More On Visitation Ministry

208 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 1:16-18, “The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, (Oh knee sif' er ous) for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. 18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day--and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus. (2 Tim 1:15-18) Onesiphorus. I wonder why we don't here more sermons about this man and his ministry. He certainly set the bar high for visitation ministry! He was not a hit and miss visitor to Paul during his incarceration, he OFTEN visited him, refreshing Paul's spirits! In addition, he didn't come into the prison with a paper bag over his face, as if he we ashamed to be seen with Paul. He was always genuinely glad to see him and had no qualms about being associated with him. Depending on the crime, sometimes this can be difficult in prison ministry. The prisoner is quite aware of the shame associated with his crime, whatever it may be. He doesn't need his visitors to add to it. Remember you are not embracing the sin, only the sinner who is a soul that matters to God! Go with a heart that is glad to connect with this person whom Christ died for on the cross! Then we read of Onesiphorus' dogged efforts to visit with Paul! He sought him out very zealously and found him. Sometimes in prison, ministry, there can be very frustrating bureaucratic channels that make it difficult to visit, perhaps Onesiphorus ran into a few of these himself, but he persevered, he kept at it until he found Paul and was able to refresh him! Thank you Onesiphorus for being a model for visitation ministry! Let your visits with Paul be an example for those so called today, that they too may doggedly pursue opportunities to gladden the hearts of the prisoner or the infirmed for the purpose of refreshment.....often! Allow me to let you in on a little secret in the matter of a visitation ministry, more often than not it is the visitor who comes away refreshed!