Mother’s day and Father’s day are obviously important opportunities to expound upon God’s will for marriage and home life. In spite of the conditions existing in American culture today there really should be no confusion about the natural role of a father and a mother in the home.
From the beginning God established marriage between male and female—with the blessing of children to a dad and mom. Furthermore, the Lord has clearly delegated the care of children and the instruction of children to the parents. This basic template for home life is a settled matter by God’s design.
With that in mind, the simple thoughts I intend to share in this message will help any mother who desires to maintain a godly life and who desires to shape her family for Christ. As well, these thoughts should encourage young ladies who one day will have the honor of being called “mom.”
Let me begin my thoughts today with a poem I composed about twenty years ago. My wife actually inspired these thoughts as I watched her commitment to fight the inevitable battles that challenge the spiritual well-being of children. I am going to use these thoughts as my outline today. The poem is entitled, “Mothers Are.”
Mothers Are
Mothers are a happy grin
A smile, a hug when now and then
We fail in life and need a friend
Mothers are the encouragement
To rise to heights that God has meant
Her children to attain
Mothers are a weeping Hannah
Who know just how to pray
Whose tears the Lord sweetly sways
Mothers are faithful Jochebeds
Who fearing God are by Him led
Mothers are believing Sarahs
Who win victory over doubt
Whose faith brings God’s purposes about
Mothers are a special gift
Whose love and faith often lift
Her family nearer God.
Perhaps some of those simple words bring back memories about your own mother. Some of you are missing your mom today as she is now in heaven, but you know she was a special gift to you and your family.
There is something about a mother’s love. Children instinctively know to turn to mom when there is a problem. This is especially true when we are young, but in various ways it is true through-out life.
Mothers are a happy grin
A smile, a hug when now and then
We fail in life and need a friend
Do I need to remind you today that one of the best friends you will ever have in this life is your mother? One of the things I have noticed about authentic motherhood is the near impossibility of a mother disowning a child. In spite of all the failures of a child a mother’s heart compels her to seek the well being of a son or a daughter to the very end.
I wonder how many of us owe an eternal debt of gratitude to our mother for her prayers, her unconditional love, and her heart to lead us to Christ. Thank God for godly mothers who cover their families with the love of Christ!
Unfortunately in our day one of the great challenges facing many mothers is the task of raising a child without a father in the home. There are obviously more than one reason a mother may face such a challenge, but many mothers perform the herculean job of raising a child or several children alone.
Time would fail me to document the many testimonies of children who later rise to bless such mothers for all the encouragement poured upon them as they came to adulthood. Indeed most often:
Mothers are the encouragement
To rise to heights that God has meant
Her children to attain
Mom, don’t ever underestimate the powerful influence you have upon your children as they grow into adulthood. Make it your business to make that influence a godly one.
Now, in the remainder of this message I call your attention to four famous mothers in Scripture: Hannah, Jochebed, Sarah, and Mary the mother of our Lord.
Hannah
As most of you will recall, Hannah loved the Lord. She was a godly woman, but had no children. She desired a child and in the first book of Samuel the Bible records her earnest prayer before the Lord as she pleaded for a son. As you know, she promised the Lord if he would answer her prayer the child would be dedicated to the Lord.
The Scripture says: “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (1 Sam. 1:10-11).
Ladies, Hannah’s example teaches us something about prayer. We can earnestly seek God and he will give us definite answers to prayer! Can prayer sway God? Can the mighty God of eternity be moved by believing prayer? Can a mother’s prayer move the hand of God? Hannah’s example says yes it can!
Mothers are a weeping Hannah
Who know just how to pray
Whose tears the Lord sweetly sways
Jochebed
Another famous mother in the Bible is the mother of Moses. I suppose many would not remember her name, but she was known as Jochebed.
You may recall the Pharaoh who rose to power following the death of Joseph proceeded to afflict the children of Israel. In order to suppress Israel and maintain control over them he killed all the baby boys born to the children of Israel.
At least he attempted to do so, but one mother hid her new born son and did everything she could to save her baby boy. However, as the child grew it was not possible for her to hide the little one anymore. So she made an ark of bulrushes and laid the young child inside and placed it a drift on the river so the daughter of Pharaoh would find the child.
