Scripture Passage
If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. (Philemon 1:18 NLT)
Observation
Onesimus was a runaway slave who had fled from his owner Philemon. Somewhere along the way, Onesimus met the Apostle Paul and, as a result, gave his life to Christ. As it turned out, Paul knew Onesimus’ owner, Philemon. (It must have been an interesting moment when that connection was made!) So when Onesimus decides to seek reconciliation with Philemon, he carries with him this letter from the Apostle Paul (a letter we now call "Philemon") encouraging the same.
The letter is powerful in and of itself—in essence it says, “Receive Onesimus as a brother in Christ, because that is what he has become”—but it holds additional impact because of Paul’s relationship with Philemon as a partner in the gospel (1:17). Theirs must have been a significant relationship in Christ. On the strength of their relationship, Paul is able to say to Philemon, “If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. …I will repay it. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul! (Philemon 1:18-19 NLT)
With those words, Paul pictures what Jesus has done on our behalf before a just and holy God. All our sins have been charged to Him, and we are reconciled to the Father through Him and because of Him. Beyond that, though, with those words Paul also calls us to ongoing reconciliation with one another! Paul speaks the heart of our Savior anyplace discord exists within the body of Christ. “If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me."
“It’s not right!” I protest. “I’ve been offended! I’ve been wronged! Where is my compensation? My pound of flesh?” And Jesus stretches a nail-scarred hand in my direction and says again, “Charge it to me. …I will repay it. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul! (Philemon 1:18-19 NLT)
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