How often do people live out their name’s meaning? Do our names always define who we are? If not, where do we find our true selves?
Interesting questions, I know. Too deep? Maybe.
There are many books of the Bible I go through over and over and think I know them inside and out. Then there are times I go through them slowly, with no expectations and no preconceptions. I taste and savor each verse. I meditate and consider the meaning. I let it sink down into my heart, planting seeds of truth.
It’s then that I’m struck down and lose my breath.
I’ve read the book of Philemon countless times in my life and this past week as I read it again, I realized I am Onesimus. I am a thief, a runaway slave, the prodigal child. Deserving punishment for my sins, I fear returning home to my Master. I’m ashamed, feel worthless, and unloved.
And then, in steps a substitute, one willing to take all the punishment in my stead. The Son of God in the flesh takes the death penalty for me, wiping the slate clean, allowing me to return home without fear.
This is what Paul did for Onesimus. “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.” (Philemon 17-19) Onesimus had stolen from his master and ran away. He came to know the Lord through Paul’s ministry. Paul wrote this letter to tell Philemon of the change in his slaves heart and ask that he return without fear of punishment.
Onesimus was welcomed back, as are we. Onesimus means “useful.” Paul used a play on his name when he wrote “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.” (11) Once a useless, rebellious slave, now useful because he had become a child of God.
“As Christ doth for us with God the Father, so doth St. Paul with Philemon for Onesimus. We are all God’s Onesimi, to my thinking.” Martin Luther
The grace of God saved us through the death of His Son, changing us from useless to useful. No longer runaways, now we are children of the living God. We can take joy that we are Onesimi of God. Taking on this name means we’ve found our true selves in Christ. We’ve found our home in the Kingdom and our future as heirs. He has made us useful. As He changed Simon into the Rock, He changes us into who we’re meant to be.
We can run from Him. We can hide in shame. We can think we are useless and worthless. But the Father cannot be outrun. There’s nothing we can do to make Him love us less; His love is even greater than our very worst sin.
Not only am I Onesimus, but I have other Onesimi in my life. Paul shows me in Philemon what gospel love looks like. He reminds me that when I have been wronged or wounded, I need to extend the same forgiveness that I’ve received. As he reminded Philemon, I’ve been forgiven for much more than the sins committed against me (v.19).
The story of Onesimus and Philemon is our story. It’s a story of mercy, grace and forgiveness. It’s the story of the prodigal returning home to the arms of a father, opened wide. And it’s in the arms of our Father where we find our true selves.
Have you found your true self in Christ?
“I learned the truth of the gospel…That I am not measured by the good I do but by the grace I accept. That being lost is a prerequisite to being found. That living a life of faith is not lived in the light, it is discovered in the dark. That not being a saint here on earth will not necessarily keep you from being in that number when the march begins.” Robert Benson in All is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir by Brennan Manning
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How awesome that He brings us to Himself and we come into who we truly are made to be in Him. I know this is true in many ways, but one specific way I’ve seen this in my life is that I always loved art and had talent as a kid, but I didnt pursue it because I didn’t think I had a voice. So I stopped pursuing art. Then I came to know Christ and all of a sudden I had a lot to say. When I started art classes again, the gift had come alive in me. He has made me useful, how awesome!!!
Great post!
I love how He has used you for the glory of His Kingdom. Thanks so much, sweet friend!
Wow, fantastic post.
Thanks Denise!
great post…you did a great job telling the story of Onesimus and weaving it back to our relationship with God…and yes forgiveness…God has me there…blessings~
Thank you and blessings to you!
Great post! Come check out my list of 100 Smoothies! Comment if you’d like on which one is you favorite!
Love, Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations https://www.ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/2012/04/100-smoothie-recipes.html
Nothing beats a great smoothie:) Thanks for visiting!
I have NEVER read this before and got this. Great post.
Thank you.
Thanks! Every story in Scripture whispers His name, some louder than others. So glad you stopped by!
This was such a rich post. Full of grace. I was just reading a poem about Judas (meaning “Praised Man”) and if our names are to be prophetic. When it comes right down to it, regardless of our name, we are His. We only have to turn and accept His amazing love.
