March 18, 2024 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Colossians 4

Colossians 4:7  All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8  Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 9  With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. 10  Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11  And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

God uses men, broken men, for His pleasure and for His purpose.

Revelation 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

There is nothing more important than to be a servant of the Lord.

In our text we find Onesimus who was known to be faithful. He was a bother in Christ and was one of those in Colosse. Both Tychicus and Onesimuis were sent to the church at Colosse to make known to them what was happening to Paul and to find out how the church was doing as well.

Who is Onesimus?

Onesimus was a slave who had rebelled against his master and had run away. He was incarcerated and placed in the same prison as Paul. In our modern age we have a hard time fathoming the issue of slavery, yet it exist. We have everyone from little children, both boys and girls, all the way to adults of both genders in slavery today. You just to hear about.

When Paul met Onesimus he told him about Jesus and Onesimus trusted Christ as his saviour. He was born again. Jesus saved Onesimus’ soul.

The book of Philemon is the letter Paul wrote to Philemon, Onesimus’ master, requesting the pardon Onesimus from his sentence for rebellion and to receive him back.

Philemon 1:1  Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

Philemon 1:10  I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11  Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12  Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13  Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14  But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. (Without thy mind means without Philemon’s knowledge of permission.)

Philemon did receive Onesimus and Onesimus was restored and he was profitable to Paul and the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You and I were slaves at one point, we were salves to sin. It was Jesus who redeemed us from the slave block of sin and gave us freedom to serve Him.

Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Galatians 3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

No one has the power to redeem themselves from the slave block of sin, only Jesus and His efficacious work on Calvary’s cross can redeem you.

My friend would you trust the Lord to saved your soul?

We have before us a great example of one who was saved from being sold unto sin and made free in Christ. He, Onesimus, then gave his life to being a servant of the most high God.

What about you, as a born again believer, are you serving the Lord Jesus Christ?

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook