THE SINCERE FAITH OF MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER

My grandmother, Ettie Dillon (seated), and my mother, Wilda Dillon Combs

“I have been 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” (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV).

The church of my youth had annual revival services. We would often have an evangelist come and share how God had miraculously saved him from a life of sin. He would preach with fiery enthusiasm and through tears about how God had taken a former drunkard, (or addict, thief, criminal, etc.) and saved him.

These “Damascus Road” testimonies were amazing to me. I was envious of their certainty and passion. As a boy, I often doubted my salvation because I hadn’t had such an awesome conversion. I had no flash of light, no voice of God. Finally at age eight, I decided to give my life to Jesus the way my mother and grandmother had taught me, with sincerity and trust.

As I grew in my faith, I no longer doubted my salvation, but I still sometimes wished that my testimony was more exciting. Why couldn’t I have a testimony more like the apostle Paul’s?

Maybe that’s what Timothy was feeling when Paul wrote him that second letter. Paul was so fearless and certain when he testified of his faith, but Timothy was a little timid. When he compared himself to his mentor he just didn’t feel like he measured up.

Paul would have none of that. He reminded Timothy of the spiritual legacy that his mother and grandmother had given him. Timothy had been spared the suffering and sorrow of Paul’s many mistakes before coming to Christ. Paul reminded Timothy that the “sincere faith” which had “lived” in his mother and grandmother, now “lived” in him.

As a grown man, I’m glad that I have a “Timothy testimony.” The two most influential people in my spiritual development were women. They were my grandmother Ettie and my mother Wilda. They didn’t have the same names as “Eunice and Lois”, but they did have the same “sincere faith” living in them.

Sincere faith. The kind that is more than religion, more than rules and ritual. These women loved and lived for their Lord in such a sincere way that what they passed on to me was more caught than taught.

My mother and her mother are with Jesus now, but their sincere faith still lives here in me.

Happy Mother’s Day.

6 comments on “THE SINCERE FAITH OF MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER

  1. Dr. Gary Tate Th.D.

    Such a wonderful statement of your faith and conversion and the influences of your Mom and Granny Dillon. Your Aunt Sharon and I love and appreciate you and your work for our Lord.

    Reply
  2. Gary Combs

    Thank you, Uncle Gary. We love you too. It means a lot to have you appreciate our work. Love and blessings to you!

    Reply
  3. Dinnah

    Thank you servant of God Gary combs your teaching of word of God helps me to sustain in God’s grace. God bless you

    Reply

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