The letter to Philemon (Part 8)

The letter from Paul to Philemon reveals a deep truth about the great change that takes place when one encounters Jesus. The runaway slave was totally transformed from a wanderer to a follower of Jesus. This is not specific to Onesimus. The work of Jesus Christ in our lives sparks a circle of transformation. The sinner who comes to faith is renewed and transformed as a new person. All the bad things of their past are totally wiped away. Paul’s appeal to Philemon was obviously heeded to and the result would have been a changed Onesimus activity involved in the things of God. Paul, a man of faith also spoke about his own restoration in the letter. Remember, Paul’s goal had been to restore Onesimus back to Philemon. However, Paul himself was in chains. He was a prisoner in Rome.

And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. (‭Philemon 1:22)

In Philemon 1:22, Paul writes this: “And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.” The churches had been praying for the release of Paul and Paul was hopeful that this prayer would be answered. Different Bible scholars believe that Paul was released in Rome and rearrested in around AD 66. He was martyred during his final arrest which was credited to Emperor Nero. Paul’s ministry impacted several lives including that of Philemon and Onesimus. If Paul had the opportunity to visit Colossae again before his death, he would have celebrated the brotherly love between Philemon and Onesimus. The church would have shown gratitude to Paul for restoring to them Onesimus. Other people mentioned in Paul’s letter include Epaphras (a fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus), Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke (‭Philemon 1:23-24). Earlier in Paul’s ministry, Mark had abandoned him and Barnabas (Acts 16:36-41) and this even brought a sharp dispute between Paul and Barnabas. Seeing Mark again with Paul indicates that an attempt was made to restore the relationship.

While Paul enjoyed the company of his fellow workers while he was in Prison, Paul would later write about Demas deserting him because of his love for the world (2 Timothy 4:10). Our walk with the Lord is a journey with different highs and lows. We need to understand that irrespective of how right we live, there will always be others whose actions are likely to cause us pain. Like Paul, we should rather be agents of transformation and restoration. Our desire should be to see the restoration of those who have fallen along the way. We should be ambassadors of Christ who will hold the hands of the lost sheep and restore them to the body of Christ. If you don’t know what to do, just pray!

The letter to Philemon (Part 6)

Have you ever had to pay back to someone something that was lost or stolen in your care? Have you ever been the cause of someone else’s loss that you have to pay the person money for the loss? These two scenarios are known as restitution. It is important that whenever we cause someone to lose something, we make amends through restitution. Unless the person who has lost something through our carelessness declares that we should not bother paying back, we should always offer to restore what has been lost. Restitution is scriptural and godly. It restores relationships and builds trust. As we continue our discussion on Philemon, we shall consider how the apostle Paul sought to not only restore Onesimus back to Philemon but also to pay for the charges accrued because of Onesimus’ departure.

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ‭(Philemon 1:17-19)

Apostle Paul made an appeal for the return of Onesimus and he also identified that Onesimus might have wrongfully owed Philemon because of his actions. Paul writes, “so if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.” ‭(Philemon 1:17-19). How was Paul the man in chains going to pay back Philemon for what was owed by Onesimus? This sounds unreasonable but Paul understood that the best way to fully mitigate the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus was to restore Onesimus and also to make restitution for any damages. Philemon, possibly a disciple of Paul himself, owed Paul his very life. The transformation of Philemon was possibly the hard work of Paul. Paul might have also spearheaded the growth of the church that meets in the house of Philemon. Thus, Paul was not just a friend to Philemon but a spiritual father and a mentor. In other words, Paul’s plea was to a protégé, a man he Paul has groomed. Thus, in human nature, it was highly unlikely that Philemon would have charged Paul with the losses he incurred as a result of Onesimus’ actions.

