Freedom is Good News Part 128

Do you know what I love about that quote from our previous article?  The one in 2 Timothy 3:14-17?  It tells us that Timothy learned the Sacred Writings in his childhood.  In other words, someone was busy teaching this young child about the salvation of God.

And of course, the message of salvation through a Messiah, sent from the Father, is taught in many places throughout the Old Testament!!  Now, if we go back to the first chapter of this letter to Timothy we read this:  “I have been 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 Tim. 1:5)

In the book of Acts, chapter 16 we read of Paul coming into contact with Timothy.  We are told that he was a disciple, that his mother was a Jewish believer and that his Father was a Greek (possibly not a believer).

This young man was blessed to have a godly mother and a godly grandmother who desired that Timothy know and understand the ways and purposes of God!  These women were knowledgeable of the scriptures and so they were familiar with Deuteronomy 4:9, “Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”  Isn’t it a beautiful thing that Paul commends both mom and grandma in his letter to Timothy? 

God continues with Moses here in Deuteronomy 4:10, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”  But God isn’t finished.  He knows we have short memories and so in Deuteronomy 6:6, He tells us again, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” 

One more time God tells of the importance of godly instruction.  In Deuteronomy 11:18 He says, “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”  This last expression: sitting, walking, lying down and rising is used to let us know that we should be teaching our children at every opportunity we get.  God was, and still is, serious about this teaching of our children – He mentions it 4 times in these three chapters.  And then King David picks up the command in the 34th Psalm verse 11, “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Timothy’s mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois must have done a wonderful job of instructing him.  He was a valuable asset to the Apostle Paul in so many areas of preaching the good news.  Paul even calls him “His true son in the faith” and the New Testament mentions his name 27 times. 

Teach your children.  Teach them diligently.  Teach them about God.  Instruction from someone else is O.K. but instruction from Dad and Mom pleases the Heavenly Father.