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• faith

Written by: Julio Cedeño

We are soon celebrating Father’s Day. We’ll celebrate the relationship between fathers and their children, and the legacy that is transmitted from generation to generation.

The relationship between a father and his children is so important that it is the very relationship that God chose to reveal himself and Jesus to His creation.

As the Son of God, Jesus came to show us the very nature of God (“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John‬ ‭1:18‬).‬

Jesus himself taught us how to relate to our Heavenly Father, and even to our earthly fathers by learning not only through their words but also through their example.
From our fathers, intentionally or not, we learn from what we see and hear (“I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. ”). We also learn how to talk and what to say (“I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” John 8:26). We even learn our work ethic (“In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”” John‬ ‭5:17‬)‬

Just as we learn to imitate our earthly fathers, we are called to imitate our Heavenly Father as well (“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children” Ephesians‬ ‭5:1‬).‬

When I think about legacy, of course, the greatest example is the one of Jesus and God.

There is also a great example in Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22. God calls Isaac Abraham’s only son (v-2), although we know that Abraham also had Ishmael, but Isaac was the son of the promise, the son of Abraham and Sarah. As they were getting closer to mount Moriah, Isaac calls Abraham “Father” and Abraham calls Isaac “my son” (v -7). Just before (v-6), God tells us that “the two of them went on together”. These 3 verses teach us what a close relationship existed between Abraham and Isaac.

Later on, the fact that Abraham made Isaac carry the wood while he carried the fire and the knife, definitely means they were working together, and perhaps means that Isaac was physically stronger than his father. We don’t know exactly how old Isaac was, but we know he was old enough to carry the wood (v-6).

An even later (v-7), we see Isaac knowing that besides the wood and the knife, a lamb was necessary for the burnt offering, which means that Isaac and Abraham had offered sacrifices to God together before. Isaac had learned from Abraham how to worship God.

When Abraham bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, and took the knife to slay his son (v-9,10), we learn from Abraham’s faith, by him being ready to obey his God. But we should also learn of Isaac’s obedience and trust in his father Abraham. If Isaac was stronger than Abraham, this means that Isaac voluntarily allowed Abraham to bind him and put him on the altar. Isaac was willing to offer his own life voluntarily, so his father could obey His God. What a legacy of trust and obedience.
Even though God tested Abraham (v-1), God already knew how Abraham was going to react. Let’s take a look at Genesis 18:17-19 “17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.[c] 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.””.

God knew about the legacy of obedience, trust and self sacrifice that Abraham would instill in Isaac, and that’s why he blessed Abraham with Isaac. Abraham believed in the resurrection from the dead, long before it is even mentioned in the Scriptures, long before the coming of the Christ. Because of that legacy, the Christ came, and all nations were blessed through Abraham, and then Isaac, and then Jacob, and then so many others like David and the ones after him, until the birth of Jesus.

May we be the type of fathers that are worth imitating, like God is to Jesus, like Abraham is too Isaac. As children, may we be imitators of the virtues of our earthly fathers, and definitely imitators of our Heavenly Father. Also, as children, and hoping that our earthly fathers are believers, may we trust them so much, that we are willing to do whatever it takes so they can be pleasing to our God. May we leave behind the same legacy that Abraham did, and may we be the type of father of whom God says “I know that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just”.

What a legacy.

#IronRoseSister #faith #legacy #faithofourfathers

• mentor

Lois and Eunice were Jewish women, mother and daughter, who were mentioned by name only once in the Bible—as the grandmother and mother of Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5). We don’t know much about Timothy’s father, other than that he was Greek. We don’t even know for sure if Timothy’s father was a Christian. However, this diverse family heritage gave Timothy unique insights into the Jewish and Greek cultures as he followed these impactful women’s legacy of faith.

Paul often referred to Timothy as his beloved child or child in the faith, yet he took a moment in 2 Timothy 1 to remind Timothy of his spiritual roots—critical at a time when Timothy felt discouraged and defeated.

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 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, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Paul’s words to Timothy served as an affirmation from his mentor that he was not alone.
• Paul remembered Timothy constantly in his prayers.
• Timothy’s tears were heard, validated, and shared because Paul longs to see him, as well.
• Paul reminded Timothy that his mother and grandmother were another two of his biggest cheerleaders in the faith—ones from whom he could glean examples of faithfulness and a continued legacy of faith.

My Lois and Eunice are named Barbara and Jocelynn. My grandmother and mother have served as encouraging cheerleaders and instrumental examples for maintaining the faith throughout life, especially during the trying times. They are spiritual mentors and promote a legacy of faith that extends beyond the blood relation in our family.

Even though Lois and Eunice are not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, I would like to believe that they were a positive Christian influence in the lives of many others in Lystra (Timothy’s hometown). I know that many women continually seek out my grandmother and my mom for spiritual wisdom, a prayer partner, or an encouraging word.

Thanks be to God for the tremendous blessing of my motherly mentors! And it is my prayer that I can be the same motherly mentor for each and every one of the Iron Rose Sisters who is equipped to connect to God and one another more deeply through this ministry and her resources.

#IronRoseSister #3generations #mentor