As
he sat in a prison in Rome while awaiting his death for sharing the
gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul the apostle felt abandoned by everyone
except “Onesiphorus” who searched for him “very
diligently” until he found him and ministered to him often.
Though other people were “ashamed” of Paul's “chain”,
“Onesiphorus” “refreshed” Paul in his plight. In
chapter one and verse eighteen of his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote a
special blessing that “Onesiphorus” “may find mercy of the
Lord” where we read:
The Lord
grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day:
and in how
many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, you know very well.
The
verse begins, “The Lord grant unto him that he may find
mercy of the Lord in that day:” Paul
began with, “The Lord” who
is “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has
power of deciding or the master, and the title given to the Messiah,
the anointed one of God” “grant” or “give, supply,
furnish and present” “unto him” concerning
“Onesiphorus”, “that he may find” which means
“come upon, meet with, discover, detect and recognize” “mercy”
which is “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the
afflicted joined with a desire to help them and not receiving what
one deserves” “of the Lord” or “from, at or beside the
Messiah, the anointed one of God” “in that day” which
refers to “the day of death and of judgment, when Christ will
account all the good offices done to his poor members as done to
himself.” Because “Onesiphorus” sought out and
ministered to Paul, Paul's desire was that the Lord minister unto him
in the day of judgment.
The
verse continues, “and in how many things he ministered unto me
at Ephesus, you know very well.” Paul goes on to add, “and
in how many things” or “as great as, as far as, how much,
more things” “he ministered unto” which means “served,
attended, waited upon and rendered ministry to” “me at
Ephesus” which is a reference to “Onesiphorus”
serving Paul in city of “Ephesus” which means “permitted”
“you know very well” or “have knowledge of, perceive and
understand better or even more”. Paul knew Timothy was aware of the
way “Onesiphorus” ministered to him while he was in
Ephesus, and because he continued that service by seeking him out in
Rome, Paul desired a special blessing of “mercy of the Lord in
that day” be upon him.
While
we meditate upon Paul's words, let us be sure to see the benefit of
ministering and serving others. Often a person who “serves”
another without being in the limelight goes unnoticed by men,
however, we must remember the Lord watches and knows everything.
“Onesiphorus” ministered to Paul while he was in Ephesus,
and his care for him continued as he found him in Rome. Jesus said in
the gospel of Mark in chapter ten and verses forty-three and
forty-four:
“...but
whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
And
whosoever of you will be the chief, shall be servant of all.”
No
doubt “Onesiphorus” discovered this truth, and now it is
our turn to hear, receive and act upon the words of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, and may He extend “mercy” to us all
“in that day” because we obeyed Him.
Next
time we begin another chapter and find Paul encouraging Timothy to
“be strong in the grace of the Lord Jesus”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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