The following story was told by J. R. Miller, a writer for the once very popular TV program "Hee-Haw." A drunk wandered into the neighborhood gym and spotted a man shadow-boxing in the center of the ring. He watched the boxer dancing and punching the air for a minute or so, then called out to him – "Hey pal, you might as well quit fighting. He’s gone!" This little article is not about shadow-boxing, but it is about a fight. Not a physical fight but a spiritual one. The one mentioned by the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6:12 as he encouraged his young preaching protege Timothy to stay in the fight against sin and Satan – "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." Timothy preached the gospel in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3), a city of 200,000 people, considered by most historians as the most important city in Western Asia Minor in New Testament times. The New Testament books of 1 and 2 Timothy were written by Paul to strengthen and equip and spur the younger preacher on as he fought the good fight. So how did Timothy do? Tradition tells us he fought long and well. According to extra-biblical church tradition, Timothy ministered in Ephesus from A. D. 64 till he was martyred at 80 years old in the year 97 A. D. He sought to halt a pagan parade in honor of the goddess Diana (her temple was in Ephesus – see Acts 19) by preaching the gospel and exhorting the idol worshipers to acknowledge the true and living God. In anger they seized Timothy, severely beat him, dragged him through the streets, and stoned him. He died from the beatings and stones, but stood firm in his faith and fought the good fight to the end.
How do you make a man of such faith and conviction? The apostle Paul clearly had a great influence on Timothy(Acts 16:1-3 * Philippians 2:19-23, etc.). They went through much in their service for Christ (2 Tim.3:10-11). Paul’s spiritual influence on Timothy was profound and long-lasting. But there is another influence in Timothy’s life, equally profound, though it gets little ink in the New Testament. Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 1:5 mention very briefly two faithful women who played prominent if not very public roles in shaping Timothy’s Christian character and faith in God. There Paul wrote, "when I call to remembrance the 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." Wow – "genuine" faith in God can be a multi-generational reality! It was in Timothy’s case! The faith that was in him "dwelt first" in his grandmother and his mom. They taught him the Scriptures from "childhood" (2 Timothy 3:15 – the Greek word can be translated "infancy" –). These two ladies intentionally and constantly sought, from the get-go, to get the genuine faith that was in them into Timothy! They helped shape Timothy into a Christian and a preacher just as surely as the apostle Paul. Their influence on Timothy’s faith in God began before his birth! They rocked his cradle but that’s not all they rocked. They rocked Timothy’s world by influencing him for Christ. Their names live on in God’s household of faith. Timothy and a host of people he led to Christ will be in heaven because faith was "first" in Lois and Eunice! Momma, Grandma – in our age entire movements are seeking to "empower" women. But Lois and Eunice remind us – women of genuine faith have long held great power. Faith can rock your children / grandchildren’s world, in time and in eternity. Grandmas and Moms with genuine faith – rock on!
by: Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN
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