Today we read the entire book of Philemon - just one chapter! It's a letter Paul wrote from prison about a runaway slave named Onesimus who became a believer while with Paul.
Here's what stuck out to me: under Roman law, Onesimus could be put to death for running away. But Paul doesn't demand that Philemon free him. Instead, he appeals to Philemon's heart, saying "I could order you to do what you ought to do, but I appeal to you on the basis of love."
Paul was showing the early church how to live countercultural lives - not by overthrowing systems, but by changing hearts. As I mentioned in the episode, the New Testament didn't encourage direct confrontation with slavery. Instead, it laid down guidelines that would "tear away the foundation from slavery from within."
This is how lasting change happens - from the inside out. When hearts are transformed, actions follow.
Have you noticed this in your own life? God doesn’t ask you to clean up your life before coming to Him…but the more time you spend with Him, the more you want to be like Him?
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