Where are our Timothy's?
1 Paul, an apostle of [a]Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the [b]genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:1-6
We live in such challenging times of opposing influence overwhelming our kids and grandkids. In school, at the mall, movies, TV, video games, music and on the internet. It feels like we are losing the battle for the next generation.
My grandfather (my mom’s dad) was a Methodist preacher and his son is a Methodist preacher and two of his sons in law are Methodist preachers. There was an expectation in my mom’s family to serve the Lord and reach hurting people for Christ. My daughter is an incredibly gifted writer with a blog that inspires me to run harder, think deeper and drink fuller in the presence of Abba Father. I remember the tears I shed at my oldest grandson’s baptism and how all my other grandkids’ love of worship overwhelms my heart every time I hear them.
Paul reminds us of a young man he took under his wing to mentor and called him “a beloved son.” Then mentioned Timothy’s mom, Lois and grandmother, Eunice. To the names Lois and Eunice can be added those of Monica (mother of St. Augustine), Susanna Wesley (mother of John and Charles), Morrow Graham (mother to Billy and grandmother to Franklin) and generations of moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandmoms and granddads who have sacrificed sleep, invested years of instruction and endured calloused knees praying for children and grandchildren. Not just their own but all those God would place in their paths.
Where are our Timothy’s?
They are at your dinner table, playing in your backyard and messing up your living room. Remind them to “stir up the gift of God that is in them.
