Daily Devotionals

Voice of the Lord

Devotional: 9th of Tishrei

If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me (Philemon 1:18).

Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) is a time when we seek reconciliation with God. Yet this reconciliation should occur not only between us and our heavenly Father. The theme of this important holy day should have a direct impact on our earthly relationships as well. Our verse today is directed toward a godly man named Philemon, who had received great blessings from our Father through the Messiah Yeshua. Rabbi Sha'ul (Saul; i.e., Paul) was thankful for such a friend whose faith was evident to all.

However, Philemon was faced with a tremendous test of his faith regarding the estranged servant who once worked for him. Onesimus, whose name means "useful," had proven to be "useless" to his former master (v. 11). In prison, Sha'ul had met Onesimus and led this useless slave to new life in the Messiah. This short, yet moving, letter is Sha'ul's appeal to his friend to forgive this newborn spiritual brother and to receive him for his sake. The shaliach (apostle) even offered to make restitution of any debts by saying "charge it to me."

This is truly a classic story of what Yom Kippur should be all about. As believers in Messiah, we have been reconciled to our Father. "Charge it to me" is what Yeshua was saying as he paid the price for our sins. If we have been forgiven such a debt, do we dare withhold forgiveness from those around us? Yom Kippur is the perfect time for believers to share the blessings we have received through our relationships with Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah).

...forgive others just as I have been forgiven through Messiah.

BK