Below is another devotion from my friend Angel Torres. I pray it bless you!
“At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 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” (2 Tim. 4:16-17 NKJV).
The last chapter of Paul’s last letter is an especially impactful one for me. As we read Paul’s final words before he would go on to be martyred for his faith, the aged apostle reminds us of the kind of friend that we have in Jesus. Perhaps you are feeling especially lonely today. Maybe you’ve lost friends or family members that were once close to you. Even if you’re not going through a situation like that, you probably will at some point in time. That’s why it’s so important for us to understand and remember the greatness of Jesus’ faithfulness to His people!
We don’t know when exactly Paul’s “first defense” was, however, we’re told by him that he had no man standing in his corner. Even so, he still did not harbor angry feelings towards those who (for one reason or another) failed to stand by him. What a lesson we can learn from Paul at the end of his life as he also prayed that God wouldn’t hold their failure against them! Despite the fact that Paul did not have any friends or companions present to support him during his trial, he still remembered an important truth: God was there with him. Not only did Jesus stand with Paul, but He gave Paul the strength to stand firm in the midst of persecution and Roman brutality. The result of Jesus empowering Paul through these obstacles and challenges would be the advancement of the gospel message!
Ironically, Paul wrote that he was “delivered out of the mouth of the lion” despite knowing that he would die soon (2 Tim. 4:6). This goes to show us that God can “deliver” us from the clutches of darkness and this present world through death itself. It was Thomas Doolittle who said, “Death is dreadful to the ungodly because it opens the door into everlasting misery. But it is blessed to all those who have been imbued with saving grace because it transports them into everlasting happiness.”1 Ultimately, God will take care of His people. As I’m writing this devotional, I’m going through a particularly difficult time. At the same time, God brought this passage to the forefront of mind because it’s a wonderful reminder of God’s great provision and care for His flock! Recall what David wrote in (Psalm 95:6-7) concerning God’s care for His people: “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” It was Jesus who created us, and it is Jesus who is the Great Shepherd (Jn. 10:11).
Just as David defended his flock from the threat of lions (1 Sam. 17:34-36), it is Jesus who rescues the sheep of His hand from the roaring lion that is Satan. No matter what you are going through today, know that you are not alone. There is a God who exists, and He is the true, living God that stands with His people and empowers them to endure difficulty and suffering. Whether it be illness, betrayal, loneliness, or some other challenge, remember that Jesus is standing by you and with you. You have not been forgotten, and you will never be without your Maker and Lord!
1 Puritan Quotes | Reformed Theology at A Puritan’s Mind (apuritansmind.com)