Refreshers
The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me (2 Timothy 1:16-17).
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country (Proverbs 25:25, AV).
I remember being at the Keswick Convention in the late 1990s when one of the speakers reminded us of some sweets we used to eat as children, which were called “Refreshers” and “Smarties”. He used them as an example of the behaviours of Christians. He said some Christians can be ‘Smarties’, always correcting us, always putting us right; others are ‘Refreshers’, always encouraging and caring.
Onesiphorus was definitely a “refresher” because Paul tells us he was. Paul knew what it was like to be deserted, even by those he had served so well. Onesiphorus was a friend who didn’t just encourage Paul, but “often” did so. He was not ashamed to visit the imprisoned apostle, but went to Rome to find him. Paul describes the effort this dear man put in to see Paul. He sought him “zealously”. It obviously wasn’t easy to work through the Roman judicial system. But Onesiphorus was not someone who gave up quickly; He found Paul. I suspect he didn’t go empty-handed. The Lord Jesus searched for us until He found us (Luke 15). It is beautiful to see this determination in the hearts of His people, both in evangelism and pastoral care. We often think of Paul’s unrelenting service, but he was profoundly affected and so thankful for the kindness of the Christians he once sought to destroy – Christians, like Onesiphorus, who ensured the apostle knew he wasn’t forgotten.
My mother used to let me hold young people’s meetings in our house before I was married. She had not made a profession of faith, but she cheerfully entertained us, providing drinks and biscuits. Like everyone else, I took this for granted. But I remember her being touched when one young sister brought her some tea and sugar to help with the refreshments.
Paul knew the presence of the Lord in remarkable dreams, visions and revelations from heaven. But he also knew the Lord’s presence in the simple, kind acts of fellow believers: friends who visited him and friends who stayed by him. During lockdown, we have appreciated the help of new technology. We are thankful to see each other on a computer screen even though we are miles apart. But not everyone has this facility and more deeply miss what it is to see each other, shake hands, embrace, greet each other with a holy kiss and talk face to face. They need a refreshing letter, a card, a telephone call, until we can freely visit again.
Over the past week, we received two letters and experienced the refreshment and joy of the words of Proverbs, “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” We all need such refreshment, and may the Lord help us to be “refreshers”.
