The Big O Is No Zero

“May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus” (2Tim 1:16-18).

There are just some people who stoke your fire. Folks who make you feel like you can’t lose. Friends who deepen your faith. Friends who fill your tank. Who’s that for you? Who’s name do you love seeing come up on your phone? Who do look forward to hanging out with because you just know they don’t want anything other than to lift you up? 

Paul had a buddy like that. His name was Onesiphorus. The Big O was such close friend that the apostle wrote some VERY kind words about him in the very last letter he wrote just before he died. “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus” (v16-18). 

Did you catch Paul’s situation? In Rome. In chains. In desperate need of a pick-me-up. And look who shows up. The one and only Onesiphorus! It’s just another reminder that this little book of the Bible we call 2nd Timothy is really just a very personal letter. A letter from a real person (Paul) in a real place (a prison in Rome) with real problems (on Death Row) to another real person (Timothy). 

The apostle brings his protege up to speed on his desperate circumstances. He urgently pleads with Tim to hit the road and come see him (2Tim 4:9, 21). The dude formerly known as Saul knows he has a date with the executioner sometime very soon (2Tim 4:6-7). Just in case the young pastor doesn’t get there in time, Paul passes the baton of ministry to him in writing (2Tim 2:1-4:5).

Here in chapter one, he tells Tim that some guy with a very strange name has a very special place in his heart. Let’s face it, not too many parents are naming their son Onesiphorus these days. And that actually may not be his real name at all. Remember, Paul is serving hard time in Caesar’s SuperMax. He may be giving the Big O a nickname. Was this like a code name in case Roman authorities read or intercept the letter before it makes it to Timothy? 

That would make a lot of sense. In the previous verse, the apostle called out two knuckleheads named Phygelus and Hermogenes for going AWOL (2Tim 1:15). A little detective work into the original language reveals these are most likely handles cooked up to keep their real names out. They’ve earned the notorious nicknames of Li’l Fugitive and the Flash. 

So if Onesiphorus isn’t the guy’s real name, what does it mean? It describes someone who is profitable, and useful. He’s so beneficial, we could call him “Benny.” When he’s around, he always makes sure your life runs in the black, not in the red. Someone with that sort of rep would certainly be enthusiastic, friendly, likable, courageous, fiery, passionate, and have a deep faith. Yeah, the Big O is anything but a big zero. 

According to the tradition of the Orthodox church, Jesus handpicked the Big O as one of he 70-plus disciples to act His Gospel advance team (Lk 10:1-12). They returned telling all sorts of crazy stories of God’s supernatural work against Satan, sin, and death (Lk 10:17-24). He later becomes Saint Onesiphorus, serving as a church leader in what we know today as Turkey as well as Corinth over in Greece. He died as a martyr because of his faith in Jesus near the city of Ephesus. Seems his executioners tied him between two teams of horses headed in opposite directions. 

How much of that is it true? Not sure. But we DO know he was one on the short list of Paul’s faves. Here’s what we do know about the Big O from these verses. He had a well-known rep as a key servant/leader in the church the apostle planted in Ephesus. Most of his family are followers of Jesus. He repeatedly was a breath of fresh air for Paul. He certainly wasn’t embarrassed by his friendship with someone behind bars. Onesiphorus personally went the extra mile to find the apostle walking the Green Mile in Rome’s infamous Mamertine Prison. 

Paul prays not once but twice for God to bless the Big O and his family. “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus…may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord” (v16, 18). The apostle trusts Jesus will be good on His own words from His most famous message. In the opening lines of the Sermon on the Mount, our Savior boldly proclaims, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Mt 5:7). If we want to get God’s mercy, we’ll give mercy to others. Generously. Lavishly. Extravagantly. Christ opens up His fire hydrant of blessing on those of us who aren’t stingy with our blessing. Onesiphorus didn’t hold back. The Big O was anything but a big zero.

