The Hand that Rocks the Cradle 

“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”—2 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV)

By Pastor Dan Hickling

We tend to think of Timothy in terms of his post-Paul experiences. This is natural because, after all, that’s when Timothy comes into the picture biblically. But lets take a moment and camp on what Paul writes to Timothy in today’s passage. 

The apostle makes it a point of emphasis that Timothy had been taught God’s Word as a child. When Timothy encounters Paul in Lystra and is drawn into the drama of all that God would do, he was already a disciple. Timothy wasn’t created in a vacuum. A foundation of faith had already been established in him when the call came to join Paul, who reveals in the beginning of this same letter how that foundation had gotten there: ”When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV).

We see that Timothy’s grandmother and mother were filled with faith in Christ, so much so, that their reputations had made their way to Paul. They were undoubtedly the ones responsible for filling Timothy’s young heart and mind with the knowledge of God’s Word. 

In all those formative years of raising a single boy in the faith, they probably didn’t realize they were equipping a mighty man of God to carry the gospel into hostile territory. How could they know how Timothy’s life would unfold? But they were faithful to their charge to train their child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6), and God used their faithfulness in ways they could never have imagined.

This needs to guide our perspective on parenting, today. If God has given us the privilege of parenthood, then we need to embrace the reality that there might be a Timothy in the making under our own roof! We are responsible to establish a foundation of faith in our children’s lives. What the Lord does beyond that is really up to Him. But whatever He does, we know that His ability always exceeds our imagination. If you aren’t sure, consider this: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).

DIG: How had Timothy been prepared for the moment he was called to join Paul?

DISCOVER: What does this demonstrate about faithfulness in parenting? What have you been entrusted with and what might God do with it? 

DISPLAY: Commit to praying for your child(ren) every day this upcoming month, by name. Pray specifically the Lord would give you the wisdom, strength, patience, and keen insight into how to train up your child(ren)—even if they’re already older. Pray the Lord would accomplish in them all He has planned and that they would grow to honor Him with their lives and their hearts.