Message summary: All through history other men have stepped up to provide a father's influence. Consider how meaningful to Timothy Paul's words must have been in the two daily texts: "Timothy, my son" and "You then, my son". 

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"Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well" (1 Timothy 1:18). "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:1).

Each week we begin our Sunday School class with a time of sharing prayer needs. One Sunday, shortly after we began attending the class several years ago, a class member who was leading the group shared from his heart concerning his own son who was in prison. Our hearts went out to him as we considered how hard this must be for him and his wife.

Later we learned more to the story. He and his wife had their own biological children but also took in foster children and adopted two children. The man in prison was their adopted son. Yet, when he made the request he merely stated "Pray for my son who is in prison" with no qualifiers or modifiers. He could have said something to the effect "the boy we adopted"... but he said "my son". It was an indication of this man's character and has stirred in me a theme for today's message.

I had a good dad, a big German man who rarely shared his emotions. When I was in Junior High School he bought a used blue '65 Chevy pickup truck. He had magnetic signs made and put one on each door that said "E.C. Weber & Sons". Now at that time he didn't own a business so there was no advertising purpose. I think he knew it pleased me as actually my older brothers were already out of the house at that time. If anyone was curious about the presumed business and tried googling "E.C. Weber & Sons" they would have gotten nothing!

Of course there was no googling back then but my grandpa did go "noodling" on the Osage River.

My dad's been up yonder for over 25 years but today I reflect on the blessing of being called his "son".

We don't know much about Timothy's background. He is first introduced in Acts. "Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek" (Acts 16:1). That's the only reference to his father.

Later Paul wrote to him, "I am 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). Apparently his childhood spiritual influence came from his mother and grandmother, no mention of his father. That's an increasingly common pattern today with so many absentee fathers.

But all through history other men have stepped up to provide a father's influence. Consider how meaningful to Timothy Paul's words were as they resounded deep in his heart: "Timothy, my son" and "You then, my son". 

Practical for today:

1) Were you blessed with a dad who proudly (in a good sense) called you son? That is a blessing you will increasingly appreciate as I have even many years after my Dad's departure. If he's living be sure to let him know your love and appreciation.

2) What kind of dad and grandfather are you and how will you be remembered by your children and grandchildren?

3) How can you be a father, like Paul was, to the many Timothys in our time?

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

"Still Calls Me Son " Listen on YouTube  John Waller

"He Ran To Me" (The Prodigal Son) Listen on YouTube  Phillips, Craig and Dean  I am moved by this line in the song:

Another song that has been popular the last several years is "Blood Applied" which has these lines: