Today’s devotion comes from Philemon 1:17-25.
“17 If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).
20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.
22 At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Philemon 1:17-25.
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Forgiveness not only helps the offender; forgiveness also helps those served by the offender.
If Philemon forgave Onesimus, then it would not only help Onesimus, it would also help Paul who was served by Onesimus. And, if Paul was so helped, then Paul could also better help others.
On the other hand, if Philemon did not forgive Onesimus (but somehow punished Onesimus), then Onesimus would be hindered from being as useful and helpful to Paul as he could be. And, Paul would not have that resource of Onesimus to better help others.
But, Paul had confidence in Philemon. “Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say. (Verse 21) … The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (Verse 25)”.
Thus, there is more to today’s Scripture than the duty to forgive based on the statement of accounts in verses 18 and 19 and as illustrated in Jesus’ parable illustrated in Matthew 18:23-35 of the king who was owed ten thousand talents by one who did not forgive a fellow slave who only owed him a few hundred denarii. There is the hope that as Philemon’s forgiveness also helped Paul, our forgiveness (of those who offend us) may help others who are served by the offenders.
God may not only give us the grace to forgive, but there is the hope that God’s grace may use our forgiveness to abound in blessings to others beyond just the offender.
Consider Jesus Christ. Jesus forgave us of our sins, and His forgiveness abounded into eternal life and righteousness for many.
“But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:15-17.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 