The apostle gets down to the nitty gritty on why his buddy is a prime candidate for God’s goodness. First of all, “he often refreshed me” (v16). Paul uses a word here (Gr. anaspucho) which means to cheer up in person or encourage somebody who’s in deep trouble or a state of high anxiety. While I’ve never been there myself, I’m pretty sure having a capital punishment hanging over my head would mean I’m in deep trouble and a state of high anxiety! 

Anaspucho literally describes giving someone room to breathe. You help them catch their breath and provide a cool breeze. Take a look around. Who needs help? Who’s worn out, worn down, and worn to a frazzle. God wants to use you and me to revive them, restore them, and help them recover. And I need to remember that when my own tank is on “E,” those people who come to my rescue are actually sent by Jesus. The Lord is the ultimate source of refreshment for the weary and wiped out (Acts 3:20). 

The Big O didn’t just swoop in to perk up Paul once, maybe twice. The apostle makes it clear that he did it frequently. Not just random refreshment. Regularly. Repeatedly. This was no one-and-done deal. Onesiphorus made helping his friend a habit. 

Paul’s situation wasn’t an embarrassment to Onesiphorus. He certainly “was not ashamed of my chains” (v16). Unlike Phygelus and Hermogenes who left the apostle swinging in the breeze (2Tim 1:15). Following Jesus gets messy because God’s people are messy. Following Jesus gets messy because He’s always going into the mess. Our mess. He’s certainly not rattled by it. We shouldn’t be either. Onesiphorus leans in when Paul is locked up. Earlier, the apostle encourages Tim to “not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner” (2Tim 1:8). Paul is certainly “not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed” (2Tim 1:12). 

Are there fellow followers of Jesus who embarrass you? Maybe just a little? You know the people I’m talking about, don’t you? You cringe when you think they’re just a little too bold about their Savior. They have a high JPM. Not familiar with the term? That’s “Jesus per Minute.” Maybe they’re continually giving credit to Christ for all of His blessings. Maybe they’re always prepping for a mission trip to help others in the Lord’s name and asking you to go. Maybe you think they’re just a little too quick to pull the trigger on telling others about their love for Jesus. Maybe they’ve taken a controversial stand on an issue because of what they believe.

Instead of pretending you don’t know them, take a page out of the Onesiphorus playbook. Go to them. Refresh them. Stand with them. Encourage them. Pray for them. Follow the Big O’s example. Don’t freak out. Cowboy up. And just where do you think he got this crazy idea? From Jesus Himself. He didn’t let the dubious reputation of those He came to save stand in His way. Remember how the religious snobs lost their ever lovin’ minds anytime the radical Rabbi/Carpenter hung out with the wrong crowd. Christ is willing to have His name associated with some sketchy folks. Like me. Like you. Let’s show mercy because Jesus has shown us mercy.

Onesiphorus didn’t just have warm fuzzy feelings for Paul from the comfort of his Ephesian couch. When he got the news that his friend was in behind the eight ball, it was time for a road trip. If you’re curious, a check of the map tells us the journey from Ephesus to Rome is jaunt of 1,300 miles. “When he arrived in Rome, he searched for me earnestly and found me” (v17). 

This was no casual search for the apostle. Paul describes Onesiphorus as scouring the city “earnestly.” The writer uses a very descriptive word (Gr. spoudaioteron) which means urgently, zealously, diligently, actively, and with great intensity. He totally devoted himself to the search for his friend. Think of those classic scenes from “Star Trek” when Captain Kirk begs Mr. Scott for more speed from the Starship Enterprise. Scotty always responds, “I’m giving you everything she’s got, Captain!” You can almost see the Big O spending every waking hour asking anyone and everyone if they know Paul’s location.

Again, Onesiphorus is simply doing for Paul what Jesus did for us. He left heaven on the greatest search and rescue mission the universe has ever seen. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Lk 19:10). Our Savior rolled up His sleeves to dive into the mess we’ve made and pull us to eternal safety. In case you were wondering, there’s no way we can save ourselves. We desperately need outside intervention. Divine intervention.

