Refresh One Another

"The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:"  II Timothy 1:16.  One in a house can bring the mercy of God.  God is free with His mercy.  The merciful receive mercy.  Who in this land of brutality does not need the mercy of God?  The man of whom the apostle spoke was a man of mercy.  We are to refresh one another.  We are to encourage one another.  None are to stand alone.  We need each other.  Giving ourselves to one another will bring the mercy of God unto us.  His mercy helps us to give mercy.  The apostle found himself in very difficult circumstances oftentimes.  Difficulty in life calls for the strength that others can provide.  Helping others is helping ourselves.  We cannot give without receiving.  Paul found himself in chains because of the gospel that he preached.  Onesiphorus was not ashamed of that chain.  He did not shun the apostle because of the chain that bound him for he understood the price of the gospel.  We must not be ashamed of those whom others shun because of truth.  We must stand with those who fearlessly preach Christ.  Those who are ashamed of Christ will find that Christ is ashamed of them.  The gospel does not bring shame, but rather, it brings glory.  Let us have the character of Onesiphorus.  God has listed his name in the eternal record.