“May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.” 2 Timothy 1:16
October 27, 2023
There will be defectors and the disloyal in our lives within the Christian community. Have you been on the receiving end of someone you thought was supportive and trustworthy only to have them walk away from commitments and even a friendship? Paul hit a low point in his service for Christ when unexpected defections impacted him (2 Tim. 1:15 “all who are in Asia turned away from me”). But his thoughts quickly turned to Onesiphorus. It was he who was ready to suffer, to endure pain for the cause of Christ. He had done much for Paul: Risked his life to help him, by bringing news to Paul, who brought food, drink, and reading material while Paul was in prison. The Living Bible says, “his visits revived me like a breath of fresh air.” Reflecting on this makes us wonder if we have been like this to someone. Onesiphorus, a member of the church at Ephesus, had traveled to Rome to find Paul and encourage him. What great value is a loyal and kind friend who goes out of his or her way to connect with us when we are dealing with difficult circumstances. Thank God for them. Don’t let defectors and the disloyal embitter you and shut you down from being useful to God. God keeps records. Let Him take care of the accounting. He will reward and judge fairly.
H
“Do not be discouraged – it may be the last key in the bunch that opens the door.”