Daily Devotional in II Timothy 1
Daily Nugget:
A parent’s influence is one of the most important guiding forces in a child’s life. Their habits and lifestyles often mold the direction of the young life in their care. Countless numbers of young people have lived a life of ruin because of their improper training, or lack of any guidance at all. Multitudes, however, have also lived a fruitful, content life because of the proper guidance from their parents.
Timothy, the young man to whom Paul was writing, was a product of a godly upbringing. Not much is said about his father, other than that he was a Greek, but Timothy had a godly heritage. His grandmother, Lois, started the chain of events that would affect several generations (vs. 5). She apparently got saved, and raised her daughter, Eunice, in the ways of the Lord. Eunice, in turn, raised her son, Timothy, with godly principles and upbringing. The result was a godly young man that God used.
A child always has a mind of his own, and can always choose to not obey and follow the
Lord. Unfortunately, that happens too often. We cannot know how they will choose later, but a parent can show a child what is right. In the majority of cases, a child will turn out the way he was reared.
A Christian parent has the responsibility to rear the child according to God’s commands and principles: “… but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4. God has allowed us the blessing of having children, and he is trusting us to guide and train them in the way they should go.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
For hundreds of generations, the parental responsibility has not been questioned or, in the majority of cases, been neglected. However, in the last 50 years or so, perhaps because both parents have made themselves so busy away from the home, children have been turned over to others to rear. Schools slowly were allowed to be the majority training ground for so many children. Soon, because both parents began to work, a baby-sitter or day care center became a major influence in the way children were trained.
As more children were turned over for others to influence, it was not long before Christian morals were removed from those doing the training. Shortly, good character and Christian morals were not required of those influencing the young lives.
The terrible result was that a large percentage of the population was raised with non-biblical standards. Worldly philosophies, which most parents would be opposed if they knew what was drilled into their youngster’s minds, became the guidelines for the young minds to follow. For decades now worldly teachings have governed the minds of children.
Our children are our responsibility; not the public school systems; not the government’s. The only way a child will turn out like the godly, young Timothy is if parents have more control about what goes into the mind of that child. It takes a godly parent’s influence to raise a godly child in the way he must go.
Today’s Thought: It takes a village to raise the village idiot. It takes a parent to raise up a child correctly.
Today’s Reading: II Timothy 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 ¶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
15 ¶ This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. (KJV)
A parent’s influence is one of the most important guiding forces in a child’s life. Their habits and lifestyles often mold the direction of the young life in their care. Countless numbers of young people have lived a life of ruin because of their improper training, or lack of any guidance at all. Multitudes, however, have also lived a fruitful, content life because of the proper guidance from their parents.
Timothy, the young man to whom Paul was writing, was a product of a godly upbringing. Not much is said about his father, other than that he was a Greek, but Timothy had a godly heritage. His grandmother, Lois, started the chain of events that would affect several generations (vs. 5). She apparently got saved, and raised her daughter, Eunice, in the ways of the Lord. Eunice, in turn, raised her son, Timothy, with godly principles and upbringing. The result was a godly young man that God used.
A child always has a mind of his own, and can always choose to not obey and follow the
Lord. Unfortunately, that happens too often. We cannot know how they will choose later, but a parent can show a child what is right. In the majority of cases, a child will turn out the way he was reared.
A Christian parent has the responsibility to rear the child according to God’s commands and principles: “… but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4. God has allowed us the blessing of having children, and he is trusting us to guide and train them in the way they should go.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
For hundreds of generations, the parental responsibility has not been questioned or, in the majority of cases, been neglected. However, in the last 50 years or so, perhaps because both parents have made themselves so busy away from the home, children have been turned over to others to rear. Schools slowly were allowed to be the majority training ground for so many children. Soon, because both parents began to work, a baby-sitter or day care center became a major influence in the way children were trained.
As more children were turned over for others to influence, it was not long before Christian morals were removed from those doing the training. Shortly, good character and Christian morals were not required of those influencing the young lives.
The terrible result was that a large percentage of the population was raised with non-biblical standards. Worldly philosophies, which most parents would be opposed if they knew what was drilled into their youngster’s minds, became the guidelines for the young minds to follow. For decades now worldly teachings have governed the minds of children.
Our children are our responsibility; not the public school systems; not the government’s. The only way a child will turn out like the godly, young Timothy is if parents have more control about what goes into the mind of that child. It takes a godly parent’s influence to raise a godly child in the way he must go.
Today’s Thought: It takes a village to raise the village idiot. It takes a parent to raise up a child correctly.
Today’s Reading: II Timothy 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 ¶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
15 ¶ This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. (KJV)
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