When we trashed God’s perfect creation, Christ didn’t throw up His hands. He got involved. Jesus is the model Missionary. He searched for us earnestly and found us. When Li’l Fugitive and the Flash turned tail and ran when Paul was arrested (2Tim , the Big O did just the opposite. He went looking for the apostle. Just like the Lord did for you and me. 

Some folks wonder if the Big O is still alive when Paul writes to Timothy. They believe that’s why the apostle asks for Jesus to bless “the household of Onesiphorus” (v16). Near the end of the letter, the apostle uses that very same phrase when telling Tim to say “hey” to “the household of Onesiphorus” (2Tim 4:19). He’s apparently not in Rome with him since Paul goes out of his way to say “Luke alone is with me” (2Tim 4:11). While we can’t be 100% sure of Onesiphorus’ status, Paul certainly asks Christ for an extra heapin’ helpin’ of mercy when the Lord makes His final return trip (v18).

So who’s the one God puts in your life to pick you up when you’re down? Who’s the person who revs your engine when it’s running rough? Who goes out of their way to come looking for you when you’re not around (maybe even running away!)? Who’s your Onesiphorus? Now turn it around. Who can you encourage? Who can you refresh? Who do you need to go search and rescue? Who needs YOU to be their Onesiphorus? Don’t forget. The Big O was anything but a big zero.

No Regerts

“I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day” (2Tim 1:3).

I don’t have any tattoos. Got nothing against them. Just never saw any need for one. One worry is the lack of spellcheck at the tattoo parlor. You’ve probably seen the picture of the dude with the unfortunate ink that reads “No Regerts.” Yup, you read that right. “No Regerts.” I’ll bet he regerts getting that tat!

I have no idea of Paul ever got a tattoo. But in the last months of his life, he made it clear he had neither any regerts or regrets about totally devoting himself to sharing the Good News of Christ. He writes to Timothy, “I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day” (v3). No testosterone. No phony machismo. No pretense. Absolutely no regerts.

Walking the Green Mile

The constant threat of death does crazy things to a man. Even to a guy who wrote a big chunk of the New Testament and God used to tell non-Jews around the world all about Jesus. Deep in the dungeon of Rome’s infamous Mamertine Prison, Paul walks the Green Mile. This is where folks count down their final days before execution. 

As he waits, the apostle reflects and writes. In this very last letter, he gets very personal. He reaches out to one of his closest friends named Timothy.

You see, Paul’s service to his Savior has landed him in prison again. And this time he’s knows he’s not getting out. Here in verse 3, we get a glimpse of his walk with Jesus on the Green Mile. 

The man from Tarsus comes from a long line of worshipers and he’s carrying on the family tradition. While behind bars, he spends a LOT of his time praying. And a LOT of his prayers are focused on his dear friend Tim. He flips through the mental scrapbook they share. Looking back, he wouldn’t change a thing. Paul has absolutely no regerts.

An Attitude of Gratitude

First of all, the apostle has an attitude of gratitude. “I thank God” (v3). His execution is not a matter of if but when, nevertheless that doesn’t change anything about the goodness of God. 

I don’t know about you, but if I someone had thrown me in a hole and a visit to the death chamber was a done deal, my first order of business would be to throw myself a personal pity party of epic proportions. For Pete’s sake, I feel like a victim when I get stuck in the long checkout line at the grocery store. 

Not Paul. He looks to the Lord and counts his blessings. No matter how bad our situation, let’s make a point of taking inventory of all God has done for us and given us. Breath? Check. Food? Check. Family? Friends? Check and check. 

But if I’m a follower of Jesus (and I am!), I have the ultimate reason to be thankful. I have Christ. He is my Everything. David knew what I’m talking about and wrote a song about it. “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:25-26). Because he had Jesus, Paul has no regerts.

Getting Your Serve on

The apostle tells Tim that just because he’s in prison, he hasn’t stopped worshiping the God. A little thing like jail won’t get in the way of Paul and the God “whom I serve” (v3). The word “serve” is actually the Greek verb latreuo, which means to worship, venerate, or carry out service as an act of worship. The term originally described people who actually worked at the temple. 

