Friday, April 28, 2017
A relatively unknown New Testament character by the very uncommon name of Onesiphorus, played a much more important part in the ministry of the Apostle Paul than most people may imagine. You may ask: "What did he do?" Well, his visits to Paul in prison obviously encouraged the apostle. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul wrote: “May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.” (2 Tim. 1:16)
That may not sound like that big a deal to many, but consider this: Paul, after experiencing beatings, the rejection of his people, and the abandonment of ministry assistants, was now alone, cold, hungry and forgotten in prison. And though the bible makes no mention of it, it is not that hard to imagine then how Paul was later able to, even as a prisoner, encourage others. Could that be one reason he later wrote this in his second letter to the Corinthian church?: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4) Paul gave God the glory for his comfort and rightfully so because in the end, all good things come from Him. Nevertheless, some of the that refreshing uplift came by way of Onesiphorus.
If you’ve ever experienced loneliness, you know what just the sight of a dear friend or loved one can do. And if you’re not at all lonely right now, perhaps the Lord may remind you of someone who may be. Need I say anything else? Encourage someone today. Not only may it make someone’s day, it will it make you feel good as well, and honor God in the process. Know anyone who needs a lift?
God’s word for today: (Matthew 25:36) “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
