For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good - no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

Philemon 1:15-16 BSB

Paul is giving us a lesson on how to stand with someone who is seen as "less than". 

How to stand with someone disregarded. 

How to stand with someone left out, left behind, left alone. 

"He is especially beloved to me..."

What beautiful, healing, hopefilled words that must have been for Onesimus. 

Paul writes them because he has received them. From Jesus.

Paul, like us, is limited to how many people he can genuinely say that about, but Jesus is not limited like that, and he says;

(insert your own name) 

"_______ is especially beloved by me"

Paul knew Onesimus, knew where he'd come from, and loved him.

Jesus knows you, knows me. Knows our fallibility, frailty, mistakes, missteps, sins, hurts, sorrows, wins, victories, achievements, losses, grief, and hopes. 

And says "_____ is especially beloved by me"

(When it seems too difficult for whatever reason to put your own name in there, try it anyway)

#philemon

#beloved

#youarebeloved