In other words, professional priests. But God makes it clear there’s no such thing as a secular/sacred divide. No matter where we punch the clock, we’re ALL priests (Ex 19:6; 1Pet 2:9). We have the privilege of serving Jesus no matter what kind of collar we wear: blue, white, or clerical.

A little glimpse at the grammar in the original language also tells us Paul’s still getting his swerve on in the slammer. The verb here is in the present tense and can easily be translated as “I am serving.” The apostle’s service hasn’t stopped just because he’s in the joint. A powerful reminder that we can worship God no matter where we are. That’s exactly Jesus’ point to the Samaritan divorcee (Jn 4:21). Our service to Him isn’t limited to a zip code. Worship God wherever you are. You’ll have no regerts.

A Family Tradition

The apostle maintains a family tradition, worshiping the Lord “as did my ancestors” (v3). Paul is talking about more than just his blood kin. He’s talking about his spiritual family. These are all those folks who didn’t know Jesus by name but trusted in God’s promise of the Messiah/Hero who was to come. You can read all about them in Hebrews 12. Hebrew heroes like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and David. 

Hall of Fame Material?

You might be surprised at some of the rather shady characters also in the Hall of Faith. People like Samson and even a non-Jewish woman known as Rahab the hooker. You see, Scripture includes them NOT because of what they did but the God they trusted. Paul points to them NOT because of what they did but the God they served. And remember, they didn’t know their Messiah would be a radical Rabbi/Carpenter from the boondocks of Galilee named Jesus. But they had no regerts.

Just in case you think you’ve done too much wrong and are too far gone for God to adopt into His family, just remember Paul’s own rap sheet. Long before he was the Apostle Paul he was the assassin Saul (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1; 26:9-11; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6). He readily admits, “I persecuted this Way to the death” (Acts 22:4). Despite his considerably bloody background, Jesus showered him with His grace and made him part of the family.

We become a spiritual descendant of Paul’s not by what we do but in Whom we trust. Jesus lived the perfectly obedient life to God’s commands that we’ve certainly failed to live. He died the brutal death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that we in no way deserve. Lean hard on what Christ has done. Serve him with your life. You’ll have no regerts.

Reading the Conscience Gauge

Paul may be on Death Row but he’s there “with a clear conscience” (v3). The conscience is our God-given warning system that sounds the alarm when start breaking bad (Rom 2:14-15). We jacked it up at the Fall but it still works pretty well. Even a wonky conscience can still tweak and poke us when something’s gone wrong. 

When the apostle looks over at the conscience gauge on the dashboard of his life, it’s at zero. He’s repented of all of the sin he’s committed and the pain he’s caused. It’s been a wild ride since Jesus got ahold of him, but he wouldn’t change a thing. He has no regerts.

The Warning Lights Are Flashing

Are the alarms sounding in your head? Are the warning lights flashing down at quality control? That’s probably your conscience giving you a heads up to deal with an issue. Don’t sweep it under the rug. Don’t pretend you don’t notice it. 

Go to God and confess your crap. It will come as no shock to Him. He’s God. He already knows. But confession is the key to cleansing. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9). Confess. Repent. You’ll have no regerts.

Paul's Prison Prayers

Paul wants Timothy to know his name always comes up when he’s talking to God. “I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day” (v3). We get a glimpse into the apostle’s prayer life in the final weeks and months of his life. Two big points. He prays for his dear friend Tim. He prays constantly. 

It’s no surprise he’s praying for the Timster. Paul consistently prays for the people to whom he writes (Rom 1:8-10; 1Cor 1:4-9; Eph 1:15-23; Phil 1:3-5; Col 1:3-5, 9-12; 1Th 1:2-3; 2Th 1:3, 11-12; Phm 4-6). Who are you praying for? Who needs your help in talking to God? 

The apostle prays “constantly” (v3). This is the Greek word adialeiptos, which means continual, uninterrupted, unceasing, and nonstop. Paul is just letting his walk match his talk. He encourages folks at the Thessalonian church to “pray without ceasing (Gr. adialeiptos)” (1Th 5:17). 

