Lord’s Day, Vol. 3 No. 19
Mother’s Day Tribute
2 Timothy 1:5 “When 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.”
Eunice was the mother and Lois was the grandmother of Timothy, the Apostle Paul’s spiritual son who followed him on his 2nd missionary journey and later became the pastor of the church at Ephesus. Timothy had a rich spiritual heritage in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.
The first record of the Apostle Paul’s encounter with Timothy and his family was recorded in Acts 16:1 “Then came he (Paul) to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman (2 Timothy 1:5 tells us her name is Eunice), which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek.” She was probably converted to Christianity during Paul’s first missionary journey recorded in Acts 14. The Apostle Paul speaks of the genuine faith of Timothy, and adds that this faith first dwelt in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.
The godly influence of grandmother and mother bore fruit in Timothy’s life. Lois was a devout Jewess who instructed her beloved daughter and grandson in Old Testament Scriptures. We would envisage family worship, family piety in Timothy’s home led by grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. It is not said whether Timothy’s father, Eunice’s husband was a believer. He was a Greek, Acts 16:1 tells us. It seemed from 2 Timothy 1:5 that he was not a Christian.
The main Christian influence came through Timothy’s grandmother and mother. Lois, the aged woman in the home set the example of piety as Titus 2:2-3 said “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands to love their children, to be discreet, good, chaste, obedient to their husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Lois taught her daughter Eunice well so that Eunice in turn was a godly influence to her son.
It is noted in Acts 16 that Timothy had not been circumcised in childhood. This was probably because his father was a Gentile. Lois the grandmother and mother did all that lay in their power to train Timothy in the fear of God and in the knowledge of the Scriptures of the Old Testament.
In 2 Timothy 3:15 the Apostle Paul testifies this of Timothy’s upbringing, “And 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.”
The godly Christian home that teaches godliness to her members is a potent force for good in the church and the society. As one pastor says, “As the home goes, so goes the church, so goes the nation.”
The scriptures were an important part in the home life of Timothy. Eunice had taught Timothy the fear of God that caused him to want to receive Christ at an early age. We realise that the converts of Paul in Lystra had to endure persecutions to the faith as the land was largely pagan and un-evangelised territory.
Lois had to make a stand for her faith when she was converted in such an environment that was hostile to the Christian faith. It was in such harsh environment that the Christian Church grew and thrived. It is in such an environment that one values the faith and has the opportunity to witness the power of God protecting and blessing and watching over him.
The Apostle Paul was stoned by the people of Lystra after he preached to them. All this must have an impact on the faith of Lois and Eunice who saw that there was something special in Paul. Surely God must be with him. It must have strengthened their faith.
Acts 14:19-21 “And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch.” Paul boldly returned to Lystra again ‘confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God’ (Acts 14:22).
The unfeigned faith of Lois and Eunice, impacted Timothy who was a good fruit from God’s work of grace. You may be called to such a role as did Lois, a grandmother who influence her grandson for God’s service or even a Eunice, a mother entrusted the care of children. May the Lord grant you His grace to build a godly generation for His glory. To all mothers, blessed mother’s day. All praise and glory to God! Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pr. Lek Aik Wee