2 Timothy 1:15-18 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Timothy 1:15-18, which read,
v.15 - You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Paul is in a cold dark dungeon cell in Rome and writing this letter of instruction to Timothy to stay strong in the faith. We learn from this verse that many have left Paul and so he is not only physically all alone but also probably feeling emotionally all alone. He has seen many come to faith in Jesus Christ but he has also seen many walk away when the fires of persecution heated up. These two that are mentioned must have been leaders in the churches there and this must have been quite a blow to Paul.
Many are turning away from the faith in our world today. Some very prominent ones who we could name that used to hold to Scripture do not at this time. It is very discouraging but it is not a reason to abandon the faith even from a cold dark dungeon cell. Even the naming of two who were apparently close to Paul and worked alongside of him doing so no longer was a reality but the reality of salvation in Christ was worth even standing alone. Paul is warning Timothy that this would probably and most likely happen to him also.
v.16-18 - The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me--the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day--and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.
In the midst of the disappointment of many deserting him and the mission and even some big names in the region, here is a shining star, Onesiphorus. He not only did not stray from the faith but rather sought out to find Paul to learn more and to serve. His faith was active to grow and he would overcome obstacles that may have stopped others but not Onesiphorus. He was probably coming to be refreshed by Paul but Paul turns it around to let Timothy know that this type of people refreshed him. He searched all the prisons in Rome until he found Paul and understood why he would give his life for the gospel and endure the chains he was in for the sake of Christ's name.
We need more people like Onesiphorus in the church today. It seems that obstacles come in the way, surely put there by Satan himself, to deter us from seeking out more of God. Service to God is regulated to one hour of one day a week in many peoples minds and that is faltering from even among the faithful. The "all the more as the day approaches" of Hebrews 10 seems to be going the other way at times.
What if you had to find out where church, the gathering of the saints, was going to be this Sunday? Would you search for it? Would you make provisions to risk other things to be in a place to grow in your faith? What if there was a danger that you could get caught gathering to worship, would you still go? This is a reality in other parts of our world where Christians are gathering even in the face of prison or death and do they stop? The answer is no. They are Onesiphorus searching out where Paul is. We seem to be Phygelus and Hermogenes who have other things to do while our established sanctioned houses of worship dedicated for that purpose slowly empty out.
Paul gives us two types of people here, two types of church goers. Those who easily allow other things to take priority and those who keep it on the top of the list. You can easily go from being Onesiphorus to Phygelus and Hermogenes. When people get out of the habit of regular worship with the saints it is hard to get back to that "I plan my whole week around the opportunity to be with God's people to lift up His name." Who are you leaning toward today? Let's pray.
"Lord, two types of people that Paul introduces us to. Those who have walked away from the influence of the faith and those who are searching out for more. The walking away results in more focus on ourselves and the walking to results in more focus on being used by You. May it not have to become illegal to be a Christian or to gather as Christians for us to show that kind of faith but if needed may Your will be done. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.15 - You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Paul is in a cold dark dungeon cell in Rome and writing this letter of instruction to Timothy to stay strong in the faith. We learn from this verse that many have left Paul and so he is not only physically all alone but also probably feeling emotionally all alone. He has seen many come to faith in Jesus Christ but he has also seen many walk away when the fires of persecution heated up. These two that are mentioned must have been leaders in the churches there and this must have been quite a blow to Paul.
Many are turning away from the faith in our world today. Some very prominent ones who we could name that used to hold to Scripture do not at this time. It is very discouraging but it is not a reason to abandon the faith even from a cold dark dungeon cell. Even the naming of two who were apparently close to Paul and worked alongside of him doing so no longer was a reality but the reality of salvation in Christ was worth even standing alone. Paul is warning Timothy that this would probably and most likely happen to him also.
v.16-18 - The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me--the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day--and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.
In the midst of the disappointment of many deserting him and the mission and even some big names in the region, here is a shining star, Onesiphorus. He not only did not stray from the faith but rather sought out to find Paul to learn more and to serve. His faith was active to grow and he would overcome obstacles that may have stopped others but not Onesiphorus. He was probably coming to be refreshed by Paul but Paul turns it around to let Timothy know that this type of people refreshed him. He searched all the prisons in Rome until he found Paul and understood why he would give his life for the gospel and endure the chains he was in for the sake of Christ's name.
We need more people like Onesiphorus in the church today. It seems that obstacles come in the way, surely put there by Satan himself, to deter us from seeking out more of God. Service to God is regulated to one hour of one day a week in many peoples minds and that is faltering from even among the faithful. The "all the more as the day approaches" of Hebrews 10 seems to be going the other way at times.
What if you had to find out where church, the gathering of the saints, was going to be this Sunday? Would you search for it? Would you make provisions to risk other things to be in a place to grow in your faith? What if there was a danger that you could get caught gathering to worship, would you still go? This is a reality in other parts of our world where Christians are gathering even in the face of prison or death and do they stop? The answer is no. They are Onesiphorus searching out where Paul is. We seem to be Phygelus and Hermogenes who have other things to do while our established sanctioned houses of worship dedicated for that purpose slowly empty out.
Paul gives us two types of people here, two types of church goers. Those who easily allow other things to take priority and those who keep it on the top of the list. You can easily go from being Onesiphorus to Phygelus and Hermogenes. When people get out of the habit of regular worship with the saints it is hard to get back to that "I plan my whole week around the opportunity to be with God's people to lift up His name." Who are you leaning toward today? Let's pray.
"Lord, two types of people that Paul introduces us to. Those who have walked away from the influence of the faith and those who are searching out for more. The walking away results in more focus on ourselves and the walking to results in more focus on being used by You. May it not have to become illegal to be a Christian or to gather as Christians for us to show that kind of faith but if needed may Your will be done. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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