Ephesians 4:1-16

  "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 Timothy 1:5} (NIV1984)

 

We used to sing a hymn called Faith of our Fathers, and yet Scripture points us to the faith of Timothy’s mother and grandmother. True faith is alive; it is a living thing inside of a living person. Faith is what attaches us to the Living God; two living beings attached by a living faith. A faith that grows as the years go by, and that is real and genuine, not artificial in any way. True faith is sincere. True faith believes in our heart what we say we believe. True faith produces works in keeping with its growth.

This sincere faith lived in Timothy’s grandmother and mother before it came alive in Timothy. Paul does not view this as coincidence; he sees it as a logical progression. May you, as a mother and grandmother, have a faith that is alive and sincere, that will pass to your children and grandchildren. May we, who have mothers and grandmothers who had real faith, follow their example and exercise that faith to fan into flame the gifts that the Spirit has brought into our lives. Faith without works is dead.

Lord of the church. May you bless Parkdale with mothers and grandmothers who have a faith that is sincere and alive. Thank you for their presence in our midst.