The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:15,
"You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes."
Paul's situation when he wrote 2 Timothy is heart-wrenching. Unlike his imprisonment when he first arrived at Rome, living in a rented house, Acts 28:30, he was now chained in prison, 2 Timothy 1:16 and 2:9. As such he was deserted by some of those whom he counted upon and those he loved. He says that everyone from the province of Asia had deserted him, specifically mentioning Phygelus and Hermogenes. I suspect these two are named specifically because it might be thought that for these two to do so, it provides a measure of Paul's sense of abandonment by those who should have stood at his side.
Paul spoke of his sense of concern and care for many of the churches he helped establish. In 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 he says, "Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?" He tells the Philippian church, "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown..." Philippians 4:1. Listen to his passion for the folks in Thessalonica, "But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20.
For any fellowship to abandon Paul, many of which he expended his life for, must have been heart-breaking. Paul speaks of his great satisfaction and fulfillment in his work, always acknowledging the Lord as the one who empowered him and enabled him to do the work. As is seen in his feelings for those in the fellowships I have referenced above, to be abandoned by those he loved and expended himself for must have weighed on him heavily.
Paul suffered much in his calling to be the apostle to the Gentiles. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 he speaks of some of the difficulties and hardships he faced in his work, "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?"
I suspect it was the hardship of being abandoned, due to his love and concern for others, that weighed on him most heavily. Paul had a heart for people. Listen to his concern for his own countrymen who rejected the gospel, "I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel." Paul cared for people dearly, reflecting the love of the Lord himself in his actions and writings.
Isn't it amazing what the Lord can do in a hardened heart? Of himself, as a younger man, before having his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul confesses, "I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man..." 1 Timothy 1:13. Now we see a changed man whose heart for others is on clear display: a love and passion for the Lord and a love and passion for people.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes."
Paul's situation when he wrote 2 Timothy is heart-wrenching. Unlike his imprisonment when he first arrived at Rome, living in a rented house, Acts 28:30, he was now chained in prison, 2 Timothy 1:16 and 2:9. As such he was deserted by some of those whom he counted upon and those he loved. He says that everyone from the province of Asia had deserted him, specifically mentioning Phygelus and Hermogenes. I suspect these two are named specifically because it might be thought that for these two to do so, it provides a measure of Paul's sense of abandonment by those who should have stood at his side.
Paul spoke of his sense of concern and care for many of the churches he helped establish. In 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 he says, "Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?" He tells the Philippian church, "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown..." Philippians 4:1. Listen to his passion for the folks in Thessalonica, "But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20.
For any fellowship to abandon Paul, many of which he expended his life for, must have been heart-breaking. Paul speaks of his great satisfaction and fulfillment in his work, always acknowledging the Lord as the one who empowered him and enabled him to do the work. As is seen in his feelings for those in the fellowships I have referenced above, to be abandoned by those he loved and expended himself for must have weighed on him heavily.
Paul suffered much in his calling to be the apostle to the Gentiles. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 he speaks of some of the difficulties and hardships he faced in his work, "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?"
I suspect it was the hardship of being abandoned, due to his love and concern for others, that weighed on him most heavily. Paul had a heart for people. Listen to his concern for his own countrymen who rejected the gospel, "I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel." Paul cared for people dearly, reflecting the love of the Lord himself in his actions and writings.
Isn't it amazing what the Lord can do in a hardened heart? Of himself, as a younger man, before having his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul confesses, "I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man..." 1 Timothy 1:13. Now we see a changed man whose heart for others is on clear display: a love and passion for the Lord and a love and passion for people.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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