Daily Devotion in II Timothy 1

 A parent’s influence can be one of the most influential guiding forces in a child’s life. Their habits, instruction, and lifestyle often mold the direction of the young life in their care.

Countless numbers of young people have lived a life of ruin because of improper training or lack of guidance. 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 he was a Greek, but Timothy had a God-obeying heritage. His grandmother, Lois, started the chain of events that would affect several generations (II Timothy 1 5). She was a devout believer and raised her daughter, Eunice, in the ways of the Lord. Eunice raised her son, Timothy, with godly principles and upbringing. The result was a godly young man God used.

A child always has a mind of its own and can always choose not to obey and follow the Lord. Unfortunately, that happens too often. We cannot know how they will decide later, but a parent can show a child what is right. In most 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 commandments 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, parental responsibility has not been questioned or been neglected. However, in the last 50 years, perhaps because both parents have made themselves so busy away from home, children have been turned over to others to rear. Schools slowly were allowed to be the majority training ground for most children. Soon, because both parents worked, a babysitter or daycare center became the 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 young people’s training. Shortly, good character and Christian morals were not required of those impacting 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 have opposed if they knew what was drilled into their youngster’s minds, became the guidelines for young minds to follow. For decades, worldly teachings have now governed the minds of children.

Our children are our responsibility, not the public-school systems and 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 their child and they are aware of and following God’s standards themselves. It takes a godly parent’s influence to raise a godly child in the way it must go.

Today’s Thought: 
“It takes a village to raise the village idiot. However, a parent's guidance, love, and discipline can mold a child into a successful adult.”

Words to Understand:
Abolished: gotten rid of; ended
Manifest: apparent; clearily seen
Unfeigned: sincerely shown

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.