I saw Mary every Tuesday when I volunteered at “the House”—a home that helps former prisoners get back into society. My life looked different from hers: fresh out of jail, fighting addictions, cut off from her family. She was someone most people would look down on.

Like Mary, Onesimus knew what it meant to live as a ‘nobody’. As a slave, Onesimus had wronged his Christian owner, Philemon, and was now in prison. While there, he met Paul and decided to trust Jesus for himself (PHILEM. 1:10). Onesimus was a changed man—but still a slave. Paul sent him back to Philemon with a letter asking him to accept Onesimus back “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother” (V.16).

Philemon had a choice to make: he could treat Onesimus as his slave or welcome him as part of God’s family. I had a choice to make too. Would I see Mary as an ex-convict and a struggling addict—or as a woman whose life is being changed by Jesus’ power? Mary was part of God’s family, and we loved walking together in our journey of faith.

It’s easy to allow things like age, looks or where we live to stop us getting to know others. But in our schools, neighbourhoods and churches, Jesus can remove those barriers, helping us to see others as He does and changing our lives and relationships forever.

By: Karen Wolfe

To Pray About . . .

Jesus, thank You that You can change our lives and relationships. Please help me to see that everyone I meet today is special to You.