Willing, Not Forced

Philemon 1:14

But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.

In C S Lewis’ book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Aslan reveals himself to Edmund and Lucy at various times. Each time, he is there to provide guidance and direction. He never forces them to do anything, he just lays out what is right. The choice to obey is theirs.

Paul does the same thing in the Book of Philemon. Paul states that he could demand that Philemon free his escaped slave, Onesimus, but he would rather that Philemon does what is right of his own accord. Philemon did not have to agree, and we never find out if he did.

God works that way in us, too. The Creator of the Universe could surely pound us mere mortals into submission. He had the power to create Adam and Eve as nothing more than robots, forced to do His will and live by His rules.

Instead, God chose to give us free will. He wants us to follow Him because we love Him, not because we have to. Jesus always spoke to sinners about the love of God, not hell. Our relationship with God is based on love, not fear. We must follow God because we love Him, not because we must.

Today’s Readings:  Philemon; Hebrews 1-4

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