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The Ten Commandments outline the basic structure for how Israel was to keep covenant with their God. Having rescued Israel out of Egypt, God was bringing them into a new land and into a new way of life. In order for all God’s promises to be realized, Israel would need to remain true to the covenant and thereby receive all the blessings for which God had rescued them in the first place.

After rehearsing Israel's story, Moses addresses Israel's new generation, reminding them who they are and why they exist. By their careful obedience to God's revealed law, they were to attract the attention of the surrounding nations. But they must be careful not to become like those nations and forfeit the privileges God had given them. Through their loyalty to their God, it would become clear to everyone that there is no other God but the God of Israel.

After 40 years of exile, a new generation in Israel begins to approach the Promised Land once again. Israel is warned to leave some of their neighbors alone while commanded to defeat others. On the verge of finally entering the Promised Land, Moses’s request to enter the land himself is denied. He is instructed to put Joshua in charge of seeing God’s promise realized.

The book of Deuteronomy features Moses addressing a new generation of people in ancient Israel. Remembering the failures of the previous generation, the people renew the Mosaic covenant as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. But the blessings that God has promised to them remain in jeopardy, so long as the hearts of the people remain in rebellion against him.

Paul's purpose in writing Philemon is to intercede on behalf of Onesimus, who had recently become a Christian. Paul reminded Philemon of the partnership that he and Paul shared in the gospel. So now, as Onesimus returned to Philemon, Philemon would be compelled by the love he had received in Christ to receive Onesimus as a partner in Christ, just like he considered Paul to be.

Paul opens his letter to Philemon by expressing his gratitude to God for the genuineness of Philemon’s faith. Paul’s prayer for Philemon is that his faith will be put into practice in every situation, so that right there Christ and his kingdom will become visible. Paul has seen this happen before, and he expresses his confidence that he will see it again, especially in the matter that has caused him to write this letter to Philemon.

In Paul's letter to Philemon, the apostle makes an appeal on behalf of Philemon's slave, Onesimus. It is not just what the appeal is but how it is constructed that matters most. Here we see Christian theology in practice as Paul grounds his appeal for Onesimus in light of the reconciliation that Christ has won for his people.

The Christian life is not usually an easy life. We follow the crucified Savior so it should not be a surprise when our lives reflect a similar reality. But resurrection is our hope, keeping us encouraged to press onward in our discipleship.

The Christian community, the church of Jesus, is the place where God intends his glory to be visible today. Christian disciples are formed in this community, through the various ways in which God is made known to them. Everyone has an essential role to play for the benefit of the whole family of faith.

How quickly Christians can lose sight of the gospel! Paul was stunned to see how his converts in Galatia were drawing tighter boundaries around the people of God, limiting the freedom that Christ had won for them. He reminds Christian who they truly are: members of God's one family through whom he intends to manifest his blessings into the world.

Christians are to be disciples of Jesus more than anything else. Although we can learn much about Jesus from other Christians, it is Jesus we follow, and it is his fruit we are to manifest. Our task is to remain with Christ, abiding in his love, and joyfully obeying his commands.