In Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus addresses a crowd and his own disciples in the temple courts and basically tells them not to follow the Scribes and Pharisees. He explicitly tells them not to do what they do and not to seek what they seek. They preach what they do not practice, so do not follow the unfaithful. Surely then, the opposite would be to truly follow the faithful.
In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.” This is a beautiful statement from Paul. He doesn’t simply say for the Corinthian church to simply imitate him, but only on the basis of him imitating Christ. Imitate faithfulness. Another beautiful example of this is found in Paul’s letter to Timothy and this time the example is Timothy’s mother and grandmother.
2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. Paul doesn’t say that Timothy believes the same dogma. He doesn’t say that Timothy has merely had the same intellectual ascent and worldview as his mother and grandmother. He says that Timothy has a sincere faith that first dwelt in Lois and Eunice. I can only imagine the beautiful examples that these wonderful women were to this young man. This was not a case of hypocritical Pharisees teaching excessive rules and not keeping them themselves. This was the case of two women committed to the truth of Scripture and lovingly living it out as Timothy watched and listened. Timothy experienced the beauty of faithfulness and with his own sincere faith in Jesus became to Paul, a true child in the faith.
Often, especially if you are a parent, it’s easy to forget that the example of faith is the powerful communication of the authenticity of the faith we proclaim. Timothy witnessed this in his mother and grandmother and Paul reminds him of this, twice. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
It is not Lois and Eunice who can take credit for Timothy becoming wise unto salvation. That was a work of God’s sovereign grace. Even so, Paul reminds Timothy of the vehicle of God’s grace that he used to bring him into the faith and equip him with the beautiful truth of the gospel and the entire Scriptures as he pastored a church to train them in every good work.
This is the rallying point for every Christian as we seek to honor God as faithful witnesses - To be the faithful servant of the Lord. We pray that we might follow the faithfulness of the example of these two ladies. We pray that people may be able to say what we say and do what we do as we proclaim Christ and imitate him.