So good to visit here today.
So thankful to be His and to be useful for Him. Thanks for stopping by!
I had to smile at the beginning of your post. My actual name is Cornelia, and it means “handmaiden of God.” I always twisted the meaning a bit, and blamed my parents for my being single, as my name meant “old maid of God.” I’ve often wondered, too, if we do live out the meanings of our name, and that the Lord had something to do with the choosing of what we would be called. . . something to think about.
I think Philemon is one of my favorite books. And you picked that wonderful verse that so beautifully explains the true meaning of forgiveness. A beautiful picture of how God forgives us —- that everything we owe was put on Jesus’ account and we owe nothing. And also a lesson on what it means to forgive others. We often think that forgiveness means letting someone get away with doing something wrong or looking the other way when someone offends. Instead, it means we transfer the indebtedness owed us to Jesus’ account and HE pays, makes it right. It sure takes a load off of us, doesn’t it?!
So good to be here today. It was a real blessing!
I think it might become one of my favorites as well! My name is Christina which means “Christian or Christ-follower.” I’m so thankful for Christ who makes me able to live out my name in faith. Thanks for visiting!
What a great study. I’ve never really read much about Onesimus - done a study I mean but yes he is a great example of where we all are or have been. Wonderful!
Just like the prodigal son, we can see ourselves in Onesimus’ story. Thanks for visiting!
I’m still finding myself, but thinking I might do that until I breathe my last. Haven’t heard much about Onesimus, you’ve enlightened me. And I assume you like Manning’s book. Thought that quote was familiar. Lovely post and I am owning my usefulness today. Thank you.
I do like his book. Manning is just like me, broken but used by God. Thanks for recommending it:)
I am still discovering my true self in Christ.. I am learning to celebrate more and more, the person God created me to be — not to be boastful, but to be confident in Him… I allowed the lies of the enemy to keep me trapped too long..
My name means “Who is like the Lord”… only by God’s grace could I walk out this truth…
It’s a lifelong journey to discoverying who we really are in Christ. It’s so true that the enemy tries to keep us from that journey. I love your name’s meaning! So thankful for grace that helps us all live for Him. Blessings to you!
Wow what a great revelation, I’ve read that book for countless times but I’ve never thought or never have this revelation. Thank you for sharing, and this “There’s nothing we can do to make Him love us less; His love is even greater than our very worst sin” Wow I love this.
Just like others, I’m still discovering my true self in Christ.
Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Thanks for visiting and for your sweet words! May we all live to find ourselves in Him. Blessings to you!
I absolutely loved this. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks so much, and thank you for visiting! Blessings to you!
This is hugely insightful. From useless to useful…
I’m taking this one with me. Thank you.
Thank you Jennifer! I am so thankful that through Christ, I am useful. Blessings to you!
Visiting from your new small group at SDG
Funny I should read this today as I just texting a friend that I need to be better about responding to situations with grace. I have been extended so much grace, so why is that never my first response to others? Geesh. I have some growing to do. Appreciated this post, beautiful pictures, too 
So glad to meet you! I get so easily annoyed at what others do, I fail to forget that I’ve done much worse. And I am forgiven! So thankful for grace. Blessings to you!
Thank you for introducing me to Onesimus! I won’t forget him. There’s a men’s tailoring shop by the same name here in the Philippines and my husband used it as the password of our Wifi service, so I’m really familiar with the name but did not know the story! Yes we are all Onesimus in one way or another and it is good to know we are redeemed by His blood and not thrown into prison where we deserve to be!
Yes, we were all slaves once, now made free by His redemption. Its such a short book, one I’ve over looked and read through without paying much notice before. Makes me want to go back through some other seemingly insignificant books now:)
I feel like God has been reminding me of this very thing lately. Thanks so much for sharing it-just what I needed to hear!
Oh and me too! I need to be reminded of where I came from and what He did for me. Not only that but of who I am now. Useless to useful. Thanks for visiting!
So glad to have found this post today. I love how we come into who we truly are made to be in Him.
Me too! Because without Him I am nothing. So glad you stopped by!