Keep the Line Open

Now is he saying we need to live our lives with our head bowed, eyes closed, and hands folded? There’s no doubt times of deep and focused prayer should be a regular part of our schedule. But Paul’s talking more about regular, consistent communication.

The great Charles Spurgeon hits the nail on the head when it comes to non-stop prayer. He said he never prayed more than five minutes but never went more than five minutes without praying. Take it from the Prince of Preachers. Stay in constant contact. 

Keep the line open. Remember, God’s not limiting our minutes or data charges. He loves hearing from us. Pray constantly. Pray unceasingly. Pray non-stop. Pray like you can’t stop. Pray like you won’t stop. You won’t regert it.

Prayer and Tattoos

What a great life lesson here from Paul. His final days give us a blueprint for whatever time you and I have left. We can serve and worship God no matter where just like our spiritual ancestors did. Unlike real estate, location is not a big deal. 

We have the privilege of praying for those He puts on our hearts. We can call on the Lord 24/7/365. And when it’s all said and done, we’ll have no regerts. Well, unless we get that tattoo.

Real Love Is a Life Laid Down

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1Jn 3:16 NIV).

Back in 1984, the guys from Foreigner were searching for an answer. In a classic power ballad, they sang…

I wanna know what love is

I want you to show me

I wanna feel what love is

I know you can show me

If you’re my age, you’re singing along at the top of your lungs and waving your hands back in forth. 

Foreigner’s Mick Jones wrote this number one tune that rocketed to the top of just about every chart around the world. In an interview for Classic Rock Magazine about the song’s success, Jones said, “I don’t know where it came from. I consider it a gift that was sent through me. I think there was something bigger than me behind it. I’d say it was probably written entirely by a higher force.”

There certainly was Someone bigger behind it all. WAY bigger! The sad thing is that Jones didn’t realize that a certain Someone DID show them. Two thousand years before Foreigner recorded one of their greatest songs, Jesus demonstrated pure love. His best friend John says it this way. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (v16). 

Real love is a life laid down.

The problem is that society has sold us a counterfeit version of love for centuries. You know the kind of garbage I’m talking about. Remember the infamous tag line from the movie “Love Story”? “Love means never having to say your sorry.” WHAT?!?! Talk about a lie straight from the pit of hell!! We’ve fallen for a phony love that’s all feeling and no substance. It’s not that love has no emotion. It certainly does but it certainly does NOT stop there.

If we want a legit definition of love, let’s go to someone who was an eyewitness. Someone who was right there and saw it for himself. His name is John. Specifically, the Apostle John. He’s a former commercial fisherman who chucked the family business in order to follow the radical Carpenter/Rabbi from Galilee. If being one of the Twelve wasn’t cool enough, John actually became Jesus’ best friend. I can’t think of a better guy to tell us all exactly what love really looks like. 

In a little letter we call First John, he defines it like this: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1Jn 3:16). Our Savior sacrificed Himself for you and me. We’re to sacrifice for those around us. 

Real love is a life laid down.

In this verse, John does two things. First, he defines what true love really is. Second, he tells us how to respond. Fact then action. Explanation then application. You see, when we understand the expression of Jesus’ love-in-action, we can’t sit still and can’t sit down. We get moving. We get doing. We get going. Not for us. But for others. We give because of what we’ve been given.

the kind of agape love Jesus showed you and me wasn’t just a warm fuzzy feeling. Real love is sacrifice. It’s love that does. Love with hands. Love with feet. Love that goes. It’s love in action. Jesus showed the universe that love is a verb.

So what exactly did Christ do? How did He lay down His life for us? Long before He left heaven to come to our rescue, God loved you and me. That love goes back a LONG way. So let’s go back. I mean WAY back! Back even before creation. Did you realize God loved you before He created the universe (Eph 1:4-5). But He didn’t just think good thoughts about us with a long distance love. Jesus didn’t just feel something for us. He did something for us. When we needed a Savior, the Son of God left the comforts of the heavenly palace and served us.

