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: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon 1-3 NIV
This is the opening of a letter that Paul wrote to Philemon, on behalf of Onesimus, asking Philemon to extend grace to Onesimus, who had deserted Philemon, but had since come to know Christ and was willingly returning to ask for forgiveness. Notice how Paul refers to theses fellow believers. He uses terms like dear friend, fellow worker, sister, fellow soldier. Do you think of the Christians in your life with such endearment? As we serve the Lord together, God wants us to develop strong family like relationships.
The early church enjoyed meeting in each other’s houses to fellowship, pray and study the Word with each other. There’s something very special and important about doing that! If you aren’t in a home Bible study, I encourage you to join one or open your house up and start one.
I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Philemon 6 NIV
As Christians we are partners with one another, all serving the same Lord, sharing the same goal. Our relationships with other believers should deepen our understanding of God. As we see Christ in each other and share the insights he shows each one of us, we all grow together. God has wired us for community. All the blessings of serving God are good things that we share, drawing us closer not only to God, but also to each other.
You start to get a sense of how deeply Paul was connected with the other believers around him as he pleads with Philemon to have mercy on Onesimus.
I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. Philemon 12 NIV
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 15-16 NIV
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. Philemon 17-18 NIV
Paul says, “Whatever he owes you, charge it to me!” Are you close enough to your brothers and sisters in Christ to say that? Do you have their backs and do they have yours? That’s the way it should be. God wants to give us strong friendships within the body of Christ. Life can be hard, but we are all in this together!
Paul embraced the network that God had provided for him and we should too.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. Philemon 23-24 NIV