Not Alone. 2 Timothy 4:16-18.
At my first defense, no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Dear Aliens and Strangers in this World,
At times we expect people to stand with us for the truth, only to be disappointed. Maybe we have disappointed others by abandoning them when they needed our support. Paul found himself
Forsaken(v. 16).In the first phase of Paul’s trial, all his friends yielded to fear and deserted him. Paul was seen as an enemy of the state and is associated with him meant one could be dragged into Paul’s legal problems. While he is not pleased with their cowardice, Paul prays that it will not be counted against them.
Fortified (v. 17). But we are never alone. The Lord is always with his servants and he stood with Paul, strengthening him with the boldness to proclaim the gospel for all to hear. The phrase “rescued from the lion’s mouth” probably means that Paul was spared execution. But it could be literal, that he was not thrown into the arena with the lions, as happened to many Christians of his time. The grim image would have been sobering to Timothy.
Faithful (v. 18).To Paul, there is a lot more to life than personal safety. He will be dead in a matter of months, probably weeks. But entering the “heavenly kingdom” without yielding to fear or bitterness is to him safe passage, never mind that he was killed violently. O for a perspective like an apostle Paul’s!
Your Loving Pastor Chris.