The Scripture says: “And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children” (Exodus 2:5-6).
The daughter of Pharaoh proceeded to adopt the child as her own. As well, she called for the mother of the child to come and nurse him until the little one could come to live with her. Pharaoh’s daughter named the baby—Moses.
Jochebed feared God more than Pharaoh and saved her son. Little did she know her baby would one day be used of God to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage!
Ladies, fear God and do what is right by your children! God has a plan for your children and the Pharaohs of this world cannot frustrate that purpose if you choose to walk in the fear of the Lord!
Mothers are faithful Jochebeds
Who fearing God are by Him led
Sarah
The next mother I briefly call your attention to is Sarah. Sarah was Abraham’s wife and like Hannah, she could not have children.
It was in her old age the Lord appeared to Abraham and assured him that he and his wife Sarah would have a child. Upon over hearing the Lord’s pronouncement Sarah laughed within herself. Her initial thought was one laced with doubt. She said, “After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also” (Genesis 18:12).
But her doubts faded and Sarah embraced God’s plan by faith. The Scripture says, “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”
Again, we all can learn a lesson from Sarah who took hold of God’s promise and won a victory over doubt! Her example should motivate all of us and she certainly can motivate each mom to take hold of God’s promises.
When the Lord calls you to do something it may be impossible for you, but cast your eyes upon the Lord. Judge him faithful who has promised.
Mothers are believing Sarahs
Who win victory over doubt
Whose faith brings God’s purposes about
Mary
I conclude today with the experience of one more mother—the mother of our Lord.
Mary was a young lady when Gabriel appeared to her and revealed God’s awesome plan to use her in a unique way. Mary would give birth to the Son of God.
As documented in Scripture soon after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary proceeded to take the young child to the temple in Jerusalem.
As they arrived in the temple a man by the name of Simeon met them. Simeon was a just and devout man. The Bible says the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ. Imagine that!
Simeon, who served in the temple, saw many Israelite couples present their firstborn sons before the Lord. But following this revelation from the Lord can you imagine the anticipation Simeon experienced as he entered the temple day by day. He knew one day he would hold the promised Messiah in his arms.
And so it was the day Joseph and Mary arrived with the baby Jesus, Simeon was led by the Spirit into the temple.
And the Scripture says: “When the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:27-32).
Simeon proceeded to bless both Joseph and Mary, but then turned his full attention to Mary with these startling words:
“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” Luke 2:34-35.
With these words Simeon prophesied to Mary speaking metaphorically of a future time when her heart would be broken. No doubt Mary took note of these words and pondered them also.
In time Mary would watch her firstborn son grow up in the town of Nazareth. She would know the joys of raising Jesus and watching him come to maturity. Her heart would be bound to him with a mother’s love.
But along that journey the words she pondered in her heart slowly came to light. Jesus must fulfill his destiny. The day finally came when she saw him leave home for the last time. Nothing would ever be the same. It was time for him to be revealed to the nation by a mighty prophet named John the Baptist.
She watched him closely as his public ministry unfolded. She interacted with him as often as possible. She was at the wedding in Cana when he performed his first miracle. And at times she had to compete with the multitudes for his attention. But a mother she was. This would always be her son and his well being was always upon her heart.
Mary was in Jerusalem for Passover when he rode into the city with great honor. But the worship of the multitude that day would soon fade as his enemies plotted behind the scenes for his death.
As the Passover celebration of that season commenced Jesus gathered with his disciples for the Last Supper. Just hours later, he was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. The authorities proceeded with a mockery of a trial and condemned him to death.
No doubt the news of his arrest reached his mother Mary. But she could do nothing. Perhaps as his trial moved on to Pilate, the Roman Governor, she drew close enough to hear the jeers of the crowd who cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”
Suddenly the impulses of a mother’s heart pulled at her soul. The hour of which Simeon spoke was unfolding.
Shamefully, Pilate bent to the will of the crowd that day and consented to the death of a just man in whom he could find no fault. Upon his word the Roman soldiers led Jesus away to be crucified. They laid a cross upon his back and compelled him to carry it to a hill outside of Jerusalem.
