Verse 17 today, where Paul is still writing about Onesiphorus. May we all be the Onesiphorus in our household/family/church/neigbourhood!

Here is the text:

2 Timothy 1:17, “On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.”

Interesting points:
1. The prior verse mentioned Onesiphorus as someone who not only remained loyal to Paul in his imprisonment, he was unashamed of associating with him. Here Paul apprises us of both his unswerving commitment to encourage him and dedication in seeking him out.

2. Onesiphorus seems to have provided reassurance and provisions to Paul while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. This verse clearly indicates that Onesiphorus was not from Rome although he was there for a prolonged time/stay. And 2 Timothy 4:19 refers to his household in Ephesus when Timothy received this letter, most likely indicating that Paul tasked him with delivering this letter to Timothy.

3. Having arrived in Rome, Onesiphorus painstakingly tracked Paul down. As a jailed criminal in Rome – a city of more than one million people – Paul would have been difficult to find. But, after much effort Onesiphorus located Paul, offering important assistance and encouragement to him whereas others had turned away or given up.

Application.
Brothers, what a powerful reminder this verse is to us concerning perseverance and how much impact even our most feeble efforts can be to those who receive them! It is a verse about a love: a love that drives us forward even when the chances of success are razor-thin, echoing 1 Corinthians 13:7, “It [love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,…” Note the word “always”!

As we and our dear brothers and sisters in the faith face seemingly insurmountable obstacles and odds in life, may we encourage like and be encouraged by the Onesiphorus in our lives. Although we will walk this world for a relatively short time, God can use efforts rooted in His love to encourage the weary, the sick, the imprisoned, the poor and the despairing.

God answers with His impeccable timing and in His own amazing way and we can rest assured that His love will find us no matter how desperate the situation becomes. May we have the resilience of Paul to hold on and the commitment and dedication to act with love in the footsteps of Onesiphorus!