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So if you consider me a partner, 
welcome him as you would me.
Philemon 1:17 CSB
Paul, 
the apostle, the pastor, 
is asking Philomen, 
the slave owner, the one with power, the one who has been wronged by his slave taking off, 
to welcome Onesimus, the slave, 
as he would welcome himself. 
How you think of me, how you see me, how you value me, is how I am asking you to think of Onesimus.
How I am asking you to see Onesimus.
How I am asking you to value Onesimus.
Paul is asking that his value is put on Onesimus.
How does that feel for Onesimus? 
The unseen.
The unvalued.
Seen.
Valued.
No matter what Philemons response is, Onesimus is seen.
Is valued.
The person who really counts in Onesimus' life sees him. 
Values him.
Paul does that by putting his own worth, his own reputation, his own value on O.
Saying that even tho I'm at a distance, held here in prison, I am with you. 
Even if O never got to read this letter or hear of its contents, he is seen, he is valued, he is loved.
This is a picture of Jesus love for us.
He puts his worth on us.
His reputation.
His value.
He sees you.
He values you.
He loves you.
And he is with you.
#dearlyloved
#childofGod
#with

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