heroes

"May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains," (2 Timothy 1:16)

One of our ministry team is a pretty enthusiastic NASCAR fan. If you're into that sport, then you know that for many years, Jeff Gordon was one of the best in the business.

Several years ago, there was documentary about his pit crew.  When they interviewed the head of his pit crew (who, by the way, has a degree in organizational behavior), he revealed just how amazing the work of the pit crew is in a sport where seconds really matter. The pit crew chief said they will change up to 20 tires in one race.  Just think of what those speeds must do to a tire! And they change a complete set of four tires in thirteen seconds - that's faster than I can finish off a bite of my dinner!

The driver is the name everyone knows - but the driver knows he's nothing without his pit crew!

There are unsung heroes whose support is the key to finishing the race - and not just at a speedway. For every one of us, at one time or another, it's our pit crew that has made the difference in us finishing our race.

In Paul's last letter, written shortly before his death, the great missionary pays tribute to one of his pit crew heroes - a man with themouthful name of Onesiphorus. At one stressful season of Paul's life, Onesiphorus was the head of his pit crew - and kept Paul rolling.

Here's the story of an unsung hero from the Word of God.  It's found in 2 Timothy:  "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."  (2 Timothy 1:16-18)

Man, we all need an Onesiphorus. We all need to be Onesiphorus - except maybe with a name that's easier to pronounce. You can't control if you HAVE a friend like this - but you can DECIDE TO BE A FRIEND like this! "Whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." (Proverbs 11:25)

You know some people right now who are at a tough time in their race.  They're slowing down...they're overheating... they're under heavy pressure...they may not feel like they can finish. And the difference is going to be someone who is willing to step up and be their Pit Crew. Someone like you. Someone who follows the example we just read about.   Someone who frequently asks, "Lord, what could I do that would refresh my hurting friend - a call, a note, a meal, babysitting, giving him some time off?" 

And notice what Paul wrote... "He often refreshed me."  You need to go out of your way to find that person.  You need to go out of your way to find out what's wrong.  "He searched hard for me."   We're talking about you being their "be there" person.  They need to know you will always be there.

God has a wonderful promise for you if you will be someone's unsung hero in the pit crew who keeps them in the race. The promise is in Hebrews:  "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving thesaints, as you still do." (Hebrews 6:10)

-ron hutchcraft