Citizen Soldier

2 Timothy 1:16-18
{16} The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; {17} but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— {18} the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

          By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
          Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
          Here once the embattled farmers stood,
          And fired the shot heard round the world.
               Concord Hymn, Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson captured the spirit of the American Revolution in his Concord Hymn. The poem was written by Emerson for the dedication of a monument to commemorate the Battle or Lexington and Concord, the first armed conflict of the Colonials against the British Empire. The drama of this battle, as well as the revolution itself has grown in legend over the years because so many of the Colonials were common people. Many within the ranks of the revolution’s army were Militia, citizens who left their private lives to fight for the cause of American freedom. These commoners won their independence from a world power and they did so fighting against a professional military. Hence the poet refers to the farmer who fired the shot was heard round the world. They were as the National Guard states, Citizen Soldiers.

Wars are won or lost when leaders lead troops into battle. Generals however are often not on the front line or in the field of fire. It is the common soldier who is the unsung hero of the battlefield. Onesiphorus was such a man. Mentioned only in 2 Timothy in chapters 1 and 4, he should be viewed a common person who served his Lord as a Citizen Soldier. Onesiphorus was not an Apostle, he was not a missionary, he was not a preacher, and there is no indication that he was a leader of any sort. He was simply a Citizen Solider who did his part in the overall scheme of the war. Christianity and our churches are and should be grateful for their leaders. But the real heroes of our church are not those leaders who proclaim scripture in a leadership position or office. The real heroes are the people who live out the teachings of scripture in their everyday lives. They are the Citizen Soldiers. They are the ones who fire the shots heard round the world. How does a person become a Citizen Soldier in the army of the Lord?

A Citizen Soldier will never quit his mission
It is difficult to view verse 16 without referring back to verse 15 where Paul states, that all who are in Asia turned away from me. In stark contrast, Onesiphorus took up his mission and completed it at time when the many of the people in his acquaintance had forsaken the Apostle Paul. One of the great characteristics of a hero is his willingness to stand alone when everyone else quits.

A Citizen Soldier serves
In the information we have about the ministry of Onesiphorus it is obvious that he served the Apostle Paul as well as the church at Ephesus. Onesiphorus left Ephesus, the location of Timothy, and traveled to Rome to minister to Paul. The danger and length of such a journey shows a commitment to service which was sacrificial in its scope.

A Citizen Soldier will pay any price for the cause of the Gospel
This passage is almost a prayer that the family of Onesiphorus will find mercy. Paul speaks of the same thing concerning his family in chapter 4. It is easy to get the idea from the prayer request that Onesiphorus did not find mercy in Rome and also that he did not make it back to Ephesus. Therefore prayer is lifted up for his family who may have lost both father and husband in his death.

PRAYER
Lord, help me to remember that every member of your church is important to you. Help me also to remember that God has called all of us, including me, to be Citizen Soldiers of his army. Convict me by your Holy Spirit and embolden me that I may never quit the mission you have placed in my hands. In Jesus’ name. Amen.