A Prayer about Being a Refreshing Friend
May the Lord grant mercy to the household of One siphorus, 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. (2 Tim. 1:16–17)
Dear Jesus, One siphorus is just one of many of my brothers and sisters I’ll have to wait till heaven to meet. Being married to you has placed me in a most amazing family, and like every other family, it’s a broken family filled with broken people. But like no other family, it’s a family with a guaranteed future of whole people and perfect relationships beyond all imaginings (1 Cor. 2:9). I praise you for paying the supreme price of your life to secure such an unimaginable eternity for your bride.
But here’s one of my brothers I’d like to be a lot more like before we meet. Though One siphorus’s name literally means “bringing profit,” he didn’t have to live that way. He could have been self absorbed, hypercritical, a record keeper of wrongs done, a quarrelsome type, real sensitive, taking everything way too personally. In short, he could have been a real drain to be around. But instead he was a source of refreshment, and according to Paul, he worked hard at it.
Jesus, make me a much more refreshing person. Fill my heart with your mercy. Give me gospel eyes to see others as you see them. Sensitize my spirit with your Spirit. Free me from working hard just to get my to do list done, that I might work hard at bringing refreshment to others.
Jesus, please make me aware today of those who really need encouragement, some reason to hope, a concrete manifestation of care. It may be at the price of an airline ticket to find them. It may simply be a walk across the street, a drive across town, a face-to-face visit, a hug, a call, an email, a text— some small thing that will bring a profit beyond my imagining.
Jesus, you searched hard to find me and you did. You’ve broken my chains and you’ve borne my shame. May I offer a refreshing taste of your kindness to others today, no matter what their chains are. I pray in your loving and liberating name.
Amen.