Women of the Bible: One’s faith often comes from our version of Lois
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As a young pastor, I have long felt a strong camaraderie with Timothy.
Timothy was a young pastor who Paul had mentored personally for some years. When Paul sent him on his first 'solo' assignment in Ephesus, he continued to guide Timothy through letters. First and Second Timothy contain priceless directions on how to be a pastor in a local church and, perhaps more importantly, a description of the kind of heart the pastor of a local church needs.
Timothy and I have other similarities beyond age and occupation. For instance, I have been similarly blessed with a mentor in ministry steeped in experience, grace and patience. If you know me, you know any mentor of mine needs patience.
But this is a series on women in the Bible, and the best thing Timothy and I have in common is a grandmother. In the salutation of his second letter to Timothy, Paul says, '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' (2 Timothy 1:5).
This is the only verse in the Bible that mentions this woman Lois, so we don't know much about her. The one thing we know is that Lois' faith inspired Eunice's faith, which led to Timothy's faith. Timothy would not know anything of the Lord had it not been for his grandmother's faith.
And I would know nothing of Jesus had it not been for my grandmother's faith.
As I write this, she has been with that same Jesus she was so careful to tell me about and whose love she was so careful to show me for about thirty minutes.
When I was 13 years old, I suddenly realized that for an hour every week, the pastor of our church got to stand in front and make everyone listen to what he had to say. I thought I might like to be the guy everyone has to listen to like that. I also found out that it had been a very long time since anyone baptized at my church had gone into full-time ministry. By the time I was allowed to speak at a Sunday night service, I had worked up the nerve to criticize the church for its 'failure' and to vow to fix that problem for them by becoming the first person the church had baptized to become a pastor. Never mind the fact that I didn't even know Jesus yet.
My motives were far from good, but my grandmother's were not.
It didn't really register to me how significant it was that she had come that evening to hear me speak. My proclamation may have registered as brash and arrogant to everyone else, but to Nana, it was a prayer request. From that moment when I was 13, she prayed every day that I would become a pastor until one Sunday night in November 2012 when I was ordained by Angelo Bible Church. My own interests varied wildly in those 13 years, but my Nana's prayers for me never did. I think she recognized my need to trust Jesus, and it's a daunting thing to pray that an unregenerate person would become a pastor. There are a few things that need to happen first.
Only a few years before I was ordained, the faith that was first in her became mine also. I came to the end of myself and realized the only thing I could count on was Jesus' love for me and promise to me and all people that he would give eternal life to all who believe him for it.
Now, only minutes after losing her, my family and I have hope because she was our Lois. The faith that is in me was first found in her. I miss her already, and I am so thankful for this legacy of faith she left. But there is also peace. We don't mind about all the stuff left behind because the example of faith and love she left behind is greater.
You may have a Lois of your own. Appreciate and thank them. You may be a Lois. Know how valuable that is. You may know someone who needs a Lois. Step up. It can make a difference. Here I am as proof.