Philemon 15-16“For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but howmuch more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”
The name Onesimus, who was Philemon’s slave, means useful. However, he becomes useless by robbing his master and bolting to Rome for cover in that sanctuary city. The Almighty governs his path to cross with Paul’s, who happens to be under house arrest in Rome. Paul led the “useless one” to Christ and then dispatches him back with this biblical letter (Philemon).
When we lead people to Jesus they do not only they become useful, but they also become family! Paul affectionately calls Philemon, “my son” (Philemon 10). Onesimus also becomes the brother of his master, Philemon. When you and I believed in Jesus, we became “sons of God” and “daughters of God.” Not only that, but we became brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ. Observe the expression, “like His brethren” in Heb. 2:17-18.
“Therefore, in all things He [Jesus] had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted”
Being in Christ is awesome; God places you into His family, Jesus calls us brethren, and we become sons and daughters to those who led us to Christ, and our family multiplies exponentially by an innumerable multitude of brothers and sisters. Not bad for former slaves to Satan!