9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 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. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
The Apostle Paul as he wrote the letter of 2 Timothy knew that he would soon end his life and meet with the Lord. Paul faithfully fulfilled God's plan in his life and he did not have regret as he would finish his race. Paul faced a lot of attacks from his enemies, like Alexander, and even desertion from the fellow workers, like Demas. A faithful servant of the Lord is not to be exempted from the spiritual attack from the devil and his followers. Nevertheless, Apostle Paul had built up a strong friendship with numerous God's people, like his spiritual mentorees and other fellow workers, Timothy, Luke, Mark, Silas, Tychicus, Priscilla and Aquila, and not to say some other names that we are not so familiarized with, like Onesiphorus, Erastus, Trophimus, Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, etc. Authentic spirituality is never without real and deep friendships with people of God. Paul completed his race with the intimate presence of Jesus as He still stood by his side and gave him strength. Paul after he was converted experienced the rescue and presence of Jesus with him and now he soon entered into the glory of being with his Lord Jesus forever.
My Master Jesus, apostle Paul became the model of godly servant of God whom I want to follow and imitate. Imitate his heart and determination to gain Christ; imitate his passion and love for building up the new generation of leaders; imitate his intimate relationship with Jesus; and imitate his perseverance as he stood firm against the enemies, and imitate his authentic spirituality as he built up spiritual friendships with people of God within his entire ministry life.
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