Already in a weakened condition from a severe scourging at the hands of the Roman soldiers, Jesus stumbled beneath the weight of his cross. The Roman soldiers compelled a bystander, Simon the Cyrenian, to help him carry his cross to the place of the crucifixion.
As he struggled to carry the cross on the road that led to Calvary a great crowd followed him. The Scripture says, “And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him” (Luke 23:27).
The Scripture does not say, but I believe it is reasonable to assume that his mother was among those women who bewailed and lamented him that day. This seems to be a reasonable conclusion in light of the fact that Mary did indeed stand at the foot of the cross.
We read in the gospel of John that Jesus spoke to his mother as he hung on the cross. The Scripture says:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home” (John 19:25-27).
As Mary stood there gazing upon the broken body of her son she experienced something unique to her own soul. This was her boy. This was the baby she held in her arms in Bethlehem. This is the child she dedicated in the temple the day Simeon rejoiced over him.
Now the sword of which Simeon spoke pierced her soul. Only mothers who have experienced the loss of a child can begin to understand the grief that overflowed the heart of Mary that day. She wept and kept watch over her firstborn son until the very end.
I believe she heard every word he spoke from the cross that day. I believe she sensed the agony of her son when he cried out in the darkness, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
And I believe she also heard his cry, “It is finished!”
It is finished! Jesus, the Lamb of God, our sin bearer, has fully satisfied the Divine wrath against our sin.
It is finished! Jesus, the Lamb of God, has shed his own blood for our souls.
It is finished! Satan is rendered powerless and has no authority to hold us in spiritual bondage to death. The serpent’s head is now crushed beneath the death blow of the cross.
Jesus, the conquering Seed of the Woman, endured the cross and has secured eternal life for all who will believe upon him! Amen and amen!
Conclusion
Where would we be without the faith of godly mothers? We can learn much from their examples in Scripture. May the Word of God encourage every mother in the great work of influencing her family for Christ!
Ladies, never under estimate your labor of love. It will impact our world and further the cause of Christ like perhaps nothing else will.
From the beginning God established marriage between male and female—with the blessing of children to a dad and mom. Furthermore, the Lord has clearly delegated the care of children and the instruction of children to the parents. This basic template for home life is a settled matter by God’s design.
With that in mind, the simple thoughts I intend to share in this message will help any mother who desires to maintain a godly life and who desires to shape her family for Christ. As well, these thoughts should encourage young ladies who one day will have the honor of being called “mom.”
Let me begin my thoughts today with a poem I composed about twenty years ago. My wife actually inspired these thoughts as I watched her commitment to fight the inevitable battles that challenge the spiritual well-being of children. I am going to use these thoughts as my outline today. The poem is entitled, “Mothers Are.”
Mothers Are
Mothers are a happy grin
A smile, a hug when now and then
We fail in life and need a friend
Mothers are the encouragement
To rise to heights that God has meant
Her children to attain
Mothers are a weeping Hannah
Who know just how to pray
Whose tears the Lord sweetly sways
Mothers are faithful Jochebeds
Who fearing God are by Him led
Mothers are believing Sarahs
Who win victory over doubt
Whose faith brings God’s purposes about
Mothers are a special gift
Whose love and faith often lift
Her family nearer God.
Perhaps some of those simple words bring back memories about your own mother. Some of you are missing your mom today as she is now in heaven, but you know she was a special gift to you and your family.
There is something about a mother’s love. Children instinctively know to turn to mom when there is a problem. This is especially true when we are young, but in various ways it is true through-out life.
Mothers are a happy grin
A smile, a hug when now and then
We fail in life and need a friend
Do I need to remind you today that one of the best friends you will ever have in this life is your mother? One of the things I have noticed about authentic motherhood is the near impossibility of a mother disowning a child. In spite of all the failures of a child a mother’s heart compels her to seek the well being of a son or a daughter to the very end.
I wonder how many of us owe an eternal debt of gratitude to our mother for her prayers, her unconditional love, and her heart to lead us to Christ. Thank God for godly mothers who cover their families with the love of Christ!
Unfortunately in our day one of the great challenges facing many mothers is the task of raising a child without a father in the home. There are obviously more than one reason a mother may face such a challenge, but many mothers perform the herculean job of raising a child or several children alone.
Time would fail me to document the many testimonies of children who later rise to bless such mothers for all the encouragement poured upon them as they came to adulthood. Indeed most often:
Mothers are the encouragement
To rise to heights that God has meant
Her children to attain
Mom, don’t ever underestimate the powerful influence you have upon your children as they grow into adulthood. Make it your business to make that influence a godly one.
Now, in the remainder of this message I call your attention to four famous mothers in Scripture: Hannah, Jochebed, Sarah, and Mary the mother of our Lord.
Hannah
As most of you will recall, Hannah loved the Lord. She was a godly woman, but had no children. She desired a child and in the first book of Samuel the Bible records her earnest prayer before the Lord as she pleaded for a son. As you know, she promised the Lord if he would answer her prayer the child would be dedicated to the Lord.
The Scripture says: “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (1 Sam. 1:10-11).
Ladies, Hannah’s example teaches us something about prayer. We can earnestly seek God and he will give us definite answers to prayer! Can prayer sway God? Can the mighty God of eternity be moved by believing prayer? Can a mother’s prayer move the hand of God? Hannah’s example says yes it can!
Mothers are a weeping Hannah
Who know just how to pray
Whose tears the Lord sweetly sways
Jochebed
Another famous mother in the Bible is the mother of Moses. I suppose many would not remember her name, but she was known as Jochebed.
You may recall the Pharaoh who rose to power following the death of Joseph proceeded to afflict the children of Israel. In order to suppress Israel and maintain control over them he killed all the baby boys born to the children of Israel.
At least he attempted to do so, but one mother hid her new born son and did everything she could to save her baby boy. However, as the child grew it was not possible for her to hide the little one anymore. So she made an ark of bulrushes and laid the young child inside and placed it a drift on the river so the daughter of Pharaoh would find the child.
The Scripture says: “And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children” (Exodus 2:5-6).
The daughter of Pharaoh proceeded to adopt the child as her own. As well, she called for the mother of the child to come and nurse him until the little one could come to live with her. Pharaoh’s daughter named the baby—Moses.
Jochebed feared God more than Pharaoh and saved her son. Little did she know her baby would one day be used of God to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage!
Ladies, fear God and do what is right by your children! God has a plan for your children and the Pharaohs of this world cannot frustrate that purpose if you choose to walk in the fear of the Lord!
Mothers are faithful Jochebeds
Who fearing God are by Him led
Sarah
The next mother I briefly call your attention to is Sarah. Sarah was Abraham’s wife and like Hannah, she could not have children.
It was in her old age the Lord appeared to Abraham and assured him that he and his wife Sarah would have a child. Upon over hearing the Lord’s pronouncement Sarah laughed within herself. Her initial thought was one laced with doubt. She said, “After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also” (Genesis 18:12).
But her doubts faded and Sarah embraced God’s plan by faith. The Scripture says, “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”
Again, we all can learn a lesson from Sarah who took hold of God’s promise and won a victory over doubt! Her example should motivate all of us and she certainly can motivate each mom to take hold of God’s promises.
When the Lord calls you to do something it may be impossible for you, but cast your eyes upon the Lord. Judge him faithful who has promised.
Mothers are believing Sarahs
Who win victory over doubt
Whose faith brings God’s purposes about
Mary
I conclude today with the experience of one more mother—the mother of our Lord.
Mary was a young lady when Gabriel appeared to her and revealed God’s awesome plan to use her in a unique way. Mary would give birth to the Son of God.
As documented in Scripture soon after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary proceeded to take the young child to the temple in Jerusalem.
As they arrived in the temple a man by the name of Simeon met them. Simeon was a just and devout man. The Bible says the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ. Imagine that!
Simeon, who served in the temple, saw many Israelite couples present their firstborn sons before the Lord. But following this revelation from the Lord can you imagine the anticipation Simeon experienced as he entered the temple day by day. He knew one day he would hold the promised Messiah in his arms.
