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daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Thursday,
June 11,
2020
These colorful petunias cover an old bike at a roadside flower stand.
We see so many creative sights in the course of our travels through Lancaster County!
"Onesiphorus"
Message
summary: Is there
someone you might minister to by refreshing them
just as Onesiphorus often did toward Paul.
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me—the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus" (2 Timothy 1:16-18).
How do you like your name? I was named after the Stephen in the Bible (Acts 6,7). But my grandpa enjoyed purposefully mispronouncing it and called me Step-hen, making it sound like two words, step and hen. Brooksyne's name is far more unique, actually a name her mother made up so she could be named after her father Brooklyn. She explains to people it's pronounced brook-seen', like the scene of a brook.
But some people have
really unusual names. Elon Musk recently named his
son X Ć A-12 which he says is pronounced "X Ash A
Twelve". We kind of wonder how that name will age
and how much his son will enjoy explaining it to
others for the rest of his life!
Today's Scripture portion has three rather unusual names; Phygelus, Hermogenes and Onesiphorus,
We learn from Biblical examples, both positive and negative, such as the negative reference concerning two otherwise unknown men, Phygelus and Hermogenes: "You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes" (1 Timothy 1:15). If you've been rejected (and who hasn't) you are in good company with Paul and Jesus.
Onesiphorus, on the other hand, is highly commended as a blessing to Paul and to others in Ephesus. His name means "bringing profit" and the brief description of his life indicates he indeed brought profit to those who were blessed to know him.
When reading the Bible we tend to gloss
over these brief passages wondering what relevance
they may have for us. In
this reference and the only other reference to
Onesiphorus in 2 Timothy 4:19 Paul refers to "the house of
Onesiphorus". Some speculate that he may
have died by this point but the phrase could also
be a way of saying how his entire household had
been a blessing. In our years of Christian service
we consider households that just seem to minister
together as a family, especially married couples.
The first example that comes to mind is our
friends, the Schmidts. We don't think of Jim only
or Dorothy only, but we refer to them as Jim
and Dorothy.
Let's look at four characteristics we can glean about Onesiphorus in our text that are an example for all of us:
Spurgeon's challenge is one we issue to all our readers today. Is there someone you might minister to by refreshing them just as Onesiphorus often did toward Paul?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, there are people you
bring alongside us on our path of suffering who
bring us comfort, assurance, and encouragement.
They know just what to say or do that lifts our
spirit to give us courage for another day just
like Onesiphorus refreshed Paul while he was in
chains. In some cases, it is their own
gracious example of suffering that teaches us a
great deal without their saying a word.
There are those instances when we grow fearful,
doubtful, and wonder if you're mindful of our
suffering and, if so, why you don't eliminate
it. But until our suffering is over we thank
you for those who come to refresh us. We, too,
need to be the ones who refresh others who are
weary, sick, or struggling in some way. Bring
those individuals to our mind so that we can reach
out to them and refresh their spirit while
reminding them of their importance in our lives.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Today's Scripture portion has three rather unusual names; Phygelus, Hermogenes and Onesiphorus,
We learn from Biblical examples, both positive and negative, such as the negative reference concerning two otherwise unknown men, Phygelus and Hermogenes: "You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes" (1 Timothy 1:15). If you've been rejected (and who hasn't) you are in good company with Paul and Jesus.
Onesiphorus, on the other hand, is highly commended as a blessing to Paul and to others in Ephesus. His name means "bringing profit" and the brief description of his life indicates he indeed brought profit to those who were blessed to know him.
When reading the Bible we tend to gloss
over these brief passages wondering what relevance
they may have for us. In
this reference and the only other reference to
Onesiphorus in 2 Timothy 4:19 Paul refers to "the house of
Onesiphorus". Some speculate that he may
have died by this point but the phrase could also
be a way of saying how his entire household had
been a blessing. In our years of Christian service
we consider households that just seem to minister
together as a family, especially married couples.