The relationship between Philemon and Paul was quite a unique kind of relationship. It was the kind of relationship that made it possible for Paul to make restoration and restitution even while he was in prison. However, we, unlike Paul and Philemon must make conscious effort to restore and make restitution when we are at fault. Never undermine the person you have wronged. Even if they do not show anger and resentment towards you for your actions, it is not an opportunity to take their kindness as their weakness. It is important to know that human relationships thrive on human nature and attitude. Whenever we make amends for wrongdoings, we make room for friendship to continue. However, when we fail to consider those we have wronged and look for opportunities to fix our wrongs,we continue the circle of guilt, shame and pain. Paul in this short letter teaches us that forgiving one another of our sins must be spearheaded by restoration and restitution. Who is on your list for restoration and restitution? Never take people for granted.

The letter to Philemon (Part 5)

“No longer slaves”, a song by Bethel Music, is one of my favourites Christian songs. A slave does not have access to what the children and the siblings of the master have access to. Unless the master specifically assigns a portion of his estate to the slave, the slave has no place in the Master’s house. Imagine being a slave to our own fears. Nothing will ever change in our circumstances. In ‭John 8:35 Jesus states that “a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.” Thanks be to God, the death and resurrection of Jesus changed our statuses. ‭Galatians 4:7 confirms this change in status: “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” As heirs, we share the inheritance in Christ with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.‭ (Philemon 1:15-16)

Onesimus, as we have discussed in a previous post, was a runaway slave of Philemon. We are not given the contextual event that led to Onesimus’ escape from his master. However, from the letter we read from Paul to Philemon, it is obvious that Onesimus was at fault in all dimensions. No wonder Paul deemed it fit to have Onesimus return to Philemon rather than to have Onesimus stay with him in Rome. Paul mentioned that perhaps the reason Onesimus was separated from Philemon for a little while was that Philemon might have Onesimus back forever (‭Philemon 1:15). This time around with a different status other than a slave: “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.” (‭Philemon 1:16). Both Paul and Philemon understood that believers are children of God and as children heirs in the Kingdom of God.  Thus, although Onesimus was returning as a worker of Philemon, the relationship between the two would be that of brothers in Christ as compared to a slave and master relationship.

In Christ, our statuses have changed. We have become recipients of God’s adoption into sonship. According to Galatians 4:8 “formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.” In Christ, we have become new members of the family of God. Like Onesimus, our sins are pardoned and we are no longer slaves but brothers and sisters in Christ. Understanding our current situation in Christ is a reminder for us to live right and eschew evil. Our positional advantage in Christ has also ushered us as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10). It is only mercy that can make a former slave a royal member of the family, and an heir to the king. Don’t belittle yourself. You are God’s special possession.

The letter to Philemon (Part 4)

Onesimus, the slave of Philemon, was the center of Paul’s appeal to Philemon. After running away from Philemon and going to Rome, Onesimus encountered Jesus through the apostle Paul. The runaway slave became a changed person whose transformation was quite visible. Instead of keeping Onesimus with him in Rome, Paul decided that the right thing to do was to restore Onesimus back to Philemon. Paul’s letter to Philemon was therefore an attempt to restore the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, and also to explain to Philemon how Onesimus has been transformed and is now useful in the kingdom and in assisting Philemon. One of the formidable leaders of the church in Colossae was Philemon and he even hosted a cell group in his house. Paul, being aware of all this background information crafted his letter to be able to convey the message of restoration and forgiveness.

I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. ‭(Philemon 1:12-14)

After the conversion of Onesimus, he became a help to Paul, assisting him with his basic needs. Remember Paul himself was a prisoner for the gospel and he needed all the help possible to be able to get his needs met. Yet, Paul released Onesimus to return to Philemon rather than keeping Onesimus to attend to Paul’s own needs. In his letter, Paul wrote that. “I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.”‭(Philemon 1:12-14). In releasing Onesimus and sending him back to Philemon,  Paul demonstrated godly principles in restoration. He knew that the only way to reconcile the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus was to have Onesimus return to his former role. Onesimus, while in Rome, became a special person to Paul. He was so helpful that Paul referred to him as the one “who is my very heart”. Paul mentioned the fact that although he would have loved to keep Onesimus so that he could receive all the help from Onesimus, Paul was also careful not to do anything without the consent of Philemon.

