by Jordy van Gaalen

May It Not Be Held Against Them

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“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 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.”
2 Timothy 4:16-18 NIV

What a God we have! The Lord never left Paul’s side, and the Lord granted strength to him. Though everyone deserted him, the God of the universe gave His presence and His strength. 

We cannot rely on humans. We cannot even rely on ourselves. We know from experience and from Scripture that people will let us down. Paul acknowledges this but does not hold bitterness or resentment. He is filled with understanding, even in his blunt assertion. He holds nothing against those who abandoned him. Rather, he recognizes that he has His Almighty Father beside him. Our Heavenly Father is faithful and trustworthy; He will never leave us or abandon us.

Paul is currently imprisoned for the second time and is nearing his death. Paul knows that suffering and trials are a part of the Christian life. Maybe this is the cause for his lack of bitterness against the people who deserted him, the people who I assume he thought would be there to support him and have his back.

I don’t know about you, but I know that I personally put far too much trust and weight in people, and I have been let down. I too have let down my family, friends, and fellow Christians time and time again.

I wish to have the attitude of Paul when he says, “May it not be held against them” (v. 16). May it also not be held against me when I neglect to support my brothers and sisters. I pray to have my eyes more focused on Jesus being my strength and my comfort. May we acknowledge that we will face suffering and trials and loneliness as Christians, but may we acknowledge all the more that we have an Almighty God that can fulfill far beyond what any human can. We have a God that gave up His only Son as a ransom for our life and a relationship with Him.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado