Women of the Bible You Need to MeetParaugs

Eunice and Lois 

For further reading see 2 Timothy 1:1-5

It is easy to skip past this reference to Eunice and Lois to go to the main body of this letter, but let’s pause on it today. Timothy had a special pastoral role in the early church. Paul reveals to us that Timothy’s faith was passed on to him by his grandmother and mother. Faith is nurtured in relationship. We can underplay the importance of these relationships. Surrounding a person who is serving God are usually a network of relationships which shape and support them. Often it is wise and loving mothers. But God gives us all “mothers” in the faith. These “mothers” do not have to be female. Rather, it is those people whose unconditional love for us gives us a secure frame for growth. In this, they image the personal God of grace, whose love also has that nurturing quality (see for example Hosea 11:3-4 or Isaiah 66:13).

Who has nurtured your faith in this way? 

PRAYER

Loving God, we thank you for your nurture of us, and how nurture has also been given to us by others. Show us who we too can nurture in this way. Amen.