Scripture Passage that Caught my attention today: 2 Timothy 1:15-17 You are aware that all who are in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me.
Observation: Some supporters turned away from Paul. Others remained true.
Application: We often consider Paul to be the greatest missionary that ever lived. Still, he had his issues.
While most scholars believe that First and Second Timothy were actually written by someone other than Paul and at a later time, it’s still interesting to read of people like Phygelus and Hermogenes who apparently once thought well of Paul but then stopped doing so.
I can’t help but wonder, what led them to change their minds?
And then there’s Onesiphorous who, for whatever reason, seemed to increase his level of devotion to Paul, even to the point of searching him out in a foreign land.
Why do some people increase their devotion while others pull back?
I don’t really have any profound answers to these questions today. But it does appear that our basis for carrying on with our work/mission cannot be completely dependent upon what other people think. There will be supporters, there will be detractors. Paul had that experience and so do we.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for the witness of people like Paul who struggled at times but also continued, by your grace, to carry on. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today include: Joel 1-3 and 2 Timothy 1)
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