Celebrate! May 17, 2025 Devotional
May 17, 2025
2 TIMOTHY 1:1-5 | 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.
This letter’s opening is a beautiful reminder of the powerful partnership that can exist between families and faith communities. Paul loves his young colleague Timothy, whom he is mentoring in preparation for ministry and leadership. His two letters to the young man are full of encouragement, admiration, and wise counsel. Models for ministry training within our new denomination, ECO, stress this dimension of being mentored while you learn “on the job.”
But notice that Paul is eager to acknowledge the example and impact of Lois and Eunice, Timothy’s grandmother and mother. Timothy’s faith and development began at home—he had a solid foundation.
Pray that VPC may support and partner well with families to raise generations of Kingdom leaders.
Gracious God,
Thank You for families that invest love and discipline to develop children into faithful and faith-filled adults.
Amen.
