[2Tm 1:1-7]
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus…. To Timothy, my dear son…. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord….
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
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I ended up a believer and follower of Jesus Christ after years of trying to run away from Him as hard as I could. Not long after, God led me on a path into fulltime Christian ministry – the last thing on earth I had thought I would end up doing.
Following Jesus and ministering the good news abought Him are the best things that have ever happened to me. This came about because of the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in my life (as they are in anybody’s lives).
Yet I discovered that it was also due to something else: the constant love and prayers of my mother and grand mother throughout my life. I, and two other first cousins ended up going into Christian ministry. I consider that we were all “victims” of our grandmother’s prayer life! – and yes, happily and thankfully.
God works through the love and prayers of those around us, especially that of our mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunties. Thank and pray for them today, as you thank God our Father for the fullness of His love and grace in Jesus.
Grace upon grace, Jonathan.