Restoration, the act of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition was clearly demonstrated by Paul. He does not only plead for Onesimus, he makes the effort to return Onesimus back to Philemon. Many people preach restoration but do not practice it in reality. When we genuinely encounter Jesus, like Zaccheaus (Luke 19: 1-10), we should be willing to give back to others what we have wrongfully taken from them. If you owe a brother or a sister, true repentance and restoration is to pay back what you owe. Unless they genuinely cancel all your debts, never take their kindness to be their weakness. This week, ponder over these things and consider those little things you have to restore. Don’t miss the opportunity to make peace. If you are Philemon, when those who have treated you wrongfully genuinely want restoration, don’t drive them away. Even if they cannot take their former position, make peace with them and liberate yourself from the pain they have caused you.

The letter to Philemon (Part 3)

In Paul’s letter to Philemon, Paul reveals that his prayer for Philemon is that the partnership with the saints in the faith may be effective in deepening Philemon’s understanding of every good thing they share for the sake of Christ (Philemon 1:6). Thus, although Paul recommends Philemon in the introductory part of his letter, Paul also reveals that there is more room for Philemon to grow in his knowledge of Jesus Christ. However, Philemon’s love for the church  gives Paul great joy and encouragement, because Philemon refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people (Philemon 1:7). One will say that Philemon was that brother who had a contagious love for the people of God. He would have sacrificed a lot to ensure the growth of the church. It was after Paul’s words of praise and encouragement that delve into the main focus of his letter: an appeal for Onesimus.

that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. (‭Philemon 1:10-11)

Onesimus was the slave of Philemon. However, Onesimus ran away which was against the rules binding him to his master. It is also possible to postulate that in his flight, Onesimus might have taken some things that belong to Philemon. Remember,  as a slave, Onesimus didn’t have what it takes to make the long journey from Colossae to Rome. So, Onesimus the runaway slave met Paul in Rome. One way or another, Onesimus converted to become a believer in Rome. Paul, a man of peace, might have spoken with Onesimus and after knowing the background of Onesimus, Paul decided to restore Onesimus to his master. Paul, being aware of the consequences of dealing with a runaway slave, began his appeal on the basis of love. In Philemon 1:8-9, the apostle Paul wrote that, “Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.” Paul didn’t use spiritual and mentoring authority over Philemon to force him to accept Onesimus. Rather, Paul made an appeal: “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.” (‭Philemon 1:10-11).

Was Onesimus useless to Philemon? Paul’s appeal revealed that as a runaway slave, Onesimus was of no use to Philemon. Surprisingly, the Greek definition for Onesimus is “useful”. Yet, when Onesimus left his master, there was no use for him. However, when Onesimus encountered Paul in Rome, the reverse happened. He became useful not just as a helper to Paul but also as a brother in Christ. Paul’s appeal was for Philemon to first accept Onesimus as a useful person and also as a changed person. Onesimus, remorseful of his attitude towards his master, was ready to return to Colossae as a slave of Philemon. It was now the turn of Philemon to accept his slave back to his home. There are many types of ‘Onesimuses’ in our world. men and women who succeed in hurting the people God sent to help them rise. Instead of being helpful to their helpers, ‘Onesimuses’ become useless time wasters who waste all the investments done in their lives. Whether you fall in the place of Philemon or Onesimus, remember that second chances are not always promised. However, when God allows you the opportunity to start over again, let your transformation impact the world.

