When People Fail Each Other
As a prisoner in a Roman jail, Paul likely felt disappointment. Defending himself before a tribunal, he was facing being put to death. Yet of the many people whose lives he had touched, not one was present to support him. There are plenty of logical reasons to explain why Paul’s friends and the converts he had won to the Lord were absent. For example, witnesses in a Roman court were frequently counted as co-conspirators and shared the fate of the accused. Perhaps there was also a more subtle cause, to which many modern believers can relate. When Paul’s loved ones looked at him, they saw a spiritual giant whose faith could withstand any challenge. They may have thought he didn’t need their help or support. Too often, we judge the depth of someone else’s faith and take for granted that mature Christians can face whatever lies ahead without our support. Paul knew that God would take care of him, but he still desired a friend’s touch, words of encouragement, and the physical presence of loved ones. That’s why believers are called to minister to each other.
