ONESIPHORUS … Does that name mean anything to you?
Probably not in a personal way… But if you’d had the privilege of a personal conversation with Apostle Paul late in his life – while he was in prison in Rome, just before his martyrdom – He’d have told you just how much this guy and his entire household (probably meaning the members of the church that met in his house) meant to him!
Here’s what Paul had to say about it in 2 Timothy…
“You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the household of ONESIPHORUS, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains! On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus!” (2 Timothy 1:15-18)
People who help others – especially “older saints” – in their time of loneliness and need are very special! Their concern is like a “cup of cold water” on a hot day to a thirsty throat! It’s like the healing hand of Jesus extended and touching you – more than that – it’s like His loving presence, His comforting voice in the time of deepest need. Not only did ONESIPHORUS get involved in helping Paul… his entire “household” (probably the people from his congregation or “church”) ministered to his need! They were “the body of Christ” in Paul’s deepest need. How did Jesus Himself say it… “As you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to Me!” (Matthew 25:40, 45)
Oh what a challenge! What an honor to be an ONESIPHORUS (or a member of his household)! Gotta tell you… I want to be one! And as passionately as I want to be a member of his household… I want to avoid like the plague being like the others Paul mentions in the province of Asia… especially like Phygelus and Hermogenes who forsook Paul in His time of need… there were ashamed of him… ashamed of the gospel (see 2 Timothy 1:8 and 15)!
Coffee With The Lord 