Real love is a life laid down.

Paul tells his friends in Philippi the kind of sacrifice Jesus made for us. He took “the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross (Phil 2:7-8). Think about that for just a minute. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords became the Servant of Servants. 

The classic example is the incredible picture in the Bible of the Sovereign Lord of the universe sitting on the floor washing the filthy feet of His followers (Jn 13:3-17). That’s what love looks like. As a matter of fact, Jesus told His now clean-footed posse how we’re to follow His sacrificial example. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34-35). 

Real love is a life laid down.

Just to be sure, godly love is a whole lot more than washing feet. There’s no greater example than what Jesus did for us on a cross one Friday at a place called Calvary. But His service to us is much more than a bloody spectacle of Roman torture and execution. Christ laid down His ENTIRE life as an act of love. He spent 33 years doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. He lived the perfectly obedient life that we failed to live. He died the death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that we don’t deserve. 

Christ put our needs ahead of His own right to be called God (Phil 2:6). And in doing so, He lived out His own definition of living large and loving large. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Jesus didn’t just say He loved. He lived His love. He put His life on the line as a practical demonstration of how He felt.

Real love is a life laid down.

Back in 1st John, the apostle explains what the best love looks like and then goes on to tell us what we should do about it. “And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (v16). In doing so, John uses a word (Gr. opheilo) that’s translated here as “ought” but carries a LOT more weight than that. John doesn’t just suggest something to do in response to Jesus sacrifice. “Hey, here’s something you might try…” No, the original Greek term means to owe. To be in significant debt. To be obligated after receiving something of considerable value. The Son of God gave His very life for us. THAT is certainly of considerable value (1Pet 1:18-19)!

So what do we do about this massive debt we owe our Savior? There’s absolutely no way we can pay Him back. But we can pay it forward. We lay down our lives in sacrificial service of others as an act of worship to Jesus. That’s exactly the kind of debt repayment plan Paul wrote about to the church in Rome. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8). Declare spiritual bankruptcy and file Chapter 13. And by Chapter 13, I mean 1st Corinthians 13, the so-called “Love Chapter.” See what I did there?

Jesus laid down His life in order to pay our massive debt of sin. You think you’re six-figure student loan looks large? Not even Dave Ramsey is getting us out of hole our own sin. There’s only one answer. Christ. When we place our trust in Jesus, we’re trusting in what He did that we could never do. We can never repay Him for what He’s done for us. We can never earn our way into eternal life. 

Salvation is an undeserved gift. We have no reason to brag or boast about it. We’re not saved BY our good works but to DO good works (Eph 2:8-10). Just in case you were wondering, God doesn’t need your good works. But your neighbor does. I can’t pay Jesus back. But I can pay it forward. I can do that by laying down my life for others. Because I have received real love, I can give real love. Or as John likes to say, “We love because He first loved us” (1Jn 4:19).

Real love is a life laid down.

While I do own my fair share of Foreigner tunes, I’ve never had the privilege meeting Mick Jones and the boys. If any of us ever do, let’s make a point of telling them there’s no reason to look any further. Wanna know what love is? Take it from His buddy John

and check out Jesus. He’s happy to show you.

Real love is a life laid down.

It's NOT about You. It's ALL about Jesus.

“I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service” (1Tim 1:12).

Rick Warren is right. “It’s not about you.” That’s the opening line to his best-seller “The Purpose Driven Life.” As a matter of fact, it’s not about me either. I don’t know about you, but that’s quite a relief. The book is awesome (as a matter of fact, you may want to stop wasting your time reading stuff like this on the internet and pick up a copy if you haven’t read it yet!). But it’s not like Rick has the copyright on some groundbreaking new idea. 

