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Sunday we entered into week two of our series called “Teach Us to Pray.” Because it was Mother’s Day, Pastor Bill reminded us of the power of a godly mother! Abraham Lincoln said, “No man is poor who has had a godly mother.” 1 Timothy 1:1-5 says, 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

Here we see the power of sincere faith. In Timothy’s family, sincere faith first dwelt with his grandmother, then his mother, then eventually Timothy. A sincere faith is more than a saving faith, it is also a shining faith. It is a faith that in infectious and influential! Lois’ faith was obviously so authentic and sincere that her daughter, Eunice, wanted to have what she had. And Eunice’s faith must’ve been evident for Timothy to see as he was growing up, because he desired that faith too. 

On Sunday, Pastor Bill gave us four characteristics of godly mothers. And while these do specifically speak to mothers, these should be characteristics that every believer seeks to possess!

1. Godly mothers are women of sincere faith. The word “sincere” means “undisguised… without hypocrisy.” Godly mothers are those that are real about their faith. Having a sincere faith doesn’t imply perfection, but it does imply a REAL relationship with God. A sincere faith is one that is with you everywhere, not just at church. Some of our best and most effective displays of faith are in our home around our families. Sincere faith means that you have sincerely believed in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. It means that you walk with Him every day, spending time in His Word and in prayer.

    

2. Godly mothers honor God’s Word and train their children in it. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The best thing a mom can do for her kids, or any believer can do for a friend, is to encourage them with the importance of reading, studying, memorizing, and obeying God’s Word.

    

3. Godly mothers grow in their own love for God’s Word. Simply put, you cannot impart what you do not possess. If your kids, or those in your circle of influence, seldom see you seeking God through His Word, they won’t catch it for themselves. If they don’t see you changing through your growing understanding of and obedience to the Word, they won’t be motivated to be in the Word for themselves. But as they see you loving the Lord and being changed by Him, it is only a matter of time before they inquire about the joy that you have in Him!

    

4. Godly mothers share God’s Word to lead her children to saving faith in Jesus. As the people in your life see the Gospel of Jesus lived out, that is a beautiful open door for you to be able to speak the truth about Jesus into their lives. Your tribe needs to know what God’s Word reveals about the condition of their hearts. They need to know that not only is God loving, but also holy and just, and that a lifetime of separation from Him is the reality of those that do not choose to turn from their sin and trust in Him. They need to know what Jesus did on the cross, dying as our substitute. They need to understand that God forgives our sin because of His kindness, not because of anything good we could ever do! 

Points to Ponder:

1. Who is someone is your life that obviously possesses a sincere faith? What about them stands out to you?
2. How would people who see you daily describe your faith? 
3. Where do you find it the hardest to live out your faith? At home? Work? School? 
4. How are you regularly sharing your faith with others?
5. What’s one practical step you can take this week to get to know God better?