Profit-bearer

Profit-bearer
Words of Faith 7-7-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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2 Timothy 1
[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 how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

Ever feel alone? Really alone? Paul knew precisely that experience.
In a prison cell in Rome, Paul knew the sort of loneliness that Jesus experienced during the last hours before the crucifixion. Day to day, Paul did not know if this would be the last. Many who had either traveled with or supported him had abandoned the Apostle, who seemed destined for execution.
Indeed, Paul did not mean that every single Christian had deserted him. Timothy was still supportive. Luke was still visiting him to give aid even in the writing of this letter. But in large part, the many who had once stood with Paul had now drifted away or blatantly denied knowing him.
Two deserters are explicitly named. We don't know why, and we don't know anything else about these two. Phygelus and Hermogenes may have been singled out because they were leaders or the most unexpected deserters among those who had once supported Paul. It happens.
But even in this environment of betrayal, there was an extraordinary ray of hope. Paul prayed a blessing upon the household of a man named Onesiphorus. We don't know much about this believer except that he made extraordinary efforts to search for Paul in the prison system of Rome. That must have been tough. No computer records. Many prisoners. But Onesiphorus was unafraid to keep looking and was not ashamed of the chains that bound Paul.
Something had been invested in Onesiphorus back in Ephesus. Something life-changing happened. So he had also supported Paul in Ephesus and later came looking to find the investor, Paul.
Onesiphorus had apparently visited Paul in prison with some regularity. He had "often refreshed" Paul bringing support and encouragement. The word here means literally "cool off" or "relieve." We can only imagine the refreshment of spirit that came with those visits, conversations, supplies, and prayers. Such encouragement can be nothing short of life-saving.
Sometimes there is a great lesson in a name.
The name Onesiphorus is just such a case. The name literally means "profit-bearer." The name of this person who came to visit and refresh means "one who brings back" a profit, a dividend, or a payoff from an investment. Wow. Is that ever powerful?
In this most lonely period of Paul's life, some deserted him. Some were ashamed. Some ran away. But there was one who brought back the dividend of Paul having invested into his life and family. We don't have the words or thoughts of Onesiphorus, but he likely would have expressed his great gratitude for Paul.
Paul had come to Ephesus bearing the Good News of Jesus, which radically changed many lives and families. Apparently, the family of Onesiphorus was among these. He probably would express his honor at bringing some sort of comfort and refresher to the aging Apostle in that Roman prison.
Here is a thought. Does the Lord want to raise you up to be a refreshment to someone who invested in you long ago? Is there a person, maybe a pastor or teacher, to whom God would want you to be a profit-bearer? Someone who would be significantly blessed to hear from you? Would you be one that the Lord would want to use to deliver the "dividend" of the investments made long ago?
October is often cited as Pastor Appreciation Month in America. Cards, special gifts, and remembrances are often conveyed to pastors across America. But what about the investments made long ago? What about the Pastor who may be aging and no longer active in ministry? What about the teacher who long ago invested in you? Perhaps there is someone that the Lord would have you contact to convey refreshment and the gracious dividend of the Gospel.

Father God, teach me a life of gratitude and refreshing. Show me how to stay strong in support rather than to abandon. Teach me the value of investments made long ago. Use me to encourage those who serve You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.