Mother: Power to Mold
A. Background & Comments:
• On this Mother’s Day 2010 we find ourselves especially grateful for the mother figures in our lives. Whether or not your biological mother was positively influential in your life, most people can claim some mother-like individual who has made their lives a much better thing.
• It is not lost on me that this day, more than any other day of the year, creates feelings of loss & pain for many, including many gathered here today. One of the best ways to deal with the pain & loss you might feel today is to do what we have already done here – remember, honour & be grateful.
• Today, I would like to ask you to consider the relationship of a grandmother & mother to their progeny – Timothy – andconsider the impact they had upon the long term of his life. Truly, we see a picture of a relationship that was aimed at the most important characteristics that could be created in the life of someone we are responsible for!
B. Main Thought:
- This passage teaches us that God uses every one of us – especially mothers – to have an impact on other people, helping mold us into the people we are.
C. Key Question:
- What life characteristics are the most important to mold into the lives of children & grandchildren?
If we really want to influence those we are responsible for toward a good & meaningful life – a life focused on Christ – then we need to understand that we are in …
I. The Molding Shop: Fabricating & Influencing Sincere Faith (vs. 5)
“ I have been reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, lives in you also. ”
- The first priority of an influencer (parent/friend/caregiver) who desires to give the best of God’s love to the life of a child is the encouragement of a sincere faith. In the verse we see that Timothy’s faith is the result of the example & investment of his grandmother & mother. Their collective faith created the environment for Timothy to learn & eventually adopt the faith of the generations before.
- See Mark 8:36,37 – “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
- The singularly greatest priority of both mothers & fathers is the initiation & maintenance of their child’s relationship with Christ. Jesus Christ is eminently clear: nothing in life is as vital, nor valuable, than your “soul”.
- I am sometimes surprised that Christian parents put as much or more emphasis upon their children’s…
II. The Molding Shop: Fabricating & Influencing the Gifts of God (vs. 6)
“ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…”
- The second priority of the parent/friend/caregiver who desires to give the best of God’s love to the life of a child is the encouragement of the “gifts” the child has received. By “gifts” I mean the natural talents each one possesses as well as the super-natural gifts of God.
- Every time you encourage a child – mother – to use the gifts that they have received, that child experiences a joy that can only come from God. Why? He/she begins to fulfill the reason for his or her life… creating meaning & purpose.
- Notice that Paul tells Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God”. By this he meant that it would take an act of the will to bring this into the reality of life. While we have been given gifts that we have had no hand in attaining, it still takes the choice of the will to develop & use them. Is there something you are holding back from God, your family or your church community?
Implications for Life
A. If somehow you feel like you have failed to mold these characteristics into lives around you, let me remind you that it isnot too late. As long as you have “breath to breathe”, you are in the service of the One, of whom Mary said, “With God, all things are possible.” Luke 1:38
B. On this Mother’s Day I want to encourage you to give thanks to God for your mother or that woman in your life who has impacted how you live your life. It is these impacting women, like Lois & Eunice of old, who have helped make us who we are. You can spend your time picking these people apart or just choose to be grateful for the good… your choice.
