"I have been reminded of your sincere faith,
which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice?
I am persuaded, now lives in you also" (II Timothy 1:5 NIV)
If Timothy's grandmother Lois had not been faithful in passing on her faith to her daughter Eunice and grandson Timothy, we would not have the books I and II Timothy in the Bible today. Their example is an excellent generational example of the importance of passing on the faith to future generations. Lois is our forerunner who modeled grand mothering for us.
Isn't it interesting, nowhere in the Bible does it say that the church has the primary responsibility to pass on our faith to the next generation? It clarifies that parents and grandparents are the principal conduits to instruct their children and grandchildren about God and his love for them.
Today, many parents are not passing on the values and faith with which they were raised.
With the pressure on families today, grandchildren need our hugs, reassurance, and wisdom more than ever. It is also imperative for us to communicate to our grandchildren that we love them and accept them, even though we may disagree with their behavior. In today's broken world, Satan's purpose is to destroy the family. Therefore, we must pray God will give the mothers and fathers of our dear grandchildren godly wisdom in the monumental task of teaching and guiding our grandchildren in the ways of the Lord.
Therefore, grandparents have a crucial role to fill if faith is to be found on earth when he comes back for his own. In the Bible, we read about many people God used in the autumn season of life for life's most significant work. According to God's Word, God wants grandparents to focus on passing a godly legacy to the next generation. The demonstrations of our faithful walk with the Lord and our prayers for our grandchildren are effective ways to pass on our faith to the next generation.
In Proverbs 27:19, we read, "As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person" (NLT). What does the reflection of our "real person" reflect? When we are committed to read and meditate on God's Word, we will replicate a life transformed into his image. As we invest in our walk with the Lord, we are spiritually investing in the lives of our grandchildren by modeling a godly example. As spiritual role models, we can demonstrate the reality of walking with God through both the storms and sunny days of our lives.
Do your grandchildren see authenticity and sincerity about you in your relationship with God? What a blessing it would be for me to hear my grandchildren say, "I want to have a relationship with the Lord like my grandmother modeled for me." I hope I can say in the years to come, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children and grandchildren are walking in the truth" (3 John 1:4).
Ask yourself:
- What kind of memories will my grandchildren have of me when I pass away?
- Is my walk with the Lord what do I want to be reflected in my grandchildren's lives?
- Do I want my grandchildren to imitate my spiritual life?
- Will they want my Jesus?
Prayer
Dear Lord, forgive me when I have not taken the time to read your Word or modeled the life of a godly grandparent.
Help me to take the time to read and meditate on your Word every day so that I will reflect your face in the heart of my grandchildren.
Help me to be a godly example, teaching my grandchildren to live lives of truth
with integrity, authenticity, and seriousness.
Help me give sound, wise, wholesome counsel and guidance,
encouraging my grandchildren to know and follow Christ wholeheartedly.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
By Lillian Penner, Prayer Director for Christian Grandparenting Network,
lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net
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