espresso or the pastries—it was the way he treated people, especially the ones no one else would give a second glance.
One winter evening, a man came in shivering, clothes tattered, and eyes sunken. He asked for something to drink. Without hesitation, Jim brought him a warm bowl of soup, sat him by the radiator, and struck up a conversation like they were old friends. I watched from behind the counter, unsure how to process what I was seeing. Later, when I asked Jim why he went out of his way for someone who clearly had nothing to offer in return, he simply said, “Grace found me once. I just pass it along.”
That moment stuck with me. It confronted the transactional mindset I’d grown up with—one that said people earn their place, prove their worth, and pay their dues. But grace doesn’t work that way. Grace looks past history, beyond performance, and sees value where others see shame. Grace says, “You’re welcome here,” even when everything in the world says otherwise.
Paul’s letter to Philemon carries the same kind of spirit. He opens not with correction, but with gratitude for Philemon’s love and faith. It’s as if Paul is saying, “I know you. I know your heart. And because of that, I know you’re capable of grace.” Paul is preparing Philemon to welcome back Onesimus, a runaway slave who had wronged him. But now, through Christ, Onesimus is no longer property. He is a brother. A man redeemed. A life worth more than a mistake.
This is where grace begins—not in what is deserved, but in what is given freely.
APPLICATION
The question we have to ask ourselves is this: who in our lives is waiting on the grace we haven’t yet extended? Who are we keeping at arm’s length because of past wounds or quiet resentment?
The cross teaches us that grace was never meant to be stored up—it was meant to flow outward. Not earned. Just received and passed on.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me of the grace I’ve been given so freely. Soften my heart toward those I struggle to forgive or welcome. Help me to live out a grace that mirrors Yours—undeserved, unending, and unwavering. Amen.