Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Epistle, Philemon 1-21                                

Philemon 1-21

Freedom. There sure are lots of folks today clamoring for their freedom. The world over, people are yearning still for it in a political and social sense. And we should, for our freedom, under God, is guaranteed by God in the political realm as well as in the fray seeking true justice. Men certainly have and will corrupt that gift for their own wicked ends. May we stand as God’s Christians, come what may to declare the true freedom found in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is that freedom dealt with in the single chapter of the little, yet critically important letter to Philemon. It’s a book about the freedom of the gospel. No one deserves it. We receive it as a pure gift. We have the responsibility to then live out our entire lives that we might be useful in the Savior's hands to carry this gift to others. Freedom in all forms is a gift of God. But gospel freedom, that most precious freedom that brings forgiveness, life, and salvation is the subject of, and key to understanding the little book of Philemon correctly. It takes just minutes to read. The fruit of its message lasts forever. Read it today.

God be praised!