Paul the
apostle began to wind down his final thoughts to Timothy his “dearly
beloved son” as he completed his letter of instruction. He
mentioned a few men who were once with him in ministry such as:
“Demas, Crescens, Titus, Luke and Tychicus”,
and he asked for “Mark”
to be sent to him. He desired his “cloke”
and “the books, but
especially the parchments” as
well. He was troubled by “Alexander the
Coppersmith” who did him “much evil”, and desired for “the
Lord” to “reward
him for his works”. Finally Paul warned
Timothy concerning “Alexander”,
and in chapter four and verse sixteen Paul wrote concerning how “all
men forsook” him where we read:
At my first answer no man stood with
me, but all men
forsook me:
The verse
begins, “At my first answer no man
stood with me, but all men
forsook me:” Paul
began with, “At my first”
or “initial, first in rank, time or place” “answer”
which is the Greek word “apologia” and means “verbal defense or
reasoned statement or argument” “no
man” or
“no one and nobody” “stood”
which means “to come together as to one's aid” “with
me” which
is a reference to Paul himself. Paul continued, “but”
which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, an objection, an
exception, restriction, moreover, rather and nay” “all
men forsook”
or “abandoned, deserted, left in straits, left helpless, utterly
left behind and surviving” “me”
which also is a reference to Paul himself. In other words, Paul made
a first appearance of defense before the courts with the charges
brought against him, and no one was with him when he stood there.
The verse continues, “I
pray God that it may not be laid to
their charge.” Paul
continued, “I pray God that it may
not be laid”
which in Greek is the phrase “logizomai
mē logizomai”
which means “not be reckoned, counted, computed, calculated,
accounted for” “to their
charge”
or “to themselves or as the same manner”. Even though everyone
abandoned Paul in his moment of trial, he did not desire for God to
make them have to give an accounting of their desertion.
When
we meditate upon Paul's words, we can imagine ourselves in his place.
What if we were being put on trial for sharing the gospel of Jesus
Christ and everyone we knew abandoned us? How would that feel, and
would we be angry or upset with those who left us alone? Even though
everyone else left him to defend for himself, Paul knew the Lord was
with him. Sometimes the Lord will allow every person to forsake us,
and when they do, He will always be at our side. The question is,
will we have the same attitude of Paul towards others and desire they
not be charged for their desertion? May the Lord help us to remember
He is always with us, and when others go away, may we develop a
spirit of forgiveness and mercy toward them in like manner as Paul.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy how “the Lord stood” with
him, 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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