October 27, 2024 - 2 Timothy 1

In reading Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, we might be especially struck by his note regarding Onesiphorus.  Of course, there are other important matters here, even more important matters (the faith handed down through Timothy's family, God’s keeping of the believer until the end, the good soldier and faithful worker motifs, the work of Jesus on the cross, the instruction to flee from sin, warnings against the Godlessness of the last days, the affirmation of God’s Word and the need to preach it).  With all this, we might be tempted to overlook the Onesiphorus matter. 

Here's the statement:  “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus” (1:16-18).  Here is a friend indeed!  He often—not merely occasionally, but often!—helped Paul out.  Paul had become a prisoner and an outcast, but Onesiphorus was not bothered by that.  He didn’t care what others might say about him and his association with Paul.  He searched for Paul in Rome until he found him.  I can imagine him going from person to person, from office to office, from government building to government building, always asking and seeking.  He did not give up until he found Paul.  May the Lord give us friends in Christ like that and, also, make us to be friends like that.  Our greatest friend?

A friend of Jesus! O what bliss

That one, so vile as I,

Should ever have a friend like this

To lead me to the sky!

Friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine,

O what blessed, sweet communion,

Jesus is a friend of mine!   -- Joseph C. Ludgate (1898)