No, this notion was put in motion a few thousand years before in a little ditty known as the Bible. In a letter to his sidekick Timothy, Paul goes out of his way to say it’s not about him either. “I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He has judged me faithful, appointing me to His service” (v12). It’s all about the One who gives us strength. It’s all about the One who leads us to a place of faithfulness. It’s all about the One who handpicks us to serve. If you’re scoring at home, it’s ALL about Jesus. That’s A-L-L. ALL.

The apostle is not simply scribbling this stuff down in a vacuum. He’s not just waxing poetic. You see, Tim’s got his hands full with a gang of false teachers who are stirring up trouble at the church in Ephesus. Paul has left his spiritual son there as the pastor while he’s off on his next assignment (1Tim 1:2-3). The man from Tarsus already kicked two of these knuckleheads to the curb before he hit the road (1Tim 1:20). But there are still a few religious hucksters selling a counterfeit gospel and distracting people from the real deal (1Tim 1:3-7). These false teachers are misusing God’s law and abusing God’s people. Instead of using Scripture to diagnose sin and point folks back to Jesus, they use it to dominate and damage through legalism and self-salvation (1Tim 1:8-11). This isn’t just a first century issue. Garbage like this is still spewed in our churches today. 

Paul is making a clear distinction between himself and the spiritual snake oil salesmen. He thanks Jesus for giving him supernatural strength. The false teachers are driving on an empty tank. He thanks Christ for judging him faithful. The false teachers have only a faith in themselves. He thanks our Lord for appointing him to serve. The false teachers are self-appointed and serve only themselves. Every single one of us who thinks we’re serving God needs to ask the hard questions. Who gives me strength? Who judges me faithful? Who appoints me to serve? If the answer is NOT Jesus, I need to shut it down and turn to Him right here and right now. Remember, it’s not about you. It’s ALL about Jesus.

Like a basketball player who’s just score and points to the one who passed him the ball, the apostle gives all the credit to where credit is really due. God. All throughout Scripture, we read of our God who gives. He gives creation. He gives life. He gives food. He gives His Son. Our God is not a grabber but a Giver. An over-the-top, crazy generous, radically lavish Giver. It’s just who He is. It’s just what He does. And He absolutely LOVES to give to those who don’t deserve anything. Just to clear up who these undeserving recipients are…it’s you and me. That’s why Jesus says He came so that we could dive into the deep end of a pool what He calls the abundant and overflowing life (Jn 10:10).

Paul is so thankful to “Him who has given me strength” (v12). He’s ultimately powerless without Christ. Jesus told His crew that when we’re vitally connected with Him, there’s really no limit to what He can do through us (Jn 15:5). Without that connection, zip, zilch, zero. The apostle knows without a doubt he didn’t do it. He didn’t have the strength. He didn’t have the oomph. He knows that God and His power are the secret sauce of all that he’s accomplished. In other words, it’s NOT about Paul. And it’s NOT about you or me. It’s ALL about Jesus. 

Make no mistake on just who this Jesus is and what this is all about. According to the apostle, He’s “Christ Jesus our Lord” (v12). These four words absolutely drip with significance. Jesus is the actual name His heavenly Father told His earthly parents to name Him (Lk 1:31). It literally means “Yahweh saves.” And boy, does He ever! God personally comes to our rescue through the Son of a carpenter from Nazareth. We see here that Jesus is so much more than Joe and Mary’s oldest. 

He’s “Christ” (v12). No, that’s NOT His last name. It’s an incredibly important title. It’s the New Testament equivalent of the Hebrew “Messiah” in the OT. As Messiah/Christ, He ties the entire Bible together. In fact, He is THE ultimate Hero of THE entire Story! Jesus is the long awaited Hero God promised for thousands of years Who would come. The Father first hinted at our Savior’s arrival to our first parents in Eden (Gen 3:15). Every promise and prophecy in Scripture points to the coming Messiah. He fulfills God’s pledge to Abraham. He fulfills God’s commitment to David. Jesus Himself shocked the world by saying all of the Scripture is about Him (Lk 24:27; Jn 5:39, 46). The term “Christ” (Gr. Christos) literally means “Anointed One.” God the Father drenches God the Son with God the Spirit (Lk 3:22). If you’re wondering, that’s an unbeatable combo!

