Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from 2 Tim 1.3 and following. Indeed, different from the first, this second epistle opens on a time of ruin when the apostle prisoner, finishing his course, witnesses the rapid decline of the testimony to which he had worked so hard. But God used this progress of evil, already visible in the time of the apostles, to give us this epistle that shows us the way to follow and the resources of faith in the “difficult times” that are ours today (2 Tim 3:1-5). Courage, Paul writes to his “beloved child,” don’t let yourself be frightened. What we possess is beyond the reach of the Enemy, guarded by the power of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He remains a spirit of power, love, sober common sense, and He dwells in us (John 14:15-17). Our “Savior Jesus Christ” has not changed. His victory over death is acquired for eternity. All external points of support collapsed, causing faith to rely only on the Lord (Ps 62:1-3). It is not when all is well, but when all is wrong, that everyone’s faithfulness is tested (Phil 2:19-23).
In adversity, the great number had turned away from the apostle, while a devoted brother, Onesiphorus, had searched for him and visited him in his prison. He was one of those merciful people to whom mercy will be shown (Mat 5:3-12 and Mat 25:31-36).
The fact mentioned by the apostle in these verses and from which he had bitterly suffered, he who knew himself established for the defense of the Gospel, was the abandonment he had suffered at the hands of all those who were engaged in the work in Asia, at the time when he was apprehended for his second captivity. They no doubt feared being compromised by standing by his side Timothy knewthis; we will see later that he still had to know that the development of evil in the Church would not stop there. What was happening in Asia showed that, increasingly, “all sought their particular interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Phil 2. 21). Of those who had turned away from the apostle were Phygella and Hermogenes. We will see what extension then took the abandonment in which the apostle was left. So it was at this point that Paul’s testimony came into the last days. In this assembly of Ephesus where the heavenly position of the Church, the body of Christ, had been taught, understood, realized in practice, as in the whole territory dependent on this capital; in the very place where the apostle prisoner had sent them his epistle to the Ephesians, he could no longer find anyone who sympathized with him!
But in the midst of this general abandonment, one man had made an exception. Far from turning away from the apostle in his second captivity, which explains why he had to look for him very carefully in Rome to find him, because he was no longer “without impediment” as during his first captivity, Onesiphorus had the joy of being able to “often console him”. What God Himself had so often done directly to His faithful servant, He was now doing through Onesiphorus. Immense privilege for the latter! And more than that, Onesiphorus was on the right side, on God’s side: he had not been ashamed to see the apostle treated as a vulgar evildoer. His chain was, for Onesiphorus, the title of nobility of the beloved apostle. Certainly, he was not ashamed of it, nor was the apostle, for if it put the testimony to the test and brought out what it had become, it was at the same time proof of the omnipotence of God who used it to spread his gospel throughout the world.
When Onesiphorus had come to Rome, he had spared no trouble in looking for the apostle and had found him. How often, perhaps, others had undertaken this research without reaching the goal; satisfied to show in this way in the eyes of the churches or the apostle that they had fulfilled their duty. They had not gone any further in their search because they were content, in their own eyes or in the eyes of others, to have done as they say, “their best” without result. The fact that the apostle was not easy to find in this great city and in the cold prison where he was kept, and the unfortunate results that this step could have for the one who sought him, were all reasons that the conscience could give itself to interrupt these investigations. Only, above the reasons invoked, there was God who saw and knew what was happening in hearts. So the apostle implores the Lord’s mercy on the house of Onesiphorus in the present time, and on Onesiphorus himself in the future time, on the day when the rewards will be distributed. Onesiphorus will then find mercy from the sovereign giver, on whom all grace depends; according to what it says: “Blessed are the merciful, for mercy will be done to them” (Mat 5. 7), and again: “Waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, for eternal life” (Jude 21). It is on “this day” that the apostle looks for himself in 2 Tim 1. 12.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Suffer with me for the good news:
- Cultivating gifts, a Christian duty
Mt 25:20 The one who had received the five talents came near, bringing five more talents, and he said, Lord, you have given me five talents; behold, I have gained five more. 1 Tim 4:8,14 Practice piety; for bodily exercise is useful to few things, while piety is useful to all, having the promise of the present life and that which is to come. 14 Do not neglect the gift which is in you, and which has been given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the assembly of elders. 2 Tim 1:6 That is why I urge you to revive the gift of God that you have received through the laying on of my hands.
- Gospel
Mt 4:23 Jesus traveled all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and infirmity among the people. Acts 20:24 But I do not make any of my life for myself, as if it were precious to me, provided that I carry out my journey with joy, and the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus, to proclaim the good news of God’s grace. Phil 1:27 Only, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, that either I may come to see you or remain absent, I hear of you that you remain firm in the same spirit, fighting with the same soul for the faith of the Gospel, 2 Thes 1:8 in the midst of a flame of fire, to punish those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
- The righteous will be without shame
Ps 119:6 Then I will not blush, in view of all your commandments. Rom 9:33 as it is written: Behold, I put in Zion a stumbling block And a rock of scandal, And he who believes in him will not be confused. 1 Pet 4:16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed of it, and rather glorify God because of that name. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him, that when he appears we may have confidence, and that at his advent we may not be confused and distant from him.
- Examples of useful work
2 Ch 28:15 And the men whose names have just been mentioned rose up and took the captives; they used the spoils to clothe all those who were naked, they gave them clothes and shoes, they made them eat and drink, they anointed them, they led on donkeys all those who were tired, and they led them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria. Luke 10:34 He approached, and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine into them; then he put it on his own mount, took him to an inn, and took care of him. 1 Cor 16:15-16 Another recommendation that I address to you, brethren. You know that the family of Stephanas is the beginnings of Achaia, and that it has devoted itself to the service of the saints.16 Do you too have deference for such men, and for all those who work in the same work. Phil 4:3 And you too, faithful colleague, yes, I beg you to help them, they who fought for the Gospel with me, and with Clement and my other companions, whose names are in the book of life.
Of all the above, let’s note the humiliating condition of the apostle and what he did. This will be returned to him by the One who kept him in all these difficult situations. All those who have persevered will be rewarded when the time comes. And it’s indeed the day of the appearance of the Lord Jesus that we are talking about, the day when the subject of our responsibility as witnesses of Christ will be considered. It is on this day that the crown of justice, the award given to the just, will be awarded, as among men, the medals of honor, courage, rescue, are distributed. Is not the name of the various crowns on the one hand what characterizes the acts performed by those who receive the rewards, on the other hand, the character of the One who gives them. Those who “love his appearance” are those who act and conduct themselves to his honor, in view of the day when they will be placed in the full light of his presence and when everything will be manifested without anything being able to remain hidden. Then each of his own will receive according to what he has done. Timothy himself could bear witness to Onesiphorus of the services he had rendered in the congregation of Ephesus where Timothy had acted for so long to maintain order in the house of God. Thus, the services of Onesiphorus would not have to wait “that day” to be recognized; they were already recognized for every faithful soul concerned with the service and witness of Christ. It is the same today. Then we read of the help and relief that the Lord places on the path of His servants in a career bristling with so many dangers and sufferings. Was it not the same for the perfect Servant? It aims of the torrent in the way. Ah! like, to drink there, he knew how to lower his head! And wasit not the same for hisfaithful servant? For heenjoyed with joy the consolation and refreshment that came to him in his humiliating condition, but he knew that the day would come when he would “raise his head high”. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “Be a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.