The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
Jan.26- 31 2026
Enter the presence of the Lord-
(All) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, NIV)
Confession
Jesus Christ, we often thought that you did not care about our work life. We act in one manner on Sunday. Then we act in another manner at workplace. Your words open our eyes to see that you do care about how we act at our workplace. We confess that the interpersonal relations at workplace can be complicated. We need your wisdom. We realize that there is a way to show your gospel in wherever we are. There is a way that we can receive the justice and goodness beyond our bosses. Jesus Christ, come into our work lives. Help us find meaning and purpose in our works through your perspectives. Thanks you. In your name, we pray.
Scripture Reading:Philemon (NIV)
8-10Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
12-16I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 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.
17-21 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
Thoughts to Share: The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Human Relations
The Epistle to Philemon is the shortest letter among Paul’s letters in the New Testament. But it has a big theme: The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Human Relations. It has an important theological focus: reconciliation. Paul presented a concrete example to us here.
This Epistle reveals that Paul met the slave Onesimus who escaped from Philemon’s household probably in Rome. Paul shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him. Probably desiring to be liberated from his runaway guilt and fear of the penalty which he had to face sooner or later, Onesimus accepted the Gospel. They became the brothers in the Lord. Paul dearly loved him and called him as “my heart”. Paul wished to keep him as his servant. But as an escaped slave, Onesimus would have to face the penalty according to the labor law governing the relationship between slavery and slavery owners. The person who could wipe this debt would be his owner Philemon. Paul wanted to do it rightly and ethically. He even would like to pay back the cost which Philemon spent to get him. So, what could he do?
It happened that Philemon, a slavery owner, was a gifted Christian leader in his house church. He became a Christ-follower probably in Ephesus because of Paul. Paul continued to hear his good name. With the faith in Jesus Christ, Paul looked up to the power of Gospel to transform this troubling relationship. He knew that he must initiate a reconciliation process for Onesimus. And he must take faith step to reach out to Philemon and trust in God who will make a way for Onesimus’ benefit.
Let us play our imagination here for a moment. For Onesimus, what could Onesimus expect from his owner Philemon? Could he experience the forgiveness from his owner Philemon? How could the Gospel mean to this real-life situation? Would the grace and saving power in Christ really give him a new life, a new path, a new hope, a new purpose, a new work, and a new dedication? Then, let us be in the position of Philemon. What dilemma would he face? Would he assert his right granted by the labor law? Or, would he imitate the example of the Lord to give forgiveness? Would he become a less powerful boss if he put brotherly relationship in Christ over socially slavery-owner relationship? Could he let the God’s affections- mercy, compassion, kindness- flow freely through him to Onesimus? How far could he be obedience to the Lord?
The book of Philemon did not give us the picture about what happened after this Epistle to the hands of Philemon. What we see here is how those who confessed Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord strive to put the gospel into practice in real everyday social life. They sincerely desire to see and experience the transforming power of the Gospel in human relationships just right in their existing social system. They actively practice their new identification of being the ambassador of Christ. They, like salt and like light, bring harmony, peace, life, and joy into human relationships. They let people experience the good news in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
How much willingness in us that we want to put on the new clothing in Jesus Christ and demonstrate the new person in the grace of Jesus Christ in our everyday relationship- in marriage, in parenting, at workplace, at the markets?
Prayer Suggestions
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, come to fill us and we need more and more of you in us. Enable us to be that light of the world, salt of the society you call us. Use us as the peacemakers in the grace of you. May your grace be in our spirit. Thank you. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Benedictions:
Grace be with you.
Prayer Request
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