The first example that comes to mind is our
friends, the Schmidts. We don't think of Jim only
or Dorothy only, but we refer to them as Jim
and Dorothy.Let's look at four characteristics we can glean about Onesiphorus in our text that are an example for all of us:
1) "He
often refreshed me." Don't overlook the
little word "often" which means many times, again
and again, time after time. It conveys a vivid
picture of Onesiphorus's servant heart that he
extended to Paul. "Refresh" translates a
word that literally means "to cool again, to make
cool or refresh". The Living Bible paraphrase
draws a colorful word picture, "He visited me and
encouraged me often. His visits revived me
like a breath of fresh air." Onesiphorus'
visits to the squalid conditions of the dungeon
prison was like a "cool breeze" reviving Paul's
spirit and soul. A great promise to the
refresher is a Proverb that states, "Whoever
refreshes others will himself be refreshed"
(Proverbs 11:25b). May God help us to
refresh others.
2) He
"was not ashamed of my chains." Knowing
the rest of the story I can't imagine being
ashamed of Paul's chains. We have the whole record
since Paul's imprisonment is now history, but the
full understanding of all his sufferings was
subject to one's own interpretation. Some were
embarrassed, afraid or even ashamed of his
situation. What a great privilege it would have
been to know Paul and to continually refresh him
in his otherwise drab, insufferable surroundings.
May God give us boldness and discernment to
stand with those who suffer, as we by faith
envision the rest of the story even before it
happens!
3) "He
eagerly searched for me and found me." It
must have taken some effort to locate Paul and
Onesiphorus did this eagerly. Many times
meaningful ministry to others takes effort. We
need to go out of our way or in some way be
inconvenienced whether it involves our time,
finances, roadblocks or whatever other setback
we must overcome in the process.
4)
"You know very well what services he rendered at
Ephesus." As mentioned above the only
reference we have to Onesiphorus is here in Paul's
second letter to Timothy, but Onesiphorus was
already so well-known and highly regarded among
the people. Paul briefly alludes to their
familiarity with him through the services he
offered in Ephesus. Can you think of people
well-regarded because of their service for the
Lord and to others? What type of reputation do
you have?
Spurgeon comments on Onesiphorus:
"This
good man is here immortalized. When he risked
his life to find out and succour a poor despised
prisoner, he little knew that he would live
forever on the page of the church's history. His
cup of cold water given to an apostle has
received an apostle's reward. Are there any yet
alive like Paul to whom we might minister in
love after the manner of Onesiphorus?"
Spurgeon's challenge is one we issue to all our readers today. Is there someone you might minister to by refreshing them just as Onesiphorus often did toward Paul?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, there are people you
bring alongside us on our path of suffering who
bring us comfort, assurance, and encouragement.
They know just what to say or do that lifts our
spirit to give us courage for another day just
like Onesiphorus refreshed Paul while he was in
chains. In some cases, it is their own
gracious example of suffering that teaches us a
great deal without their saying a word.
There are those instances when we grow fearful,
doubtful, and wonder if you're mindful of our
suffering and, if so, why you don't eliminate
it. But until our suffering is over we thank
you for those who come to refresh us. We, too,
need to be the ones who refresh others who are
weary, sick, or struggling in some way. Bring
those individuals to our mind so that we can reach
out to them and refresh their spirit while
reminding them of their importance in our lives.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"I Want
To Be That Man" Video Brian Free &
Assurance
The
following versions of "Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus"
present different arrangements, singers, and settings.
Each one caught our attention and warmed our hearts as we
consider the confusion, turmoil, and divisiveness that
spans our nation and our world for that matter. If you
have a few minutes and want to listen to this relaxing and
reassuring song I believe it will truly minister to your
heart. Perhaps the Lord will lay a person on your heart
who needs this refreshing and reassuring message as well.
"O
the deep, deep love.
All
I need and trust
is
the deep, deep love of Jesus."
"Oh the Deep, Deep Love" Video Sovereign Grace Music
"Oh The
Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" Video Fernando Ortega and
Audrey Assad
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA