The Cause That Refreshes

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 OFTEN refreshed Paul while he was in prison! We aren't told how often, but we can be sure that Onesipherous was a frequent visitor to the dungeon which held Paul. In his visits he refreshed Paul. The word means to cool off. That doesn't mean that he dumped a bucket of cold water over Paul when he visited him, but rather, like an ice cold glass of lemonade on a hot and humid day, Onesiphorous brought relief to the parched soul of Paul! One can almost hear the guard announcing to Paul, “Onesipherous is here to see you,” and Paul's soul leaping for joy at the thought of another refreshing visit from this friend! Do you have a ministry of visitation? Sometimes we are thrown into such a ministry when illness strikes a friend or loved one, or when an acquaintance or relative finds themselves behind prison doors. Before you enter that room or that cell, ask yourself what you can do to bring refreshment to that person. Don't come walking in filled with gloom and doom, or a list of sins that you think may have put them in their predicament! Put a smile on your face and be genuinely glad to see that person. It will go a long way in the area of refreshment! More importantly, pray up before you get there! Ask God how you might refresh that person! Maybe it's a matter of finding Bible passages that ooze refreshment! Read the 23rd Psalm for starters! Let them know that God loves them and that you love them and of course be prepared to pray with them! Need encouragement before embarking? How about reading this portion of 2 Timothy for a refresher course on conducting visitation! For starters, purpose to refresh....... often!

The Compassion and Mercy of Onesiphorus

207 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 1:15-18, “This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, 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) Three names. Two mentioned in a bad light and one in a good light. We know nothing further of Phygellus and Hermogenes than this mention here in 2 Timothy. Timothy was very much aware of these two men and all the others who were members of the Asian church who had turned away from Paul in his hour of need. This is not Asia as we know it today but rather that part of Asia where Paul ministered and included areas such as Ephesus and Galatia. It's not that all the churches in these areas had turned against Paul, it was that those members who were in Rome at the time of Paul's imprisonment and upcoming execution turned away from him. I can think of no better comparison than that of the disciples who scattered like sheep when Jesus was arrested and of course the blatant denial of Peter. Fear and shame drove those disciples and Peter, and fear and shame likely drove Phygellus and Hermogenes. But look what drove Onesiphorus..... compassion and mercy! Like the Levite and the priest who hurried by the wounded man in the ditch, Phygellus and Hermogenes turned their back on the chained and isolated Paul , but Onesiphorus, like the Good Samariatan, looked for ways to refresh Paul in his dilemma! We are in no position to judge Phygellus, Hermogenes, and the other Asian Christians in Rome. They are not mentioned again in Scripture, but we can hope that Jesus came to them as He came to Peter and those who fled and restored them In the meantime, let us ask the Lord to help us be like Onesiphorus and when we see a brother or sister in duress, that God would conquer our fears and shame and move us to compassionate action!