Rachel Workman: I don’t
have any comments for today’s reading.
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Allen Michaels: Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for
Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to
Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Demas
was not ready to share or risk the same kind of suffering that Paul had.
Perhaps he wanted an easier life. Perhaps a desire for money caused him to
leave Paul. Whatever the reason, he did leave Paul and went to Thessalonica.
11 Only Luke is with me.
Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I
sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak
that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal
of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You
too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our
message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my
support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. When Paul first had to
go in front of the judge he was alone. He had expected some of his friends to
be there. They could have helped him to answer those who accused him. They
could have encouraged him. This was the custom in those days. But none of them
came and stood with him. They all left him to answer for himself. It may be
that they were afraid to stand with him. I think in the coming days we are
going to see more of this. Our so-called Christian friends will start “turning
tail” once the torture, beheadings, and the killing of Christians starts.
Unfortunately some will take the easy, pain free path by accepting Islam. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that
through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might
hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. Paul was able to preach the message in
full. His task was to preach the gospel. He felt that now that he had preached
it in Rome, he had completed that task. He had finished all that the Lord had
given him to do. I would like to die
AFTER finishing what God wants me to do and not before or during. I would hate
to have “that one thing I didn’t do” be the one thing that keeps me out of
heaven. 18 The
Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his
heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. How often do we thank
and appreciate the goodness of the Lord, which shines like a bright light? All
glory belongs to Christ for who he is. And for what he has done. His glory will
never end.
19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household
of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left
Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before
winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the
brothers and sisters.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with
you all.
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