And so it was the day Joseph and Mary arrived with the baby Jesus, Simeon was led by the Spirit into the temple.
And the Scripture says: “When the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:27-32).
Simeon proceeded to bless both Joseph and Mary, but then turned his full attention to Mary with these startling words:
“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” Luke 2:34-35.
With these words Simeon prophesied to Mary speaking metaphorically of a future time when her heart would be broken. No doubt Mary took note of these words and pondered them also.
In time Mary would watch her firstborn son grow up in the town of Nazareth. She would know the joys of raising Jesus and watching him come to maturity. Her heart would be bound to him with a mother’s love.
But along that journey the words she pondered in her heart slowly came to light. Jesus must fulfill his destiny. The day finally came when she saw him leave home for the last time. Nothing would ever be the same. It was time for him to be revealed to the nation by a mighty prophet named John the Baptist.
She watched him closely as his public ministry unfolded. She interacted with him as often as possible. She was at the wedding in Cana when he performed his first miracle. And at times she had to compete with the multitudes for his attention. But a mother she was. This would always be her son and his well being was always upon her heart.
Mary was in Jerusalem for Passover when he rode into the city with great honor. But the worship of the multitude that day would soon fade as his enemies plotted behind the scenes for his death.
As the Passover celebration of that season commenced Jesus gathered with his disciples for the Last Supper. Just hours later, he was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. The authorities proceeded with a mockery of a trial and condemned him to death.
No doubt the news of his arrest reached his mother Mary. But she could do nothing. Perhaps as his trial moved on to Pilate, the Roman Governor, she drew close enough to hear the jeers of the crowd who cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”
Suddenly the impulses of a mother’s heart pulled at her soul. The hour of which Simeon spoke was unfolding.
Shamefully, Pilate bent to the will of the crowd that day and consented to the death of a just man in whom he could find no fault. Upon his word the Roman soldiers led Jesus away to be crucified. They laid a cross upon his back and compelled him to carry it to a hill outside of Jerusalem.
Already in a weakened condition from a severe scourging at the hands of the Roman soldiers, Jesus stumbled beneath the weight of his cross. The Roman soldiers compelled a bystander, Simon the Cyrenian, to help him carry his cross to the place of the crucifixion.
As he struggled to carry the cross on the road that led to Calvary a great crowd followed him. The Scripture says, “And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him” (Luke 23:27).
The Scripture does not say, but I believe it is reasonable to assume that his mother was among those women who bewailed and lamented him that day. This seems to be a reasonable conclusion in light of the fact that Mary did indeed stand at the foot of the cross.
We read in the gospel of John that Jesus spoke to his mother as he hung on the cross. The Scripture says:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home” (John 19:25-27).
As Mary stood there gazing upon the broken body of her son she experienced something unique to her own soul. This was her boy. This was the baby she held in her arms in Bethlehem. This is the child she dedicated in the temple the day Simeon rejoiced over him.
Now the sword of which Simeon spoke pierced her soul. Only mothers who have experienced the loss of a child can begin to understand the grief that overflowed the heart of Mary that day. She wept and kept watch over her firstborn son until the very end.
I believe she heard every word he spoke from the cross that day. I believe she sensed the agony of her son when he cried out in the darkness, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
And I believe she also heard his cry, “It is finished!”
It is finished! Jesus, the Lamb of God, our sin bearer, has fully satisfied the Divine wrath against our sin.
It is finished! Jesus, the Lamb of God, has shed his own blood for our souls.
It is finished! Satan is rendered powerless and has no authority to hold us in spiritual bondage to death. The serpent’s head is now crushed beneath the death blow of the cross.
Jesus, the conquering Seed of the Woman, endured the cross and has secured eternal life for all who will believe upon him! Amen and amen!
Conclusion
Where would we be without the faith of godly mothers? We can learn much from their examples in Scripture. May the Word of God encourage every mother in the great work of influencing her family for Christ!
Ladies, never under estimate your labor of love. It will impact our world and further the cause of Christ like perhaps nothing else will.
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