may the lord grant mercy to the household of onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, [2 timothy 1:16]
it’s interesting to me that in a world that, for many, has slowed down, people are still tired, worn out, and searching for rest. perhaps you can relate – suddenly you have all the time in the world on your hands, yet you just want to sit in front of the tv and watch more netflix. or, maybe you’re in a situation like my household, where you and your spouse are working, you have small children (now with no babysitters) and you feel like there’s zero breaks in the day. how is it, that with so many things being removed from our daily routines, we can still feel tired and in need of being refreshed?
let’s ask ourselves this question; “where am i turning to be refreshed?”
tv, food, sleep, youtube? so many things that hold the promise of requiring no work – mental or physical. to be clear, these things aren’t inherently bad. but, they do lack something. they may provide a break from the action, but they do not refresh your soul. they cannot pour anything back into you.
in five separate letters in the new testament, paul mentions that he or others have been refreshed by their brothers and sisters in Christ. here, paul specifically says onesiphorus has refreshed him personally. but how is that?
“yes, brother, i want some benefit from you in the lord. refresh my heart in Christ.” [philemon 20]
the body of Christ is a gift – meant, at times, to refresh us. but the refreshing ultimately comes from being pointed to Jesus. food, more sleep, and even disney+ won’t ultimately refresh our souls if they do not point us to the only one that can. where are you turning to be refreshed? this morning sit in the presence of God and be refreshed. then, be intentional about pointing others to the one that can refresh them as well.
repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus…[acts 3:19–20]
~ keith kozlowski