Paul wrote letters to the churches and their leaders, but the Book of Philemon must have been just a postcard. It is a very important part of Scripture, however – equally as important as anything else. And it’s all about grace. Paul wanted Philemon to extend grace to Onesimus. We would do well to memorize these twenty-three verses or at least their message.
Our responsibility as those who are partakers of the grace of God is to be gracious with others. Even if they, like the runaway slave on behalf of whom Paul pleads, are guilty of wrongdoing. What a challenge! Even while Paul is urging Philemon to show grace, he repeatedly gives grace to him as he writes. The entire book is a reflection of the importance of how we treat other people.
From Women of Faith Devotional Bible. Copyright © 2003 (Thomas Nelson, Inc.) Used by permission.