Devotional #1—Sheltering in Place

2 Timothy 4:9-18
9 Timothy, please come as soon as you can. 10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. 15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.
16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. 18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

Have the last almost 12 months been as tough for you as they have been for me? At the beginning of the pandemic, I believed when they said that we would “shelter in place” for a few weeks.

I am not sure how it has been for all of you, but for me in California, I have only left the house for two doctor appointments and perhaps a half dozen medical tests. I still have a couple of auto-immune issues affecting me, plus a couple of other ailments I won’t go into, and my family doctor who has been caring for our family since 1993, has simply begged me not to go out at all.

I am embarrassed to admit this, but this entire Covid 19 pandemic has kicked my tail the last year. It started when in the Fall of 2019 my oldest and best friend from high school, Perry died, and then just as Covid was starting last February, the third member of Ken’s musketeers, Dave passed. We were unable to hold a funeral for Dave due to Covid.

The memorial service is still yet to be held.

For the next week, I’m going to share how it is that I have sought to overcome my personal struggle through this, and also admit that I have failed to overcome this situation completely. My journey over the last year has been fraught with pitfalls, setbacks, obstacles, and slips.

For most of my life I have been up and down, but a lot more ups than downs. But for much of the last year, I have felt down. Now let’s look at a few of the statements Paul makes in our passage for today.

What is Paul feeling when he writes, “Only Luke is with me”? Maybe lonely even disheartened?
Even later he states that as he was taken before the judge he was alone because everyone had abandoned him.

Paul asked for two things that Timothy could bring to help make his isolation bearable. Both are found in verse 13, the first, his cloak, would give him a little physical comfort. The second was his scrolls and parchments. He wanted reading that would help him grow.

So while we are sheltering in place, and we await the personal vaccine and “herd immunity”, join me in these two things. Embrace a little comfort, and purpose to grow in the Lord. Finally, Paul did one more thing during his isolation. He trusted God.

Read verse 18 out loud:
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

We can trust in the Lord just as Paul did.

Triple D: What comforts have you embraced during this time of isolation? Have you grown spiritually? And finally, how can you put your trust in God in greater ways?