Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1:4-8, Titus 2:3-5
“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.” (2 Tim. 1:5)
The apostle Paul was writing his second letter to Timothy. Timothy was very dear to the apostle Paul. He was writing to encourage him to continue in the faith and be faithful to give out the Word which Paul had taught him. Paul was urging Timothy to carry on the message that the Lord had given them to preach. He started this instruction by reminding him of what he had been taught by his mother and grandmother. What a tribute to them! This is the privilege that the Lord gives all mothers. That is, teaching the Word to the children and letting the children see the faith in them. There is no higher calling than to minister to children. If children can accept the Lord as Saviour and begin to grow in the Word, then their lives can be saved as well as their souls. There is no one that can minister to children more than a mother. How fortunate Timothy was to have a faithful grandmother and mother.
Every mother should realize the responsibility, privilege, and blessing of “training up a child in the way he should go.”
Throughout the Scriptures we find the importance of mothers in the lives of their children. Some mother’s influences were evil. For example, we read in 1 Kings 22:52-53 and 2 Chronicles 22:1-4 concerning King Ahaziah. His mother was Athaliah. These Scriptures tell us that she “was his counsellor to do wickedly.” She was ambitious for her son, and wanted to influence him in reigning over the country. Even today there are some mothers who get too anxious for their children to succeed in something, or be the best in some particular thing. Sometimes this leads to evil counseling. Some mother’s influence caused the children to do good. It certainly behooves us as mothers to recognize that there is no greater work for us to do for the Lord than to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
We read in Titus chapter 2 some important teachings to older men, younger men, older women and younger women. For our study on women, we will look at verses 3-5 in this second chapter of Titus.
“The aged women, likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
How many things do you see that the aged women should be doing? We see in verse 3 that there are four things listed for older women. Then in verses 4-5, we see eight things listed for the younger women. Remembering that what we “do” teaches as much or more than what we say, we must realize that all twelve of the listed things would be what the older women should be practicing. We must be doing these things ourselves in order to be able to teach the younger women.
Younger women must realize that this is God’s message to them. Study the meaning of each of these words or phrases in these verses and pray that you can truly be this type of wife and mother. The word “discreet” means to show discernment or good judgment in conduct, and in speech. As women we need to use good judgment in dealing with our husbands and children, as well as with others. We need to “grow up” and “mature” if we want to be of help to others. The word “chaste” carries the meaning of innocent of unlawful sexual relations; virtuous; pure in thought and act; pure and simple in design and expressions. Our lives need to be pure and simple, filled with the love of the Lord. We should not want to draw attention to ourselves, but rather let others see the Lord through us.
There is no happier life in this world than one that truly wants to be in the will of the Lord. This is his will for older and younger women. Even the Lord Jesus when here on this earth said that He came to do the complete will of the Heavenly Father. If we, as women, want to please the Lord, and bring much joy and happiness to our own lives, we must be in the will of the Lord. Only as we yield to His plan for our lives can we experience the joy and peace that passes human understanding. In this way, we can be blessed and can be a blessing to our husbands, children, and all that our lives will touch.
