A Mother and a Grandmother

2 Timothy 1:1-7

Introduction: It is only fitting and proper that we study two wonderful women this morning on Mothers Day. To quote Abraham Lincoln, “Everything I am I owe to my angel mother.” Mothers are important, aren’t they? After all, as I heard one preacher say one Mothers Day, without mothers none of us would be here!

We will look at the lives of two ladies this morning, Lois & Eunice. These wonderful ladies were the grandmother and mother of one of the great men of the New Testament. This man, Timothy, was used of God in a mighty way.

In verse 5, Paul mentions that each of these ladies had “unfeigned faith.” This means that their faith was completely without any hypocrisy. Their trust in God and their life-styles were un-hypocritical and obedient to the Scriptures. In other words their “walk matched their talk.”

Let us look at them for a few moments…

I. They had obstacles. Acts 16:1-3

A. A mixed marriage for Eunice

1. Against Jewish law
   
2. Undoubtedly caused trouble
   

C. Perhaps even a widow (living with Lois)

D. Their faith was unfeigned, but they were not perfect.

II. They had unfeigned faith. 2 Timothy 1:5

A. They were looking for the Messiah and believed Him when they were introduced to Him.

1. Like Zecharias, the father of John

2. Like Anna & Simeon

B. They raised Timothy on the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:14-17

***Every Bible verse, every hymn and chorus sung, every mention of the Scriptures to your children have eternal benefits.***

C. They could have raised him on tradition and other teachings of the day, but they raised him on the Word of God.

III. They had good results.

A. They were saved when introduced to the Messiah.

B. They raised a young man who:

1. Trusted Christ and followed Him. Acts 16:1-3

2. Was willing to pay any price for the cause of Christ.

3. Was faithfully at Paul’s side

4. Loved people like no one else Paul knew.

Philippians 2:19-20

(19) But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

(20) For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

5. In short, a son who loved God, paid whatever price to serve Him, loved people, and made an eternal difference in peoples’ lives.

Conclusion: Ladies, wouldn’t you like for it to be said of your son or daughter, that he or she made an eternal difference in peoples’ lives? Wouldn’t you like to raise a child who will not seek after his or her own desires, but serve God and others?

There are mothers in this room who have already done this particulare duty as a mother, but how about your influence and even responsibility as a grandmother? Are you helping keep the Word of God in the forefront of those dear grandchildren’s lives?

I thank God for every whose faith is unfeigned, who overcomes obstacles, even if they are her own fault, and who teach and live the Word of God in front of their children. Indeed, her price is “far above rubies.”

A MOTHER BUILDED A TEMPLE

A builder builded a temple,

He wrought it with grace and skill.

With pillars and stones and arches

All fashioned to work his will.

Men said as they saw its beauty,

It shall never know decay.

Great is thy skill, O builder,

Thy fame shall endure forever and shall never fade away.

A mother builded a temple

With loving and infinite care,

Planning each arch with patience,

Laying each stone with prayer,

None praised her unceasing efforts,

None knew of her wondrous plan,

For the temple the mother builded

Was unseen by the eyes of man.

Gone is the builder’s temple,

Its crumbled into dust,

Low lies each stately pillar,

Now just consuming rust.

But the temple the mother builded

Will last while the ages roll,

For that beautiful unseen temple

Was a child’s immortal soul.

– Author unknown