And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News. That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains. When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me. May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.
2 Timothy 1:11-18
Dear God, it’s special when we can look back and see how you put people in our lives through whom you changed us forever. You out Paul in Timothy s life. You even used John Mark in Paul’s life towards the end, even though Paul and Barnabas split over Mark years before. Now you were using Onesiphorus and his family to bless Paul. No one does it on their own.
I had lunch with a wealthy, successful man this week who came from humble beginnings. He rattled off at least five people in our time together as he told me about his life. All of them showed him mercy and kindness. I know my father has had similar people in his life. I have had them too.
So first, thank you for what you have done for me through others. Second, please help me be that person for other people. Start with my wife and children. Then my family. My coworkers. My friends. Even those in our community who will benefit from volunteers or charitable giving that I do who will never know me. I was reading in a book earlier today by Skye Jethani called What if Jesus was Serious about the idea that the kingdom of heaven to which Jesus refers is actually all around us now. So as I participate in your kingdom coming on earth, right now, use me to be what you need for others, and please help me to not miss the blessing or assistance you are giving me through others.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen
Emails to God 