I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.  -Philemon 14

In his short letter to his friend Philemon, Paul was asking him to do something very difficult–to forgive the runaway slave, Onesimus, for wronging him. Paul never comes right out and commands him to forgive, but he sure does drop a lot of hints. Paul basically says, “Philemon, I want your goodness to Onesimus to be from your own accord.” Interesting. Paul is assuming that Philemon will deal with Onesimus out of his goodness.

Why would he assume that? Onesimus hadn’t been good to Philemon. He had wronged him and(evidently) stolen from him. Perhaps Paul assumes that Philemon will deal with him kindly because Philemon is a Christian. Clear and simple, this is what forgiveness is; it is dealing with others the way God has dealt with you–out of His goodness.

Have you ever thought about the fact that God can only respond to you out of His goodness? Now, it wasn’t always that way. Before God converted us He was (rightly) angry at us because of our sin and rebellion. His punishment was looming. But the cross changed all that. Instead of God punishing me because of my sin, He punished Jesus instead. And the goodness and kindness that Jesus deserved is now given to me.

This is why when Christians are wronged, they are called to deal with others out of their goodness. By doing so, they reflect the character of the God who has been good and kind to them.

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