Verse: 2 Timothy 1:15-18
15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.
18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
Devotion:
Have you ever felt abandoned by someone you thought you could count on? Someone you expected to be by your side, but when the going got tough, they were nowhere to be found? Paul experienced that, more than once. He tells us as much. But, rather than dwelling on those who let him down, he chose to magnify one who didn’t. He testifies to the loyalty and perseverance of Onesiphorus, who sought Paul out when he was imprisoned in Rome, “refreshed” him, and “was not ashamed” of Paul’s status.
I think there are two things we can take away from this passage. First, I hope we are the kind of friend that Onesiphorus was to Paul. The kind of friend who, when someone is going through a hard time, we don’t disappear, but rather we become MORE visible. We don’t “give them some space”, but we seek them out, meet their needs, and bless them in as many ways as possible.
Second, I hope that we have the same attitude toward our friends as Paul does. If someone lets us down, we recognize it, but we don’t dwell on it. We might mention it to others, so that they don’t also get burned, but we don’t waste time condemning those that have failed us. Rather, we focus our energy and attention on those who haven’t. We thank God for the blessing of true friends, those who are loyal and dependable. Those who sit with us when we feel imprisoned, and bind our wounds, and bring us water to drink. They are worthy of our attention, and of our testimony.
Prayer:
God, please help me to be a friend more like Onesiphorus. Give me the strength and courage to be loyal in the hard times, and to be so focused on serving others that the situation doesn’t matter. And help me to have the attitude of Paul. To not dwell on offenses, but to be grateful for the blessing of true friendship. Amen.
Author: Dave MacDonald
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