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A Living Faith





2 Timothy 1:1-5
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am 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.

When Paul celebrates his young mentee's genuine faith, he calls attention to the influence of two women, Timothy's grandmother Lois and Timothy's mother, Eunice. To my knowledge, their names are mentioned nowhere else in scripture. What caught my attention in this passage was this one sentence - "I am 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."

Notice Paul does not call attention to these women and their belief system, theology, or membership in the church. Their influence in young Timothy's life was through a faith that was "lived". Faith legacies are never born out of belief; they are born out of genuine faith "lived out" in real life. While it is only by God's grace that we are saved and while God can work miracles to totally "right the ship" of someone's life who has grown up in a non-believing home or a very dysfunctional family, the most healthy environment in which children are given a foundation for faith is through an environment where they see "faith lived" day to day.

 I might never be a Paul or a Timothy in the history records of the church. My name might not be mentioned but once in the annals of the Christian story. If it is, I want it to be like Lois or Eunice.....that somehow I lived my faith in such an authentic and humble way that the people closest to me in life caught it!

Heavenly Father, I want much more than a belief system or to belong to a church. I want a "living faith" that is real, authentic, and sincere.....one that permeates all of my living. Help me to live for You and with You in such a way that my faith is contagious to those who have a "front row seat" to my life. Amen. 

Jerry Sweat

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