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What a blessing and privilege it is to be Grandparents and there is such satisfaction in seeing the son or daughter fulfilled in the arrival of their own child. For first time parents and Grandparents there comes between them a special closeness and understanding. The new mother usually turns to Grandmother for know how and information and how readily it is given, sometimes wrapped up in more dogmatic advice than is necessary or wanted, but is tolerated and accepted because of the new affinity and affection the new mother and Grandmother enjoy. Grandmother will usually be warmed by memories of her own early motherhood experience and remember that the new happy closeness will not last if she reigns in forceful instruction. The same wonderful Lord who helped her to face the responsibilities of motherhood will assist her in being a responsible Grandmother, joyously reliving experiences and feelings long forgotten. Grandfather has long ago shed the unsureness that gripped him upon becoming a first time father and he is therefore able to bring confidence and assurance to his son who is going through the emotional experiences of new fatherhood.
Both Grandparents need to know their place and role in the precious lives of their grandchildren, so that they may derive from their grandparents the desired benefits of the relationship. It is not the purpose of this study to deal with the general role of ALL grandparents - but to focus upon the specific requirements of GODLY Grandparents. There are many grandparents in the Bible but there is only one actually called a grandmother in 2 Timothy 1:5 where the apostle Paul writes to Timothy,
2 Timothy 1:5 "when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also." (NKJV)
Grandmother Lois without doubt knew her function and what is more she was successful - her daughter and her grandson were affected by her unhypocritical faith. How fully rewarded she was. Let all believing Grandparents learn something of their role from her.
Grandmother Lois was a Hebrew Christian. She had the rich inheritance of the scriptures that the Holy Spirit used, to lead her into the possession of a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She was a Born again believer. Her new birth had nothing to do with natural decent as a Hebrew, nor with some human decision on her part -or by a husband's will - she received Christ, having believed on His name and was born again of God. (John 1:12, 13. )
As a believer she totally relied upon Christ for her salvation. Hers was living faith lived out in daily dependance upon Jesus Christ. Her faith made her an obedient disciple of Christ - so she learned Christ and grew in grace and knowledge of Him. She responded to her Lord's invitation,
She found rest in the Lord's authority and His Word. Lois did not have to try to be a grandparent. That happened naturally of course - but she did have to believe on and receive Jesus as her personal Saviour, that qualified her to be a godly Grandparent.
It is only the godly Grandparent who can benefit their grandchildren spiritually. It is only possible for those who have living faith to share it. Are you, through possession of living faith influencing your grandchildren for Christ and bringing them into a living Faith?
Your role is to help bring your grandchildren into a living faith by:-
Their believing on Christ Jesus and receive Him. Their obeying Christ Jesus and following Him. Their seeking the fullness of His Spirit. Their actively sharing their faith. Their behaviour and love displaying their faith.
Lois further shows grandparents:
Lois was a faithful senior citizen. She was consistent in sharing her faith by living it out. She faced up to and overcame the temptations of old age and presented victorious living before her grandson. God warns grandparents against the temptations of old age by faithfully recording the experiences of godly men who failed in their mature older years:
NoahNoah after years of faithful walk with God succumbed to strong drink and was found drunk in his tent. (Genesis 9:21. ) He was probably about 640 years old at the time. He obviously got victory over his lapse. He lived on until he was 950 years. (Genesis 9:28-29. )
AbrahamAbraham listened to the voice of carnal reasoning and took, at his wife's suggestion, her maid Hagar, and had a son, Ishmael by her. (Genesis 16:2-3. ) He was 86 years old at the time. This carnal reasoning resulted in producing an opponent to Isaac the heir of promise who was born miraculously by his wife Sarah 14 years later. How sad consequential carnal reasoning and actions can be, when yielded to by senior people.
MosesMoses was rigorously schooled in the art of self mastery for over 100 years and at last allowed an outburst of anger that robbed him of entrance into the promised land.
This is a common temptation for Grandparents to give way to anger instead of showing the fruit of the Spirit which is long suffering. (Galatians 5:22. )
SamuelSamuel failed by allowing family interests to come ahead of his loyalty to God. (1 Samuel 8:1-7. )
DavidIt was in later life that David fell into fleshly sin. (1 Kings 15:5. )
DemasDemas an old companion to Paul, let him down. (2 Timothy 4:10. )
Cheer up, God did not have these incidents recorded to depress you but to warn against self confidence, to put no confidence in the flesh. He who helped you to succeed as a parent will now help you not to fail as a grandparent. Like Lois you can be kept faithful through His sufficient grace, and present before your grandchildren a consistent life style that will benefit them.
Lois showed her faith in her stand for the integrity of the WORD of GodShe fed on it continually and shared that food with her grandson - who found in his grandmother a storehouse of the word of life.
Lois showed her faith in dependence upon the wordWhen people turned to her for help her never failing source was the Living Word. It had the answer in times of trouble. It brought comfort in times of sorrow and provision in times of need.
Lois showed her faith by being taken up with spiritual things and her eternal homeGrandchildren can be made aware of eternal things through their grandparents living so near to the glory land.
Lois had an active mind and moved with the times. She embraced the ministry of Paul when younger people failed to appreciate him. She became involved in the evangelistic move of God in her old age, as hers was an action faith. Many Grandparents give up - but like many of a grand company of saints in the scriptures Lois knew she could be used in old age. Remember Moses began his principle work at the age of 80. Caleb began his military conquest at the age of 85.
Interestingly Antonio Stravivari was past 60 when he made his first violin. He went on to produce thousands. There is no retirement from active faith.
From what we read of Lois it would appear that she had a good relationship with her daughter and grandson. She, unlike some grandparents accepted the role of her married daughter - gave her proper place and respect and that before the grandson. Submission one to another in respect of your roles has a profound effect upon the children.
Timothy was taught to respect his mother by seeing his grandmother's respect for her. He learned to submit to authority by seeing his grandmother's submission. Further her daughter could, learning from her example, fully submit to her Greek husband. Believing the principle of God's Word she exercised submission faith and reaped a rich reward in her relationships.
By her faith Lois discipled those around her. It seems the older she grew the more her very presence discipled others.
A young man said, "I owe a great deal to my Grandmother." He was asked, "What did she do for you?" He replied, "Oh, she just sat by the fire." "Did she knit?" asked the inquirer. "A little." was the answer. "Did she talk a lot?" "A little. It was not her way to talk a lot, but she just sat and looked comfortable, and when we were good she smiled. And when we were wild in our talk she smiled too. But if we were mean, she sighed. We loved her, and nobody did as much for us as Granny."
The lived out faith of Grandparents has a discipling effect on the young and breeds a godly confidence in them.
How faithfully Lois shared the Word with her grandson Timothy. By doing so she built into him sincere and consistent faith. More, she produced through the Word co-operative faith in Timothy so that he met the conditions of the promises and realised their fulfilment in his life. Further he co-operated in faith with the Holy Spirit and became a minister of life. Lois also produced loyal faith in Timothy so that later Paul experienced that loyalty which sprung from his devoted loyalty to the Lord.
The Word ministered by Grandparents helps to build up grandchildren and forms the character of Jesus in them. Grandparents have the added privilege of safeguarding their grandchildren by prayer. Heaven will be crowded by grandchildren who are there in answer to their grandparents prayers. What a wonderful role godly grandparents have to fulfill for God. Glad I had godly grandparents. By His grace I will fulfill my role in God to mine. How about you?
