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.

Paul doesn’t hold back on acknowledging his place of suffering for Jesus. Instead he claims it as a title! Listen to what Paul says here to the Philippians: “And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did];” (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

There is a somewhat odd practice at work here (from the world’s perspective): the more Paul is persecuted, the greater his desire is to share in the sufferings of Christ. And he wants Philemon to understand the great and repeated sacrifice he has made because he is going to ask him to make a sacrifice too. He is modeling what spiritual maturity looks like.

He greets Philemon and his brothers and sisters in Christ with a warm greeting, and blesses them with the grace and peace that flow from God and Jesus.

As we begin the book of Philemon, it is short, only one chapter. But its message packs a powerful punch. In it we will learn of forgiveness, transformation, devoted service, and love.

Lord thank you for this book of Philemon. Thank you for your servant Paul. He titles himself a prisoner of Christ. May I wear my persecutions and sufferings for the sake of Christ as an honorable title, as well!