Coffee With The Lord

Does the name Onesiphorus mean anything to you? Probably not in a personal way… But if you’d have had the privilege of a personal conversation with Apostle Paul late in his life – in prison in Rome, just before his martyrdom – He’d have told you just how much this guy and his entire “household” meant to him!

Here’s what Paul had to say about it in 2 Timothy (I just read it in my Bible during my time of “coffee with the Lord) this morning…

“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 parched throat! It’s like the healing hand of Jesus extended – more than that – it’s like His loving presence, His comforting voice in their time of deepest need.

Not only did Onesiphorus get involved in helping Paul… he mobilized his entire “household” (likely meaning not just his immediate family, but perhaps implying the “congregation” or the “church” that met in his house) to minister to Paul’s need! They were “the body of Christ” to Paul in his 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) How did the old gospel song put it… “Oh to be His hand extended!”

Oh what a challenge! What an honor to be an “Onesiphorus” kind of person (or a member of a congregation like that) to someone in need! 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 others in the province of Asia… especially like “Phygelus and Hermogenes” who forsook Paul in His time of need… they were ashamed of him… ashamed of “the gospel” (see 2 Timothy 1:8)!

I’ve taken some long road trips… Journeying through a lot of different towns, quite a few states, several different highways, lots of intersections… Plenty of opportunities to get sidetracked, take a wrong turn and just plain get lost. Take it from me… even GPS is fallible (I’ve discovered that the hard way)!!

Life is like that. Every day there are plenty of opportunities to take a wrong road! The passage I read in Proverbs this morning identified two ways… “The way of wisdom – the path of the righteous” – and “the way of the wicked.” And the passage recommends an infallible GPS (Godly-Positioning System) and the reliable and accurate map for dealing with life’s twists and turns, poorly marked roads, tempting (but dangerous) pathways and just plain old ruts and ditches – the Bible. Here’s what the passage says…

“Hear, and accept My words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on… But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” (from Proverbs 4:10–19 ESV)

Hey, you know the “rap” on men – on “husbands” and dads don’t you? They are not willing to ask directions or consult a map. Consequently they are continually getting lost and losing valuable time correcting their errors in navigation. I don’t want to be like that on the road of life! Going to pay attention to the Lord! – Going to consult the map – God’s word – the infallible “Godly-Positioning System” !

You’ve got to get the picture… (I read the account this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” – John 3:1-16…)

A mature, distinguished looking, influential religious leader approaches Jesus at night… He starts his conversation with the Lord with a complement… “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do the signs that you do unless God is with him! (But he never gets to the question he intended to ask – Jesus breaks in with Divine spiritual insight)…

“Truly, truly, I say to you, UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD!”

Now we cannot be sure about what Nicodemus, the mature, distinguished religious leader wanted to ask Jesus… It may have been a sincere question about some spiritual matter. Or it might have been a deep theological question. Perhaps it was sincere – or it might have been confrontational…

But think about it… Jesus’ answer? “Start over – start at the very beginning again? Be “born again?” Nicodemus blurted it out… “How can a person be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?!”

Yup, that’s it ‘Nick’! … That’s it for us all – YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! “That which is born of the flesh [a natural physical birth] is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit [a Spiritual rebirth] is spirit! Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!’”

Hey, we get so much from our ancestors and parents through physical birth (and the nurture that follows it)! … I’m no physician or physiologist, but the genetic impact and legacy are BIG – it shows up physically, intellectually, emotionally – even socially! DNA is a big deal with an incredible impact!

Jesus argued a “Spiritual re-birth” – a birth of the Holy Spirit – was essential for Nicodemus…for us ALL! Jesus said that birth leads to the “Kingdom of God!” That birth leads to “eternal life!” (Vs. 15-16). That birth leads to TRANSFORMATION (in keeping with “Spiritual DNA” that characterizes it)! It has an impact on your values, your outlook, your expectations, your appearance, your choices, your values, your behavior, your speech, your thinking, your emotions, your present and your future… and I could go on! It makes a “new person” out of you! Hey, “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”

AND IT’S A PROCESS… “New Birth” kicks in that “Spiritual DNA” … and moment by moment, day by day, year by year, you are being changed – transformed into “Christlikeness!” Until one day we enter His presence – “Heaven!” Hey, consider these follow-up verses…

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3-4)

“And we all…are being transformed into the same image [the likeness of Christ] from one degree of glory to another!” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are! … Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is! And everyone who has the hope in Him purifies himself as He is pure!” (1 John 3:1-3)

Hey, take from me – no, take it from Jesus… “YOU REALLY MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”