Pastor's Corner: Sincere faith

The Bible speaks of sincere faith in 2nd Timothy 1:5. Apostle Paul said to a young man named Timothy, "I see this faith in you and I first saw it in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice." Paul was telling Timothy to stir up the gift of God that was in him and to not forget what he had learned from his grandma and mother.

Throughout the 36 years that I have been a pastor at our church, I have learned many things from moms and grandmas in the church. These moms and grandmas loved God with all their hearts and were strong influences in my ministry at a young age. Let me share with you a few things they taught me.

They taught me to laugh and to be joyful. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bone." For many years as pastors, my wife and I would take the widows out to dinner once in a while. I saw them in their struggles get hold of God and draw closer to Him as they trusted Him. As we fellowshipped and ate catfish and played dominoes you could see the joy of the Lord was strengthening their lives each day. Their joy strengthened my life as we hung out together once in a while.

One precious mother and grandma taught me to endure. She said, you have to be tough to get old. Matthew 24:13 says, "He that endures to the end, shall be saved."Acts 14:22 says, "Through much tribulation we will enter into the kingdom of God." In this world that we live in we have to be spiritually tough.

Another precious mother and grandmother taught me to hang on to God. She said God will pull you through if you can stand the pull. It's not always smooth sailing. 2nd Timothy 2:12 says, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." Hold on to God in this crazy world.

My greatest teacher is my mother. She taught me to pray, to study God's word and to be faithful to church. She never quit praying for me when I was lost in sin. It has taught me as a pastor to never quit praying for struggling church members. She taught me about the goodness of God and of His mighty power.

We thank the Lord for bringing mothers and grandmas into all of our lives that have taught us so many things that have helped us throughout the years.