Shortly after giving my heart to Jesus, I was asked by my youth pastor to start a Bible study at my previous high school.

A little background for context: I was “that kid” in high school. Constantly in trouble, always pushing the limits, and recruiting minions to join me in the process. My storied high school career was told by setting the record for most office referrals in one school year (I think it was 54).

So as you can imagine, my returning under the guise of “starting a Bible study” had to be the equivalent of the apostle Paul walking into a group of Christians to teach the Bible with a history of persecuting them to death. Needless to say, my meeting with Principal Burke didn’t go as planned. I declared with deep conviction and boldness, “I’ve been saved, and I’d like to come back to campus weekly to lead a Bible study.” His response was void of words, just a chuckle, smirk, and a stare like, “Are you actually being serious?”

This had to be how Philemon felt when the apostle Paul requested he receive Onesimus as his own brother.

Tucked between two power-packed sections of Scripture is this often overlooked single chapter of Scripture beautifully illustrating the transforming power of Jesus and how we as Christians should restore those who hurt us.

Onesimus was a former employee of Philemon until he robbed him and ran off to another city to party with his spoils. His partying landed him in prison, sharing a cell with the apostle Paul. It was there that Paul witnessed to Onesimus and prepared him for ministry.

In Philemon 8-20 Paul pleads with Philemon to receive Onesimus as a new person. Sometimes we forget when Christ touches our lives, our past no longer defines us. Our previous failures aren’t our future debts. No, when Christ forgives us, we return home a brother. A son. A daughter.

I don’t know where you find yourself in the story of Philemon, whether you need to receive someone back, or you need to go back home, but wherever you find yourself, one thing is crystal clear through this story: When Jesus changes our lives, we’re new people!