The suffering servant (Part 8): His suffering was the will of God

The joy of most parents is to see their children excel in life and become needful in the society. Very few parents desire that their children suffer and go through extreme and excessive pain. For some parents even seeing their children leave the house to boarding institutions, work in a new city, join the army, leave to their marital homes etc. could be a hard thing for them to grasp. Our desire is to be protective, caring and show our deepest love for children sometimes clouds us so much that any decision our children make with a potential to harm them is strongly opposed. Thus, on the average, the majority of parents will strongly oppose any form of action that has the potential to hurt or bring pain to their children. God the Father’s only begotten Son was Jesus Christ. When humanity fell into sin, the only way back to God was through sacrifice and atonement. The price God paid for our redemption was the life of His only begotten Son. Imagine the atrocities that were meted out on God’s Son. Jesus being fully aware that whatever He had to experience was so that humanity would be redeemed never protested nor opposed the Father’s will.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.‭‭ (Isaiah 53:10)

As we continue our discussion on the suffering servant, we need to understand why the servant went through all that was described in the Messianic prophecy. According to Isaiah 53:10, “it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.‭‭” The suffering of this servant was not coincidental nor was it an accidental suffering. It was the will of the Lord to “crush him and cause him to suffer.” And in so doing, “the Lord makes his life an offering for sin.” Ultimately, the offspring of the Lord will be seen and the days of the servant will be prolonged because the will of God will prosper. Thus, the servant’s ultimate mission was to satisfy the Lord’s will. These prophetic words came to pass in the life, ministry and death of Jesus Christ. John 3 :16 summarizes this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The crucifixion of Jesus was a tough experience considering the fact that the people Jesus came to save didn’t make his death an easy peasy journey. He was beaten, ridiculed and ultimately crucified. Yet, His death was God’s will for restoration. Jesus did not just pay the price, He Himself was the price. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has brought to God many other brothers and sisters including me and you. The family of God has expanded because the death of Jesus has brought many more people to the saving knowledge of God. The price has already been paid,  let’s go out there and bring in more brothers and sisters. There is more room for more people. Everyone is welcome!

The Lord will provide restoration

Have you ever lost something you hold so dear to heart that the thought of it always makes you sad? What will you do if after several years of accepting your loss, you receive a call informing you that your precious thing has been found and will be restored to you? I am sure that your joy will be inexpressible. You are likely to testify about this to all who matter and care to know. The Jews experienced something similar. They sinned against God and they were expelled from their homeland and their most sacred place, the temple was destroyed. The destruction of the temple was very deeply felt by the Jews carried away into slavery and the Jews left behind. The temple was a reminder of the presence of God. Whether at home or away, they were always praying facing the temple. Thus the destruction of the temple was a big loss to them.

“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. ‭‭(Ezra‬ ‭1:2‬)

Several years later, a new king arose. Cyrus was the king of Persia and his kingdom overthrew the Medes. In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’ ” (‭‭Ezra‬ ‭1:1-4)

This news was met with so much joy and all the people whose hearts were touched left for Jerusalem to build the temple of the Lord. As if that wasn’t enough, the king also released unto them the articles of the temple that Nebuchadnezzar had removed and setin the temple of his god. Thus, the restoration was not just for the temple building alone but all the sacred things belonging to the temple were restored. God made it possible for the people to have it all back. When God restores, He does it in full. ‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:25‬ (‭KJV‬‬) is a perfect depiction of God’s restoration: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”

The great restorer is still in the business of restoration. Instead of sulking and lamenting, we can look up to Him and cry to Him to restore all that the enemy has stolen from us. Stolen years, blessings, peace, joy, among many other things can all be restored by the Lord. Don’t give up praying, He will surely restore you!

The women of faith

The book of Hebrews is unique in many ways. First, the author of the book is not known and the expected audience of the book is not stated as well. However, we know that it was written for a group of believers facing challenges likely to lead them to fall away from their faith. As the author alternates between the Old Testament and the Jesus-believers’ way of life, the author makes the point that the new life in Jesus Christ is worth committing to. In Hebrews 11, the author gives the well defined action of faith. Chapter 11 begins with, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1). Later the author goes ahead to list a group of people whose lives demonstrated their faith. Generally known as the heroes of faith, these people defied the odds and trusted in God even in the most unlikely situations. Let’s consider the women of faith as mentioned in the book of Hebrews. These women were Old Testament women who would have been known to the audience of this book. The author also mentions recent events which would have been known by the recipients of this book.