Paul wants us all to know that Jesus is not just Messiah/Christ but also “our Lord” (v12). In other words, He’s the One who is ultimately in charge. Jesus isn’t some mid-level manager with limited authority. He decides. He rules. He reigns. He’s not just a king. Later in this very letter, the apostle doesn’t want Tim to miss the fact that Jesus is “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1Tim 6:15). The Apostle John didn’t just call Jesus his best friend but also worshiped Him as the “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev 17:14; 19:16). With a title like that on your LinkedIn profile, you have “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18). Because of that, He’s not just some random ruler with no right to tell you and me what to do. He’s “OUR Lord” (v12 emphasis added). Remember, Jesus didn’t come simply to sell us fire insurance. He came as the most benevolent Boss the universe has ever seen. As Lord, we must to do what He says. Our willing obedience to the Lord Jesus is the secret to unlocking the overflowing goodness of life He came to bring (Jn 10:10). You see, it’s NOT about you. It’s ALL about Jesus.

The apostle is pumped not because of what anybody else thinks of him but “because He judged me faithful” (v12). The ESV translates the Greek verb here hegeomai as “judged.” While Jesus certainly is qualified as our Judge (Jn 5:22, 27; Acts 17:31), this isn’t so much like a ruling in a courtroom. This is term actually means to consider, regard, lead, govern, and rule. Hegeomai describes the effectiveness of a leader (Acts 15:22). Paul sure seems to be making the point that Jesus led him into faithfulness when he had none. Did Christ do that for you? Chances are He’s still doing it right here and right now.

Paul doesn’t give a hot hoot about what bloggers say about him. He couldn’t care less about how many friends he has on Facebook or followers on Twitter. He writes to Galatian believers that the only thing he really cares about is God’s stamp of approval as Jesus’ servant (Gal 1:10). All that matters is Jesus and what He thinks of the man from Tarsus. It’s not that we shouldn’t care about others. Our Savior has certainly called us to love people in the same self-sacrificing way He did (Jn 13:34-35). But our worth doesn’t hinge on their opinion of us. Whose opinion matters? Christ. It’s ALL about Jesus.

The apostle is doing cartwheels because the Son of God “has judged me faithful” (v12). That’s quite a statement considering his rap sheet as Saul. In the very next verse, he admits to his rather questionable background as “blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” and how he “acted ignorantly in unbelief” (v13). Check out the Message’s take on the risk Jesus took with the former Pharisee. “He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry” (v12 The Message). So how in the world does Jesus see any faithfulness in this faithless former terrorist against His kingdom? It’s because Paul realized he was neither too bad to be saved or good enough to save himself. He places his trust in what Jesus has done for him that he could never accomplish on his own. 

We need to remember that Jesus doesn’t call to anything but faithfulness to Him. It’s not about piling up a great resume. It’s not about building up a fabulous 401k. And it’s not even being successful in ministry or building a big church. Faithfulness in our gracious God is one of the Bible’s mega-themes. “The righteous shall live by faith” (Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38). Don’t fall for the lie of up-and-to-the-right. Look at the only measure of success that matters in Jesus’ eyes. Faithfulness to Him is ALL that matters.

Christ gives us His strength for a reason. In Paul’s words, He is “appointing me to His service” (v12). And why not, it’s the whole reason Jesus came. The Son of God came to seek, to save, and to serve (Lk 19:10; Phil 2:5-8). That’s right, the King of kings is also the Servant of servants. He flipped the cosmic org chart upside down. We need to remember to do the same. He seeks, saves, and serves us so that we can serve as well. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re faced with a life of minimum wage drudgery by following Jesus and attending to the needs of others. Christ says we’ll find unbelievable blessing in serving others (Jn 13:17). He goes so far as to say it’s the REAL path to greatness in God’s eyes (Lk 22:26). 

Rick Warren is right. The Apostle Paul is right. It’s NOT about you. It’s ALL about Jesus.