Only Luke

“Only Luke is with me.”  (II Timothy 4:11)

Have you ever been betrayed by someone or a group of people? Paul was one who knew the feeling. Demas had forsaken Paul in one of his darkest days. Paul was in the Roman jail waiting for the executioner to come and take his life. Demas’ leaving, no doubt caused great pain to the Apostle. “Only Luke is with me,” Paul said. Praise God for the person who will stay by your side when everyone else forsakes and betrays you. There was no notion of betrayal in Luke’s make up.

Our Lord also knew the pain of betrayal. Judas Iscariot had pretended to be Jesus’ friend but Judas delivered Him to the Jews for thirty pieces of silver and betrayed Him with a kiss. Our Lord understood the pain of betrayal

The Lord was another one who stood with Paul and never forsook him. “The Lord is with me.” (II Timothy 4:17)  He has given us a promise that, just as He stood with Paul when others turned their backs that “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)