Sarah
“And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.” (Hebrews 11:11)
As we saw during our overview of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, we identified how God caused her to have a child even when she was far above the age of childbearing. The author of Hebrews makes us understand that although Sarah was quite old and naturally impossible to have a child, she still believed the word of the Lord. Sarah refused to be defined by her age, she had faith in God who had promised her a child.

Jochebed
“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” (Hebrews 11:23)
Amram and his wife Jochebed defied Pharaoh’s order to have every male song drawn in the Nile and they hid baby Moses for three months. According to the author of Hebrews, the parents’ boldness to defy the king’s edict was done in faith because they knew that Moses was no ordinary child. This knowledge took away the fear of the punishment they would have received should their plan to keep baby Moses backfire.

Rahab
“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” (Hebrews 11:31)
Rahab the prostitute of Jericho and her entire family were spared because she showed kindness to the Israelites spies. Rehab betrayed her own people when she hid the spies away from their own people. The author of Hebrews states that this bold action of Rahab was done in faith and Rahab’s bold step spared her and everyone belonging to her.

Other women
“Women received back their dead, raised to life again.” (Hebrews 11:35a)
In the Old Testament and even during the time of Jesus and the ministry of the apostles, there were women who received their dead back to life. According to the author of Hebrews, these women had faith and their faith propelled their miracles. The widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17) had her dead son restored to life through the ministry of Elijah. The Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4) had her dead son restored to life through the ministry of Elisha. In the ministry of Jesus, Mary and Martha had their brother Lazarus restored to life (John 11). The widow of Nain had her dead son restored to life through Jesus (Luke 7:14-15). The widows in the Church in Joppa received Dorcas (also known as Tabitha) back to life through the ministry of Peter (Acts 9: 38-42).

The author of Hebrews makes a profound statement, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). The cloud of witnesses refer to those who have passed on to glory, the heroes of faith who defied the odds and whose faith moved dead situations in their lives. These witnesses are watching us from glory and cheering us on to also persevere in faith. We are also admonished to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” After we throw off the loads of sin weight, we can now “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” No athlete runs with a load. If we want to experience the dimensions of higher life of faith, we should do away with sin and its attendant baggage.

In our walk with the Lord, we need to know that God can do the humanly impossible. Knowledge of this should be backed by our faith in God and a life of righteousness. When it is humanly impossible, we should know that God is the impossibility specialist. Whatever situation we might be facing, let us trust God for victory. If God did it for others in the past, did it for people in our lives, and is still doing it for others around us, then He will surely do it for us. Our hope is in You Lord. Do it Lord and let’s all glory by Yours alone.

Apphia of Colossae

The short letter to Philemon was necessitated because Paul needed to restore the runaway slave, Onesimus, back to his master, Philemon. As an active member of the churches in Colossae, and with a church in his home, Philemon was also the recipient of the communal letter to the churches in Colossae. However, it was necessary for Paul to have a special letter sent to Philemon alone. Onesimus, whose name meant “useful” in Greek had not lived his name but became a “useless” runaway servant who probably stole his master’s properties in his flight. Even Paul acknowledged that formerly Onesimus was useless to Philemon, but now he has become useful both to Philemon and to Paul (Philemon 1:11). Onesimus met Paul in Rome and converted to Christianity. He demonstrated genuine repentance and Paul saw it necessary to restore him back to his master “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.” (Philemon 1:16). In this short letter, Paul mentions the name of a woman known as Apphia. Who was Apphia and why was her name important in this letter of restoration?

also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home (Philemon 1:2)

Apphia was a member of the churches in Colossae. This is how Paul begins his letter:
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home” (Philemon 1:1‭-‬2).
Thus, although Philemon was the main recipient of the letter, Apphia, Archippus and the church that meets in the home of Philemon were all addressed. Onesimus’ unruly behaviour would have been an open sin known by the members of the church that meets in Philemon’s home. Apphia would have been an outstanding church leader who was very much involved in ministry work. Paul refers to her as “our sister” indicating the church family relationship. Archippus on the other hand was referred to as a fellow soldier. In the general letter to the Colossians Paul had written, “Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”” (Colossians 4:17). It was necessary for Apphia and Archippus to be mentioned in this letter because the apostle sought their support in pleading for Onesimus. These two leaders in the church were people Philemon probably looked onto and respected.

