Daily Devotions
The Faith of a Mother
Reading for September 4th: Ezekiel 18-20
Weekly reading for August 30-September 5: Titus & 2 Timothy
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:5
There is much that can be said about the courage of Eunice, Timothy's mother. She taught her son the Scriptures from childhood (2 Timothy 3:15) and had inspired her son to faith by the way she lived her life. However, it's apparent that she did this without the help of her husband. In fact, we have reason to believe that Timothy's father was antagonistic to the faith. Timothy was not circumcised until he was an adult (Acts 16:3). That was a decision made by Timothy's father, not his mother.
Furthermore, it is likely that Timothy's father was opposed to him becoming a Christian, and probably was against the idea of him going off with Paul. Not only did Paul encourage him to be circumcised (to remove a barrier to the gospel), but he had to leave his father to go off with a man who had become like a father-figure to him. To top it all off, Paul was stoned and left for dead the last time he had visited their city (Acts 14:19). Would you want your child to go off with someone you considered to be a religious fanatic?
Now put yourself in Eunice's position. Can you imagine breaking the news to your husband, or being present when your son did? Would any of us be so courageous as to actually support our son in such a decision?
Eunice was a strong and courageous woman of faith. Her faith can not only be seen in the young man she raised, but in her willingness to give him up to the Lord's service and to (potentially) risk her own relationship with her husband in the process.
Father, our children are on loan from you. Help us as stewards of these precious gifts to never hinder them from doing the work you have called for them to do.
