By: Machelle McDowell

October 4, 2022 (Revised)

2 Timothy 1:16

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

Are you a Onesiphorus? Or do you have a Onesiphorus? A What???

Onesiphorus is not a what, but a who!

Paul had a friend that the Bible doesn’t say much about, but what is said spoke volumes about him! His name was Onesiphorus.

I picture him as one of those friends you could depend on that didn’t ask if you needed a hug, he just knew.

A friend that breathed life into Paul’s spirit when he felt depleted, anxious, and weary. A friend that refreshed Pau’s very soul and did it often! That was Onesiphorus!

Is you glass half full or half empty? You might ask, “What do you mean by that?”

I think of Onesiphorus was a person with a glass half full! Let’s call it, the glass of “O”.

He looked for ways to refresh others! He was positive, joyful, encouraging, and consistent. 2 Timothy 1:16 says that, “O” often refreshed Paul!

We could all use a tall drink of “refreshment.” The definition of refresh is: to give strength or energy; to reinvigorate.

We don’t want to partake of the of cup half empty. Woe is me, always seeing the downside. The negative Nancy sinks to the bottom of the glass and drowns in her own dismay, taking others alongside her.

The enemy is causing havoc in our world. We can look at it with our glasses half empty or half full! Not to make the situation any less serious, but we must learn to accept what we cannot change, change the things we can, and have the wisdom to know the difference, keeping in mind, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

We can certainly decide what glass we are going to drink from . I choose the glass of “O.” The glass half full!

I would like to challenge all of us to become a Onesiphorus! Let’s refresh one another often! We need each other.

Call or text (10) random people each day for the next (30) days and pray for each one! Share your favorite scripture with them or just tell them how much they mean to you! Be a Onesiphorus!

Let’s learn to listen for God’s still voice in the midst of the chaos.

If each of us look out for the other! “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves, let each of (us) look not only to his own interest but also to the interests of others.” Phil 2: 3-4.

Be a glass of refreshment today for someone! Be a Onesiphorus!