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. 2Timothy 1:16-18
It's not hard to understand why I said everyone needs an Onesi. He was a real friend to Paul. Onesiphorus wasn't just your run of the mill fair-weather friend, only there when things were good and a party was happening. No, Onesi was there for Paul when he was in chains. Actually we're told that he was not ashamed of Paul for being in prison and he searched hard for Paul while he was in prison. Why did he do that? Onesi's purpose was to refresh his friend and it wasn't just a once off. We are told that he did it often. Onesiphorus had his friends back, Paul could count on him to be there for him if he got into trouble. Onesi allowed himself to be used by God to minister to Paul.
I'm very fortunate to have had many Onesi's in my life. In particular Neil would come to my home early in the morning to have coffee with me. He and his wife would have me over for supper often, and even giving me a place to sleep because my loneliness was more than I could bear. He would listen to me on the phone for as long as I needed to talk. Neil made me feel worthwhile and of great value during the early days of my divorce. Not once did he judge me or was ashamed of me, but only validated me and found things to encourage me. He never stopped praying for me, never stopped searching me out, never stopped refreshing me. Neil allowed himself to be used by God to minister to me.
One day I know I'll will be in a place where a friend may need me to support them like Onesiphorus did for Paul or like Neil did for me. I hope that I can be that kind of nonjudgmental loving and giving friend. I'm not really too worried about it though, because I've had good role models to follow in Onesi and Neil.
Do you have a friend of this caliber? Maybe you find yourself in a place where you are alone or feel cornered for some reason. It does take time to develop friendships, to earn and give trust. But if you don't have someone today, there is someone who has been your friend for longer than you might believe. Proverbs 18:24 "...there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." John 15: 13-15 (Jesus speaking) "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."
These words were written thousands of years ago, yet are very personal and can apply to everyone of us today. God can use anyone to be a minister, so don't be surprised by who becomes your friend or who He has you be a friend to.
It's not hard to understand why I said everyone needs an Onesi. He was a real friend to Paul. Onesiphorus wasn't just your run of the mill fair-weather friend, only there when things were good and a party was happening. No, Onesi was there for Paul when he was in chains. Actually we're told that he was not ashamed of Paul for being in prison and he searched hard for Paul while he was in prison. Why did he do that? Onesi's purpose was to refresh his friend and it wasn't just a once off. We are told that he did it often. Onesiphorus had his friends back, Paul could count on him to be there for him if he got into trouble. Onesi allowed himself to be used by God to minister to Paul.
I'm very fortunate to have had many Onesi's in my life. In particular Neil would come to my home early in the morning to have coffee with me. He and his wife would have me over for supper often, and even giving me a place to sleep because my loneliness was more than I could bear. He would listen to me on the phone for as long as I needed to talk. Neil made me feel worthwhile and of great value during the early days of my divorce. Not once did he judge me or was ashamed of me, but only validated me and found things to encourage me. He never stopped praying for me, never stopped searching me out, never stopped refreshing me. Neil allowed himself to be used by God to minister to me.
One day I know I'll will be in a place where a friend may need me to support them like Onesiphorus did for Paul or like Neil did for me. I hope that I can be that kind of nonjudgmental loving and giving friend. I'm not really too worried about it though, because I've had good role models to follow in Onesi and Neil.
Do you have a friend of this caliber? Maybe you find yourself in a place where you are alone or feel cornered for some reason. It does take time to develop friendships, to earn and give trust. But if you don't have someone today, there is someone who has been your friend for longer than you might believe. Proverbs 18:24 "...there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." John 15: 13-15 (Jesus speaking) "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."
These words were written thousands of years ago, yet are very personal and can apply to everyone of us today. God can use anyone to be a minister, so don't be surprised by who becomes your friend or who He has you be a friend to.
I would love to hear from you, so that I can get to know you and pray for you.
In that way I'll be allowing myself to be used by God to be your friend.
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