By addressing them in the letter, Paul indirectly expected Philemon to share the content of the letter with them. Although we are not privy to know the outcome of this plea, I believe that the letter survived because Paul’s plea yielded results. Apphia and Archippus would have been instrumental in this restoration process. We could also compare Apphia with Phoebe of the church in Cenchreae. Just as Paul trusted Phoebe to deliver the all-important letter to the Romans, Paul trusted Apphia to help restore Onesimus to Philemon. Apphia in Colossae played an instrumental role in the churches in Colossae. She was outstanding among many other women that Paul needed her attention in restoring Onesimus back to Philemon. Apphia’s responsibilities in the churches in Colossae might have included mentorship and discipleship. Thus, she was recognized for her dedication to ensuring the spiritual growth of the members. As a leader, Apphia and Archippus might have worked closely with Philemon. As someone mentioned in this letter, Apphia would have gone ahead to plead or even advocate for Onesimus as a repentant brother.

The church of God has many women who wear the coats of Apphia. These are God-fearing, dedicated and committed women who delight in the growth of the church. They do not shame the sinner but do all that they can to ensure that the repentant sinner is received with love by all members of the church. “Apphias” are not afraid to put their reputation away just to restore one wandering church member. Truly, these are mothers and sisters you can count on to leave the ninety-nine sheep at a secure place and chase after the one lost sheep. Are you an Apphia or a wandering Onesimus?

Dorcas: A testimonial of goodness

Not many people get the opportunity to live life on earth again after they experience death. In fact, throughout history, very few people have ever been restored back to life after being declared dead. In as much as we love the people around us, it is appointed unto man to die once (Hebrews 9:27). If there is an opportunity for people to be restored back to life after death, people will look forward to that. One woman had such an opportunity to live again after she had died. Today’s post will focus on a woman known as Dorcas or Tabitha. Let’s consider how her life became a testimonial for people to pray for her restoration.

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. (Acts 9:36)

In the early days of the church, many of the poor and widows in the church relied on the benevolent contributions of members for their livelihoods. The church in Joppa had a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor (Acts 9:36). Dorcas’ goodness was so significant that it was added to her introduction. But, Dorcas became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room (Acts 9:37). Her death might have been a blow to the church. The beneficiaries of her good deeds would have been very sad. The disciples were so sad and wouldn’t just let go. Peter the apostle was then in Lydda and Lydda was near Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” (Acts 9:38). I’m not sure whether the disciples called for Peter to raise Dorcas from the dead or to do a memorial service. Whatever their intentions were, they were just hoping for the best.

When Peter heard the news, he did not wait. Peter went with them back to Joppa, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. There, all the widows stood around Peter, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them (Acts 9:39). This might have made Peter sad as well. Peter sent them all the people out of the room, got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, Peter said, “Tabitha, get up.” The woman who was dead, opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up (Acts 9:40). Peter took Dorcas by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive (Acts 9:41). This miraculous event became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord (Acts 9:42).

The life of Dorcas teaches us that our goodness are living testaments of how we have impacted the people around us. Whenever there is an opportunity to do good, we should take advantage of it. Dorcas’ goodness raised a monument for her in life and in death. As long as Jesus tarries in His second coming, the poor, widows, orphans etc. will always be with us. Let’s be intentional about seizing every opportunity to be a blessing to others. If the books of our lives are laid bare before the Lord, will the people around us cry for our return or will they plead with the Lord to keep us in glory? Indeed, just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27), let’s make good use of our one-in-life opportunity to be a blessing.