The Lord Stood With Me

Paul taught Timothy by telling him about his own life experiences. What happened to me, will likely happen to you. I suffered many things for the sake of the gospel. I had to deal with false apostles, false teachers sin from within the church. But one of the lessons Paul taught, I connected with personally. In 2 Timothy chapter 4 Paul wrote, “16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 17 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. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Tim. 4:16-18).

As Paul was to face charges, he was abandoned by those who were close to him. I can handle being hated for teaching the gospel, but the pain of being abandoned by those you love is much greater. There are likely reasons of fear by the saints. Fear of beatings, of imprisonment even death, and possibly Paul understood. We know that he prayed, “May it not be charged against them”. The good news in all this is the fact that as children of God, Christians, we are never alone, God is always with you.