Godly Grandparents
- Rev. Jerry Lepasana
- Sep 11, 2005
THE GODLY GRANDPARENTS
2 Timothy 1:1-5
- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to 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 forefathers 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 have been 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.
A woman by the name of Holly Ruddy from Huber Heights, Ohio, wrote Christianity Today Magazine to share her great blessings because of her grandmother. She wrote,
cMy grandmother was the one who took me to church at a young age and introduced me to Jesus. She was the one who raised me during the early years after my parents divorced. She was the one who prayed for me as I grew up, going between parents and providing a port in the storm when things got too tense with my parents. Had it not been for my godly grandmother, I shudder to think how my life would have turned out. Even though as an adult, I have often failed, her example to me has been my beacon and I thank God for her. To me, she was the epitome of Jesus in the earth. She truly expressed his love for me through her life.
I’m sure many of us can identify with this testimony because our grandparents had been such a great channels of blessings to us. Indeed, they have made life so much easier because of their valuable contributions. That’s the very reason why they deserve to be highly esteemed.
Now, when we go to the Scriptures, you would realize that the contributions of grandparents are never undermined especially when they are godly grandparents. God knows that they can play a major role in the spiritual lives of their grandchildren. One of the reasons why they have such a powerful impact to their grandchildren is because they can spend more time with them. Parents can be tied up with their jobs trying their best in order to provide for the needs of their children. I think it would be a real blessing if we examine the Scriptures and identify some of the spiritual contributions godly grandparents can make. I believe for grandparents this message will challenge them to be the grandparents God wants them to be. Then, for the grandchildren, we can be more grateful to God for our grandparents when we recognize the specific ways they have impacted us. So, what are the spiritual contributions they make?
I LEAD GRANDCHILDREN TO JESUS: (v. 5)
While Timothy was a pastor in Ephesus, the apostle Paul wrote him a letter for the purpose of instructing him concerning his pastoral duties. In this letter, Paul shared his thanksgiving to God because of the genuine faith that Timothy possessed, which he received through the influenced of his grandmother Lois, and mother, Eunice. Despite of having an unbelieving Gentile father, Timothy came to Jesus because of the powerful influenced of Lois and Eunice.
There are two kinds of faith every one of us should have:
A. Saving Faith:
This is the kind of faith that allows us to trust the Lord Jesus for the absolute forgiveness of our sins in order to go to heaven.
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."
B. Sustaining Faith:
This is the kind of faith that allows us to trust the Lord Jesus for our day to day victories against temptations and troubles.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Let me make a comment on “SINCERE FAITH.” The word “Sincere” in the verse means “unhypocritical.” I personally believe that leading your grandchildren to the right faith is important. However, I also believe showing them how to be sincere in the faith is much more.
II SPEAK BLESSINGS TO YOUR GRANDCHILDREN:
Another way grandparents can contribute to their grandchildren is by speaking God’s blessings to them. In the Bible, people have understood the power of speaking blessings. Notice Jacob in Genesis 48:
- When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, "Who are these?"
- "They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."
- He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.' "So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
This passage records the very first time Jacob will have the opportunity to see Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. As he called them to join him, his primary desire for his grandchildren was that he could speak God’s blessings to them.
What does it mean to speak God’s blessings to them? It simply suggests declaring God’s favor to them. This pronouncement carried spiritual authority and had the ability to bring success into the future. Looking at Jacob’s declaration to his grandchildren, he used their names as the object for their blessings - “May God make thee as fruitful as Ephraim, and multiply thee as Manasseh!”
Jacob understands the value of such a declaration of blessing. Looking back, he had to trick his own father and brother in order for him to receive such a blessing (Genesis 27).
Grandparents, if you want to see God’s favors upon the lives of your grandchildren, start blessing them today.
III TELL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT GOD’S GOODNESS:
Lastly, God wants grandparents to bless their grandchildren by telling them about all the wonderful things he has done in their lives.
- Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them
- that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord."
Back in the time of Moses, the Lord had explained to him why He will perform many signs and Egypt, so he can prove that He is the Lord. But, we should not miss the emphasis regarding the responsibility of parents and grandparents to tell their children and grandchildren about the wonders and goodness of the Lord.
Today, we have to acknowledge the fact that sometimes we go through difficult times in our lives just so we can experience the Lord in a deeper way, and know exactly what He is able to do for us. Then, once the Lord has proven himself to us, we need to continually testify about him. We should not fail to narrate incidents or situations in our lives wherein God was there for us. We need to be good story tellers about the goodness of the Lord.
One of the most tragic passages in the Bible is recorded in Judges 2:
- After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.
- Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals.
- They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the Lord to anger.
THE HEART OF A CHILD
Whatever you write on the heart of a child,
no water can wash away.
The sands may be shifted when billows are wild
and the efforts of time may decay.
Some stories may perish, some songs be forgot,
but this engraved record, time changes it not.
Whatever you write in the heart of a child
a story of gladness or care---
that heaven has blessed or that earth has defiled,
will linger unbearably there.
Who writes it has sealed it forever and aye.
He must answer to God on that great judgment day.