2 Timothy 1:15-18 — Own-neh-siph-or-us

READ THIS: 2 Timothy 1:15-18

15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.  16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 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.
 
WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Let's talk about this Onesiphorus dude (Say it with me: Own-neh-siph-or-us). 

Paul in prison was left by his friends. People were ashamed to be connected with a prisoner and especially one who was getting to be kind of well-known, like Paul. But our boy Oney stayed as a good friend. A good friend isn't one who is just there for the good times. They are there for the hard times. Oney went out of his way to stand by Paul, even searched Paul out so he could refresh him. Back in the day, people had to bring prisoners their food. It wasn't like today where prisons provide all of that. So, when Paul's friends ditched him, they were leaving him to starve. Onesiphorus didn't do that. He stayed proudly beside Paul. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Why do you think Paul would say all this about Oney in a letter to Timothy?

2. Are you the type of friend who would proudly stick beside one of your friends, even if it was embarrassing or hard?
 
TRY THIS:

We all have those moments where someone in a group is trying to talk, but no one really wants to listen to that person so everyone talks over him/her. Today or tomorrow when that happens, look at the person everyone else is ignoring and say, "hey, I'm listening! Tell me!" (It's going to feel embarrassing because everyone else has moved on...but we want to be more like Onesiphorus than those other guys in verse 15). 

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