A Family of Faith
Timothy was lucky to have Paul as a mentor, but notice this, Timothy was also lucky to have a family of faith. Paul wrote this to him: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV11)
His faith was passed down from his mother. Her faith was passed down from her mother. Timothy, I think, was a people-centred man because all his life he had lived in a family of faith.
I officiated at a wedding a few months ago. And the couple chose a beautiful song which I learned and sang. It was called A Household of Faith. And I thought ‘what a great way to start your married life, by declaring “we’ll be a household of faith”!
Faith-Filled Homes
Timothy was born into a household of faith and so faith became a part of his life from young. You see, the home is a very important part of our spiritual lives. How much time do you spend at church per week? 2 hours? How much time do you spend in your home per week? 120 maybe? Is your home a household of faith? Where God’s love flows freely and His name is lifted high?
Hear me: church is not enough to form a person spiritually. It’s essential and it should have a high priority in our lives. But church is not enough - if our homes aren’t places of worship, we have missed the point.
Throughout the OT we see God commanding his people to teach their younger generations the ways of faith. Look at these words in Deuteronomy: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4–9 NIV11)
A household of faith! Where God is impressed upon the hearts of the family. Spoken of at home and when driving. Scripture adorning our walls and doorframes.
Lead with Faith
Maybe you grew up in a home like that, and you were influenced by your parents and grandparents, like Timothy. I was blessed to grow up in such a home.
Maybe your family needs your spiritual leadership. Maybe they’re thirsting for something better, something deeper than Netflix and YouTube.
Maybe you can be a people-centred person by passing on your faith to those in your home. Praying together. Reading Scripture together. Worshipping together. Enjoying a life of faith together, prioritising it!
Maybe there’s a Timothy in your family, who will do great things for God because he learned it first from you…at home.
