I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! It was a really nice one here at my house! We kept our focus on Jesus and that made everything that much sweeter. I'm eager to listen to what God wants to say today. I'm going to read the end of the letter of 2 Timothy, starting in 4:9. Read it with me.
Christmas is so much about family and friends. Maybe that's why I'm hearing God speak to me through this text about the different kinds of people there are in my life. St. Paul has a lot to say here about the impact of certain individuals on his own life. He starts out talking about several people who have really let him down.
"Demas has deserted me . . .
Crescens has gone . . .
Alexander did me a great deal of harm . . .
No one came to my support, but everyone deserted me." (v. 10, 14, 16)
I'm sad to say I've been there. Haven't you? Have there been people you thought were your friends who turned on you? It hurts. Others have just not been there when I needed them, or failed to show up when I was counting on them. Some of the people in my life are energy-sappers. They are emotional black holes, sucking the energy and joy right out of me. Others are more like baking soda. They don't hurt me; they just neutralize me. They don't take from me, but they don't give me anything either.
But then there are those special people who are the energizers in my life. They are the people I love to be around. I can't imagine life without them. Paul had people like that, too.
"Only Luke is with me. . . .
Get Mark and bring him with you, beause he is helpful to me in my ministry. . . .
Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. . . .
[Timothy,] bring the cloak I left . . . and do your best to get here before winter." (v. 11, 19, 21)
They are the tried and true. Real friends. They are there when no one else shows. They are the people I couldn't make it without. Who are the helpful people who you can always turn to when you need a hand? The hand on your shoulder when your grieving. The knock on the door when you're feeling isolated and alone. The friendly, encouraging voice on the other end of the phone. These people are absolutely priceless! They make me a better person.
God is reminding me to leave those who have hurt me or disappointed me to his judgment (v. 14, 16). Sorry, Zoe Saldana, but revenge is neither beautiful nor sweet. But I don't have to keep subjecting myself to their draining presence, either. I want to try to avoid these people as much as possible. God is also calling my mind to the people that I am so thankful for, filling my heart with gratitude and love. If you are one of those people in my life (and you know who you are), thank you so much! You make life beautiful.
God is also prodding me to consider where I would fit on other people's lists of their life impactors. Would I be one of the difficult people in their lives or one of the true and faithful ones that warm their hearts? I so want to be the latter. God help me to be just that. So, how about you?
Maybe you would share this post on Facebook and thank the true friends and special people in your own life. Please share your thoughts by commenting below. (Sign in first at the top right corner of the page or pick "Anonymous" from the "comment as" field menu.) God bless you, my friend!
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