(2 Tim 2:1-6) Thou therefore,
my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. {2} And
the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the
same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others
also. {3} Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of
Jesus Christ. {4} No man that warreth entangleth himself with
the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen
him to be a soldier. {5} And if a man also strive for masteries,
yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. {6} The husbandman
that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
It is important how your children perceive
their past. It is also important how they look at you as their
mother, as a God Fearing Lady. But the true test of your motherhood
will come when your children are grown and they look back to their
home life. They will bring more Honor to the Family when they
are out on their own with a Godly lifestyle than in the forming
years, when so many mistakes are made.
Paul is credited for leading Timothy to the Lord's saving grace,
he was a man who invested his life in the life of others. We don't
have a lot of scripture to go on for Lois and Eunice. So we will
have to look at what the scripture does not record and know that
it happen. Timothy was Paul's "son in the ministry,"
Paul longed to see his young friend and advise him in the ways
of the Lord. So now we have this great Pastoral Epistle, for all
true men of God.
We see here....
1. THE
LOVE OF A GODLY GRANDMOTHER
We also want to look at the grandmothers today. Here we find the
influence of a faithful Godly mother named Lois who was Timothy's
grandmother, who lived with him. Timothy's life was blessed beyond
measure because of the influence of Lois, having contact with
grand parents is so very important. Someone has rightly said,
the reason they are called grandchildren is that they are "GRAND".
Grandmothers have an opportunity to positively influence each
member of your family for the Lord. One of the greatest
legacies that can be left to your grandchildren is to leave them
with the memory of your faithfulness to the Lord. In later years,
they will reflect often on the faith of godly grandparents.
Let me encourage you mothers and grandmothers to make the most
of the time you have with your children and grandchildren. Take
every opportunity you have to instill Godly principles in them.
Utilize each and every moment you might have, for the time will
soon come when they will be grown and gone from home.
"I Sit and Rock Alone
Just yesterday it seems my children
Played upon the floor
And I wiped countless fingerprints
from window pane and door.
I kissed away a thousand tears
and darned sock after sock
And tried to keep pace with the hands
That raced around the clock.
And often when at end of day,
Too tired to sleep, in bed I lay,
I'd think how nice when, children grown,
My time again should be my own.
So now I sit and rock alone,
My hands at rest, the work all done;
No little tots upon the floor,
No fingerprints upon the door.
No socks to mend, bruises to kiss -
Ah me! How could I know I'd miss
The very things I grudged to do
Dear God, if only there might be
Someone again who needed me!"
Our text also speaks of...
2. THE LOVE OF
A MOTHER
The Bible is very brief on recording any info on Eunice, Timothy's
mother. We are told that Timothy's mother was Jewish and his father
was Greek.Tradition has it that his father had passed on and that
Eunice was a single mom.
A. Single Parent
We have many single moms doing the best they can to rear their children. Our Church needs to do all we can to help them. She was faced with the responsibility of being both father and mother to her son. We have no way of knowing all that she had to go through, but we can imagine.I believe that she knew that this is one of the highest honors in the land, to be a MOTHER. A woman may be a President someday, but she will have to take a back seat to Motherhood.
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan had four sons. They all became ministers. At a family reunion, a friend asked one of the sons, "Which Morgan is the greatest preacher?" While the son looked at the father, he replied, "Mother". [Book of Illustration]
I would like to call your attention to a group of singers in this area that we all know very well, The Bledsoes. Remember when their dad was killed in the tragic car accident. Remember how their Mother took over and how their grand parents helped. These boys have turned out to be great Christian Gentlemen and very talented artist.
I remember them when they first started
singing for Jesus and coming to the radio station, we would have
to put them on a stool for them to reach the mike. It takes sacrifice
but it can be done. They are a good example of the first points.
Another example: Years ago, a young mother was making her way
across the hills of South Wales, carrying her tiny baby in her
arms, when she was caught in a blinding blizzard. She never reached
her destination alive, and when the blizzard had subsided her
body was found beneath the snow. But the searchers discovered
that before her death she had taken off all her outer clothing
and wrapped it about her baby.
