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Wednesday... They can change.


Wednesday... They can change.

They really can. Paul in writing a letter to his friend, Philemon tells of a change that happened to Onesimus. Onesimus was Philemon's servant and he had stolen some money from him and ran. And Paul is writing this letter to tell him that Onesimus had changed. In verse 11 (NIV) Paul writes, "Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and me."

Somehow Onesimus had found his way to Rome where Paul was in prison and found Paul and had found a relationship with Christ and it changed him from useless to useful. And that is what a relationship with Christ can do and will do in each one of us.

Paul then in verses 15-16 says, "Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever - no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother in the Lord." Onesimus' relationship with Christ also changed his relationship with Philemon, his owner. He became a dear brother in the Lord.

Now it was not God's will for Onesimus to steal from Philemon but He used it to make changes in their lives. Maybe some of the wrong choices we make God can use to change us. He uses bad choices to bring about great changes if we let Him.

So keep praying for that one who has wandered off to find a Paul that will lead him to Christ. And maybe that one is you. As Paul puts it in verses 10-11 (MSG), "While here in jail, I've fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter - Onesimus! He was useless to you before; now he's useful to both of us."

Maybe that is what God wants to do in your life, to change you from useless to useful. Just reach out to Him and ask Him to come into your life and change you. No matter what you have been or what you have done He wants to change you from useless to useful. And He can! Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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