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Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philemon 1:23-25 NLT
Changing something in our lives can be not only daunting, but it can feel lonely. 
Philemon may well be wondering as he gets to the end of this letter "what happens if I make this stand? 
What happens of I go against what is expected?
Will I be left out, left alone, kicked out of relationships that I have?"
Perhaps Paul is letting Philemon know there's another community, there's like-minded people here who get it, get you, and are here for you.
And  no matter what, we stand in the grace of Jesus, we stand in communion with Jesus, and that is what Paul seems to be encouraging Philemon with as he leaves him to weigh up his next step.
At our church over the last few months "take the next step" or "what is your next step" has been a theme. This letter is about taking the next step.
Where do I need to, or being invited to, take the next step?
#Philemon 
#rememberyouareBeloved 
#nextsmallstep
#inthistogether

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