DAY 57: PHILEMON

“Refresh my heart in Christ.” (Philemon 1:20b)

Dear Christian,

This passage reminds me of the importance of reconciliation.

One of the hardest things we ever do is redeem relationships that were broken. In Philemon, we see Paul plead with Philemon to receive Onesimus, his runaway bondservant, back not as a servant but as a brother in Christ. 

Reconciliation, welcoming others in the midst of a broken relationship, is hard because we know that we’ve been hurt, burned, or betrayed. Onesimus, as a new brother in Christ, and Philemon his former master were probably carrying the weight of bitterness and anger that, if left unchecked, locks us in our own self-made prison. But as followers of Christ, we are called to a better way.

When we reconcile with others, we release the burden that weighs us down and experience the freedom that comes from living in peace.

"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14-16)

Love,
Patsy

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Created as part of the Books of the Bible Collection where I meditate on God’s beauty and faithfulness from beginning to end for 66 days from Genesis to Revelation. Each painting will be accompanied by an envelope containing a personal reflection based on the text the painting is based on.

An 8x10 inch original watercolor painting on 100% cold pressed cotton paper, 2023.