Jesus Paid it ALL! Do I Appreciate that Enough?

Have you read the book of Philemon recently?  On Sunday morning at our Breaking of Bread service at church,  one of the men stood up and compared Philemon to God the Father, Paul to Jesus Christ and Onesimus to himself.  Philemon was a believer who had a slave named Onesimus.  Onesimus ran away and somehow found himself with the Apostle Paul, getting saved and helping with Paul's ministry.   Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon with a letter asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back - as a brother in Christ,  not as a slave, and told him that if Onesimus had wronged Philemon in any way,  to charge it to Paul's account and he would pay Philemon back.

This man stood up at the Breaking of Bread service and said that Philemon is a picture of God the Father and Paul is a picture of Jesus Christ.   Onesimus is a picture of us.  He said Jesus, talking to the Father in heaven, says that if I (Darla) have wronged the Father in any way, lay the blame on Him - Jesus paid for it.  

The man standing was going to speak more on the subject but was overcome with emotion so he sat down.   But I have been thinking about what he said since Sunday and I have further thoughts.  We were slaves to sin, as Onesimus was a slave.  Jesus asks God to freely accept us as his children,  not as slaves, because we are loved by Him and our sins were charged to Jesus' account.  Jesus paid our debts and we are freed the moment we accept Him as our Savior!

I was reminded of a movie I saw once that had a scene about a boy who had become a king very young.  Because he was a child, he needed discipline but because he was a king, there was a peasant boy who would be punished in his place while he watched.  It really modified the boy-king's behavior when he realized an innocent child would be punished for HIS misbehavior. 

It's not a perfect example because Jesus carried our sins and paid for them ONCE and that price never has to be paid again.   But does that modify my behavior?  Do I remember that the Holy Spirit can be grieved by my sinful behaviors?  Do I take my salvation for granted now or do I work even harder at my Christian walk?  

Well, today I feel like I did my best.  I wore my "testimony shirt" and I fasted today to focus my prayers.  I did my grocery shopping,  volunteered at my son's school and then visited my thrift store friend to check on her and we had a lovely chat - I told her about Philemon and what our brother said on Sunday morning.   I told her there are a number of people praying for her and that I am praying that God will give generously to her.  She has been reading Revelation and it has bern scaring her.  This afternoon after school, I took the kids bowling with a friend of my son's from school and his mother - nice people but not saved.   They are on my prayer list and I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to be a light to them and I am praying for more of those opportunities. 

I was a little concerned about how I would handle a day of fasting with my fatigue issues, dizziness, etc but the Lord was so gracious to me and I felt great all day!  It's time for me to go to bed now and I am so thankful for the strength God provides to meet each moment.   When He lays something on my heart, He ALWAYS provides the strength to accomplish His will for each day.

I pray you will experience the same comfort that I have in the knowledge that I am loved and supported by an all-powerful God!