And whey they unwrapped the child, to their great surprise and
joy, they found he was alive and well. She had given her life
for her child, proving the depth of her mother love. Years later
that child, David Lloyd George, became prime minister of Great
Britain.[Copied]
B. Skilled Parent
What outstanding things do we know about Timothy's mother Eunice? We are told Dorcas had skills as a seamstress and Joseph's mother, who made the coat of many colors. Lydia was known for being a Christian business woman, a seller of purple cloth, The 31st chapter of Proverbs tells us of a virtuous woman who had a sharp eye for real estate. But Eunice evidently wasn't known for her trade.
But there is something that Eunice did know and do. Eunice loved her son and taught him about the ways of the Lord. She believed God had something special in store for her son. And, indeed, God surely used Timothy.
Every Godly mother will know their children
and have confidence in the Lord. When they have done their best
and leaving the rest is up to God. There is something that they
just know!!!!
True Story
A reporter of the Chicago Daily Times saw the possibility for
a story when he read this advertisement: "$5,000 reward for
whoever can help me find the murderer of Officer ______"
The reporter located the advertiser - an old woman named Tillie
living alone in a poor house.
The story was that her son Joe was in prison for life, accused
of killing a police officer. But where did she get the reward
money? From scrubbing floors. For 11 years - 8 hours a day, 6
days a week, 3,500 nights, miles of floors, years of backache.
The reporter went and dug up the facts which proved that Tillie's
son was not at the scene of the crime. The Supreme Court reopened
the case, and on August 15, 1945, Tillie's son was set free.[Copied}
3. THE LESSONS
OF A GODLY MOTHER
Not all of us can look back on a Christian home and rejoice, I
am glad I can. Although my parents have gone on to their reward,
and I believe beyond a shadow of doubt, that they are together
today. I would like to say I want to thank them for knowing the
value of being faithful to God.
A. Thank you.
Probably the greatest Mother's day gift you could give your mom is a big hug and a sincere thank you. Thank you for everything!!!!!!!
B. I'm sorry.
Perhaps the thing you need to say to your mom more than anything is "I'm sorry." Your mother taught you to apologize when you did something wrong, made a mistake or hurt someone.
Is there something you have done or have not done that calls for an apology to your mother? What better day to do that than today?
C. You're forgiven.
Rather than an apology, you may need to offer forgiveness for something that has caused a strain on your relationship. Because she loves her children, mothers have to make decisions that they believe are right. They may or may not be right. There are times when mothers make mistakes. Your mother may have made a mistake that adversely affect you. There may be hard feelings between you and your mother even to this day about something she did in the past. You need to move on in your life. You need to forgive her and let the wounds of the past heal.
Jesus says, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matt. 6: 14-15.)
It is so sad to see children harbor anger for their parents. Maybe they made a mistake and you keep remembering the past, your burden is heavy. Let me invite you to roll that burden on Jesus and forgive them. You will never be able to get on with the healing process until you forgive them.
(a) God's Word
(Eph 6:1-2)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. {2}
Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with
promise;
The Bible tells us to honor our parents. Even if they are not
perfect, we are to honor them.
(b) God's Will
(2 Pet 3:9) The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
Is it possible that God has been trying to give you some specific
direction in your life that you have been unwilling to follow?
Part of the obligation of a Christian heritage is to see that
you are following the Lord's will in every area of your life.
Do you know the will of God for your life, if not, I can tell
you how to find it. Get yourself in Church regularly
(c) God's Way
Prov. 14:12, 16:25;
John 14:6 With your children, you
have the same responsibility to see that you are raising them
in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. The sad thing is that so
many parents are trying to pass on what they do not have. If you
are not saved, you may have many qualities that make you a wonderful
mother, but that doesn't take away from the fact that you are
lost and in need of a Savior. Place your faith and trust in Him
today.... And start your children in the ways of God.
Roger Pickett
105 Pickett St.
Jonesville, N.C. 28642
Mailed 1996
5/3/01
NewsLetter-5/01