The Lord Stood With Me

Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left in with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must be aware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

The Lord fulfills His promise to never “leave or forsake” His children. Paul here is writing from the perspective of the end of his ministry days. There are several points we can find here that are helpful to any of us serving the Lord. First off, Paul is asking help to come quickly. There is an urgency we must have in ministry that allows for the members of the body no time for idleness. Paul also reveals those among him who have forsaken him in ministry, Demas joined Paul and was mentioned in previous epistles, but here he was pointing out that it wasn’t because like Paul, who was a prisoner awaiting execution, Demas left him having loved this present world. Tragic to say the least because of this reason. No doubt hanging out with Paul was dangerous. The work of ministry today, in some parts of our world will cost you your life! And yet, when God has called you into ministry, this is part of counting the cost of being His disciple.

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you—This Mark that was nephew to Barnabas who created a fight between Paul and Barnabas earlier. When Paul and Barnabas left on their first missionary journey, Mark went with them, but when they had passed through Cyprus and were heading into still some rough territory, Mark got scared and went home and Paul and Barnabas went on alone. Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance on their second missionary journey, back through some of the same areas to strengthen the brethren that had been converted earlier. That’s when Paul said in effect, “Oh no!” He doesn’t have what it takes. So instead, Barnabas took Mark and headed for Cyprus and Paul took Silas and headed on back into Asia Minor again (Acts 15:36-41). It is interesting that in the Christian body, the church, you will have differences and have disagreements, but the Lord always brings us back. And now years later, Paul is writing of this same Mark, to bring him to me, for he is useful to me for ministry. There is a maturing factor for the Christian saint. One must go through much hardship, Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).

Cloak, books, parchment—Paul had very few possessions and only cared for what he might have needed to benefit others. He was an avid reader, and had great learned skills.

Watch out for Alexander the coppersmith—Pray for those, the Lord said, who despitefully use you, so when Paul makes the statement; May the Lord repay him according to his works. Could have been the way Paul prayed for him. Paul was totally forsaken by all of his friends. And this I love most. All the men forsook me but nevertheless, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, and that is all I or you need to remember. That the Lord stood with me. That the message might be preached—When the goal of your life is to be pleasing to God, then you can be assured that God will be supplying what you will need. Grace is unmerited favor God gives to all those who are His. Mercy is not getting what deserve, and the message of the gospel is that mankind does not have to suffer the judgment of their sins. We can have our lives be transformed by the washing and regeneration the Holy Spirit brings into our lives. By proclaiming the gospel to such a cosmopolitan, pagan audience, Paul could say that he fulfilled and reached the Gentiles with the gospel for which he was sent to, and this was a fulfillment of his commission given to him by the Lord. When his work of ministry had reached it’s fulfillment, he was called home to be with the Lord. Irony is, that every work we commit to do, to serve Christ by serving others, in this case, Paul’s writing his letters to the church, will be rewarded by God one day for all those who have come to Him for forgiveness and salvation.

Beloved friend, The Lord will deliver us from every evil work, on the basis of the Lord’s presence through His Spirit at work in me, He will never leave me nor forsake me. His strength is in His Word of promise, and the fulfillment of our destiny, that is, to be with Him forever. Paul had this assurance, and so can we. Jesus Christ, by His death and resurrection has gone ahead of us, only to return for us, until then, He has preserved me for His heavenly kingdom—Paul knew, like we can know, that the completion of our work here on earth, means our entrance into the Lord’s glorious presence and eternal kingdom. Amen.

May the Lord bless your walk and work for Him!

Author: rontrujillo

Married 37 years We have six children. All of whom are adult. Three are married one of them blessed us with three beautiful grandchildren. Retired Firefighter @ Boeing Aircraft 37 years (Formally McDonnell Douglas) Born Again Summer of 1981 View all posts by rontrujillo