773,618 decisions in lifetime
143,262 regretted
*I made this up 🙂
Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what 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—I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.
Philemon 8–21 (NASB95)
In a short letter called Philemon, Paul pleads for a man who was once considered a failure, a thief, a runaway slave — but who now, by the grace of God, has been radically transformed.
There’s one phrase in this letter that we’re going to hang the whole message on. Paul says in verse 16:
“No longer as a slave, but more than a slave — a beloved brother.”
From Runaway to Redeemed
“I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my imprisonment, who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.”
Philemon 1:10–11 (NASB95)
“Failure isn’t final when grace gets the last word.”
"You can’t outrun God—but you’ll find He’s not chasing you to punish you. He’s chasing you to heal you.”
“You may feel forgotten—but heaven has never lost sight of you.”
Onesimus means “useful.”
Because of Jesus.
Grace doesn’t just forgive you — it re-commissions you.
“For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave — a beloved brother…”
Philemon 1:15–16 (NASB95)
What if it was God leading him toward something?
We are all Onesimus.
God doesn’t waste your detours.
“If then you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account.”
Philemon 1:17–18 (NASB95)
To reconcile means to restore friendly relations.
To bring harmony where there was hostility.
“Jesus didn’t just cancel your debt — He paid it in full and welcomed you in.”
“Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say."
Philemon 1:21 (NASB95)
The story was still being written.
He won’t just edit your mistakes — He’ll transform your message.
You may feel forgotten — but heaven is still drafting your next chapter.
“Grace doesn’t just meet you where you are — it moves you to where you were always meant to be.”
Let Jesus write a better ending.
Your story’s not over — it’s just getting good.
What’s your next step?
