When No One Supports You Read This

2 Timothy 4:16-17
(16) At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. (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.

This is believed to be the last letter that Apostle Paul wrote before he was beheaded by the Romans in Rome. He wrote this letter knowing he will be killed soon. He wrote this letter as final parting remarks to his colleagues through Timothy. The letter has instructions but it also has reflections on the past.

Our passage of consideration today contains the reflections of Apostle Paul. Apostle Paul remembers a time when he had to defend himself when he was wrongly accused. He knew so many people who were in a position to stand up and defend him. He knew so many people present who were able to give him moral support during that defense of his faith at the hands of potential murderers.

Apostle Paul records a sad reality that even affects us today. He says that when he stood at his first defense, no one among those he expected to stand by him stood. No one came to his support. They didn’t even stay, he writes that they deserted him. To desert is to disappear without excusing yourself. He found himself alone.

Being alone while facing accusers is scary. Being deserted at such a point is deeply disappointing. He was both in a scary position with disappointment added to it. The event was so traumatic that as he comes to the end of his life, he still remembers that terrible moment. Yet, he prays that God forgives them for deserting him. May it not be held against them!

Something else Apostle Paul remembers is that when no one supported him, the Lord stood by his side. God stood by his side and gave him strength. God stood by his side and enabled him to preach in that defense. God stood by his side and delivered him from the lion’s mouth, in other words from that danger. When no one supported him, the Lord stood by his side!

Be sure that you are in the right relationship with God so that when no one supports you the Lord stands by your side. Even when everyone else supports you make sure you still have the sure support from God. When God stands by your side, He strengthens you, enables you to evangelize, and saves you from potential danger. May God always stand by us, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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