Suppose I walked up to Cooper Creek tennis courts and began to engage with the tennis community. Personally, I am horrible at tennis; but imagine that I bought an expensive racket, all the right attire, and even studied the game so that I could “talk the talk”. I may be able to get by a day or two and perhaps even establish some relationships in that community, but as soon as I took my first step on the court, everyone would realize that I was a fake.
Just fake it, until you make it. Imagine if we all lived by that philosophy. While some actually do, the inevitability is that our lack of authenticity is exposed and we fail. By contrast, we can quickly determine when someone is genuine and sincere.
For Timothy, he was praised by Paul in 2 Timothy 1:5 for the sincerity of his faith that had been demonstrated consistently and over time. What is fascinating is the connection that Paul makes in this verse to the origin of Timothy’s faith. His mother and grandmothers were influential in laying the foundation on which his faith would grow.
As a parent, I consider the weight of my responsibility to transfer my faith into the lives of my kids. Not simply to pass along knowledge, but to truly transfer faith so that they own for themselves a genuine trust in God and a personal relationship with Him. There truly is no greater joy and no more worthwhile mission. In fact, the single most important mission field for me is under my own roof.
We are challenged by the example of Timothy’s mom and grandmother, to instill in our children and grandchildren a sincere walk with Christ. This starts with our commitment to live an authentic faith in front of them. Not a perfect life, but a sincere life.
This week and today, consider how a commitment to strengthen your pursuit of Christ can impact the lives of your kids and grandchildren. Furthermore, consider the impact for generations to come as you strive to leave and build a legacy of faith.