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A Message On godly Biblical Mothers
Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Happy Mother’s Day. It is a day that we should thank our Lord for godly mothers. We should honor our mothers all the time, but I think that it is fitting to have a special day for mothers.
Being a Mother is a great responsibility. A mother has great influence and impacts the lives of her children. And her influence does not stop just because the children become 18. The job and responsibility of being a mother does not end. It changes some. 2 am feedings and changing diapers every few hours become a thing of the past. But your love and care for your children does not stop. You continue to have an influence upon them. They still need you. At all ages people could still use the advice, the support, the love of a godly mother. And then comes grand children. They also need you. Especially in these times. Kids can really use a godly grand mother.
Not all women understand this. Not all women are godly mothers or grand mothers.
I heard about a lady whose daughter is moving and they were not going to have electricity for a day in the new place. This grandmother was all upset about it, and was raising her voice on the verge of yelling on the phone. So what was she so upset about? Her grandchild was not going to be able to watch his several movies a day. She was then telling others all about it. How that her grandchild cannot go without his movies, and how that she told her daughter all about it, and how awful it was that her daughter got all defensive about it. The kid is maybe 4 years old. And the grandma is upset that he can’t get his several movies a day. This grandma has an influence and it is not a godly one.
All mothers have influence. That is not in question. The question is how do you use it? For yourself, for the world, or for God?
I want to honor godly mothers today by looking at a few in the Bible.
Exo 2:1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took [to wife] a daughter of Levi. Exo 2:2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he [was a] goodly [child], she hid him three months.
This mother was taking a risk by hiding her son. She put her son’s welfare above her own. Godly mothers do things like that.
I love that. The way that God can completely turn a bad situation around. Pharaoh who was out to kill this mother’s child ends up paying her to feed him. And then pays for his schooling.
Exo 2:10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
Pharoah’s daughter took the child after he grew. Many people believe that Moses was perhaps 5 or 6 years old by this time. Do you think that Moses’ mother had much of an influence during those first 6 years? Look at Hebrews chapter 11.
Moses did not learn that from Pharaoh’s daughter. He did not learn that in the schools of higher education of Egypt.
Moses learned that from his mother. Her influence upon him stuck. Moses choose affliction with the people of God over the pleasure of sin for a season. Moses learned a lot during those early years. Character changing things. Life changing things. He learned about God.
His mother had great faith, and it had a great effect upon Moses.
Moses’ mother had precious little time with Moses, but she did not waste it. She used it wisely for God. Her influence made a tremendous difference in the life of her son.
We see the great influence a mother has over and over again in the Bible.
There is a repetitive pattern in the books of 1 Kings thru 2 Chronicles.
2Ki 12:1 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Zibiah of Beersheba.
And his mother’s name was. This phrase is mentioned over and over again.
2Ki 14:2 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
And his mother’s name was. Over and over again their names are recorded in connection to their sons.
You don’t learn much else about most of these women. But God takes time in scripture to mention them when He talks about their sons.
Why?
In a lot of ways the sons are who they are because of their mothers. And it works both ways. When God mentions a bad king He mentions his mother.
When God mentions a good king, He mentions his mother. He is giving the mother her due credit for the son turning out good, and He gives her due blame when he turns out bad.
Mother’s have an incredible influence. Being a mother is an extremely important job. One that lasts a lifetime. We see this in 2 Tim 1:5
2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Timothy’s mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois had unfeigned faith. Paul writes I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee.
Which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy Mother Eunice. Their shining examples of faith had an impact. Lois learned faith from her mother. Timothy learned from his mother and his grandmother.
Ladies never, never, never, underestimate your influence on your children and grandchildren. Strive to use it for God.
Go to Samuel chapter 1.
It is sad to say but we live in a day where many women do not hold motherhood in high esteem. Being a mother is just a sideline to all too many. To some women motherhood is an unforeseen accident.
Not Hannah. Do you not see a woman who greatly desired to be a mother. And not just any kind of mother. She wanted to use her motherly influence for God.
1Sa 1:11 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.
She was willing to raise this child for God. Godly mothers do things like that.
Godly mothers know how to get a hold of the throne of God for their children.
What an immediate change. She is no longer sad. Her womb has been shut for years. She has tried and tried to have a child. The man of God tells her that her prayer will be answered. And immediately she counts it as a done deal.
That’s great faith. Godly mothers have some of that.
And you know the rest of the story. She does have a son and names him Samuel. She does give him to the Lord. And God uses him greatly.
God then blesses this mother with 3 more sons and 2 daughters. But even though she had 5 other children, she never forgot or quit loving the one that was living at the temple. Every year she went to see him. Every year she poured affection upon him. Every year she made him a new coat. And she knew what size to make it.
She kept loving, she kept sacrificing, she kept working, she kept making those coats. Her son was away serving God, but he was on her mind. She kept loving him.
Godly mothers do things like that.
Let’s look at one more.
Notice it is not blessed above women. It is among women. We are not to worship Mary. She was just a woman. But she was a godly woman. God would not let just anyone raise Jesus. She was a godly mother.
This was going to be difficult. Being found pregnant before she was married. How was Joseph going to take it? What would people say?
And this was going to be no ordinary son. This was the Son of God. This no doubt was a bit overwhelming. And yet what did she say. Luk 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
That is trust in the Lord. That is great faith. She had faith that God would take care of the problems. She had great trust in the Lord. And God did not let her down. God did deal with Joseph. She had the baby, and Joseph was there to help her. Later the wise men came and brought presents.
Now Mary had to leave for the safety of her son. Leave her family, leave her home, all she new. And go to a strange country. It might be hard, but her son’s safety was at stake. And it also was the will of God.
So out of love for her son and with great faith in God she left all. She sacrificed. She did the difficult thing. Godly mothers do things like that.
Mary loved her son. She would stand by Him no matter what. No matter what she had to go thru. And in fact she stood with Him until the end.
Joh 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the [wife] of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
She stood by Her son when almost no one else would. Godly mothers do things like that.
She stood. I love that. She stood. She did not waver. She did not collapse. She did not run away. She was strong for her son. It seemed like the whole world was against Him. The disciples forsook Him. The Romans were killing Him by the cruelty of crucifixion.
The crowd was yelling insults at her dear son. That brow that she had been the first one to kiss was now bleeding with the cruel thorns. Those hands that she held when He took His first steps are now nailed to a tree.
Oh the pain she watched Him endure. And it seemed like almost no one else cared. But she cared. That was her Son. And she stood for Him. I am sure that it was hard not to break down. But she stood. In the midst of that hostile crowd. A crowd that hated Jesus and could turn upon anyone who stood for Him.
But in the face of it all Mary stood for her son. No matter the danger. No matter what others might think or say. She stood by her Son. Godly mothers do things like that.
Praise the Lord for godly mothers. She loved her Son.
And it is very clear that her Son loved her.
Jesus took time enough away from the work of the cross to give the care of His mother to another. He was sensitive to her needs. He honored her. We should do the same.
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