LEGACY OF LOIS
2 Timothy 1:1-5
I would like to say HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all of you mothers out there and because today is Mother’s Day, we are going to be looking at a passage of Scripture that focuses on the impact mothers can have in the lives of their children.
Who here has heard of Lois? She is only mentioned one time in the Word of God. The Bible doesn’t say really all that much about her – she will go unnoticed by most of us; however, for any of us who have spent any time in the New Testament – though we may not know who Lois was, we certainly have heard of her grandson: Timothy.
2 Timothy 1:1-5 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
What is it that Paul thanked God for?
What came to Paul’s mind when he thought of Timothy?
What filled him with joy?
When he called to “remembrance” the UNFEIGNED FAITH in Timothy.
1) UN-FEIGNED FAITH
UNFEIGNED = SINCERE OR GENUINE
This passage tells us that Timothy had this kind of sincere and genuine FAITH – just as his mother Eunice had, and just like his grandmother Lois also had!
There was a FAITH transfer from one generation to another – but how did this happen? What was the key to this transfer?
How did it happen?
2 Timothy 3:14-15 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
What was it that impacted the life of Timothy to make him the man he was?
It was his mother – just as his grandmother investing the Holy Scriptures into his life.
The Bible tells us: Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
The Word of God is the CRITICAL ELEMENT necessary for people to Learn of Christ, Repent of their sins, and Come to faith! Unfeigned faith that is sincere and genuine!
LOIS UNDERSTOOD THIS AND MADE WISE INVESTMENTS IN HER CHILDREN THAT PASSED EVEN TO HER GRANDCHILDREN.
LETS LOOK AT THE FIRST MENTION OF LOIS’ GRANDSON AND SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT HIM:
Acts 16:1-3 1Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Timothy – the product of a mixed marriage between a believing Jew and a Greek / Gentile.
Not much is told to us about Timothy’s father – we are told here that he was a Gentile, however, most do not think that he was a proselyte believer because Timothy was still uncircumcised.
Many believe that he either remained unconverted, or may have been dead at this time.
Notice what the Bible says about his character here: he was well-reported of by the brethren.
He had an incredible testimony among the believers in Lystra and Iconium.
He had a reputation that was above reproach with the brethren!
AKA – MAMMA AND GRANDMAMMA DID A GOOD JOB!
WHAT A LEGACY!
They were used of the Spirit to invest the Godly values and attitudes found in the Word of God into this young man – God was at work in this young man’s life.
Paul saw this young man and took him under his wings and spiritually adopted him.
2) UN-ASHAMED ADOPTION
In kind of a “pick up where mom and grandma left off” fashion – the Apostle Paul invested his life into this young man. They had an incredible relationship.
1 Corinthians 4:14-17 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
Who is my beloved son – Paul was unashamed in letting everyone know that this incredible young man – this man with the fantastic reputation, who was above reproach, was spiritually his SON!
THOUGH PAUL HAD NO PHYSIOLOGICAL CONNECTION WITH HIM – SPIRITUALLY HE BECAME THE TYPE OF FATHER THAT TIMOTHY NEVER HAD.
AGAIN, WE SEE HOW GOD CAN USE RELATIONSHIPS – PHYSICAL (Mom and Grandma) AND SPIRITUAL (Mentor) TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PLAN IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO WILL SEEK HIM.
What an incredible testimony of how the power of God can impact the life of someone.
Timothy was not only an awesome child,
He was not only an obedient and respectable young person,
He became an incredible minister of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Listen to what his spiritual daddy had to say about him:
Philippians 2:19-23 19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. 22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. 23Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
I have NO MAN LIKEMINDED – there is no one that thinks exactly like I do when it comes to ministry – except this guy: my beloved son in the faith.
And not only does he THINK just like me, he ACTS just like me!
He will naturally care for your state- He will exercise:
3) UN-CONDITIONAL CARE
WHERE DO YOU THINK TIMOTHY DEVELOPED HIS INCREDIBLE LOVE FOR OTHERS?
WHO DO YOU THINK MODELED AND DISPLAYED THIS FOR HIM?
The two biggest influences in his life came from his MOTHER AND HIS GRANDMOTHER – the third influence came from perhaps the most INCREDIBLE MISSIONARY to ever live.
IS IT ANY WONDER THAT HE WAS A TENDER, CARING KIND OF GUY?
CARING FOR OTHERS CAME NATURALLY FOR TIMOTHY.
DOES IT FOR US?
Really everything that we believe as Christians – everything that God desires for us to do boils down to this last point.
Matthew 22:36-40 36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
DO WE LOVE GOD THE WAY WE OUGHT?
WILL WE LOVE OTHERS THE WAY HE DESIRES US TO?
IF WE WILL – PERHAPS WE WILL ALSO HAVE A LEGACY MUCH LIKE LOIS.
A LEGACY OF PEOPLE WE HAVE INVESTED THE WORD OF GOD INTO WHO HAVE:
A) AN UNFEIGNED FAITH
B) REPUTATION THAT IS SHAMELESS
C) ARE LOVING AND CARING FOR OTHERS
THIS IS REALLY WHAT MINISTRY IS ALL ABOUT.
THIS IS WHAT GOD DESIRES FROM US!
IT IS WORDED THIS WAY IN 1 TIMOTHY:
1 Timothy 1:5 5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Here we see it once again:
C) UN-CONDITIONAL CARE (CHARITY)
B) GOOD CONSCIENCE (UN-ASHAMED)
A) UN-FEIGNED FAITH
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EXAMPLE LOIS SET FOR HER DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON!
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT A MOTHER CAN HAVE!
