Christ Centered Lessons
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Thursday, May 6, 2010 - Godly Mothers are Wonderful
It is great to have a day on which we can honor our mothers. What God would have us to do is show our honor for them every day.
Unfortunately, the feminist movement in this country has set out to denigrate women when it comes to being a wife and mother. They would have you believe that if a woman “accepts” these roles she has “admitted” to being “inferior”.
As our country prepares to celebrate Mother’s Day, I feel it is appropriate to look at what the Bible has to say about Godly women, thus Godly mothers.
Mothers have always been considered to be special. In Genesis 3:20 we read, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” In Genesis 2:23 Adam expresses both the closest kind of kinship to the woman and at the same time is giving expression to the great value and worth that belongs to her. Genesis 2:24 teaches that the new relationship of marriage is stronger and more permanent than the relationship with the mother and father. God created one man for one woman. This new home is a permanent home for the earthly life of the man and woman (Matthew 19:4-6).
The Godly woman realizes that God saw in the beginning that it was not good for man to be alone. She will strive to fulfill her divine obligations to her spouse. She will recognize and respect her husband and his authority as the spiritual head of the family (Ephesians 5:22-23). Wives and mothers follow the spiritual leadership provided by the husband and work within the family to accomplish the great goal – heaven for each family member (I Peter 3:1, 7). We see, all too often, families that give little or no concern about their spiritual well-being and have no desire to go to heaven but rather are filled with a desire for more and more material possessions.
In addition to the previous points, the Godly woman, as a loving and faithful companion, works to create an atmosphere of warmth, joy, love, and security at home. She, like no other family member, creates a home atmosphere where it is a joy for father and children to come home from the difficulties of earning a living and growing up in this world.
Further, she, through patience, perseverance, and prayer, so lives and works as to help lead each family member to Christ. Many men have entered into marriage only to be won to Christ by the respectful and pure behavior of a Godly Christian wife.
The Godly woman loves her children (Titus 2:4). If she truly loves them, she will do all in her power to bring them to love God and obey him. Children are a sacred trust from God (Psalms 127:3). Normally, children trained properly will not depart from God (Proverbs 22:6), but they can allow evil companions to corrupt good morals (I Corinthians 15:33). The way to respond to the challenges of life and the answers to the questions of young minds are often first given by a loving mother (II Timothy 1:3, 5). How do you do this?
To have a child is a tremendous joy (Gen. 21:6-7; Luke 1:46-55; Psalms 113:9). She honors and treats with dignity the sacred human life within her womb (John 16:21). A Godly woman appreciates the great privilege of motherhood. Motherhood is a special and dignified position. Woman is uniquely qualified for the great work of bearing children, of keeping the home, and of fostering love, companionship, and security for her husband and children. God endowed the female with qualities of reacting more emotionally and mercifully than man to special needs and situations, of showing more love and sympathy, and of being able to more adequately minister to the demands of the child. Remember that it was woman who gave birth and reared Christ (Luke 1:26-38).
Yet we live in a society where, since September 11, 2001, abortion has murdered over 9 million babies before they even had a chance at life. In a world without the Life, without the Light, without the Word, the epidemic of abortion reigns and grows stronger every day.
The fetus has all properties that are essential to being a human being. In Psalms 139:13-16, David makes reference to when he was in his mother’s womb. The pronouns “me”, “my”, and “I” are used throughout the passage in reference to David’s pre-natal state. One of the clearest statements in the Bible concerning the humanity of a fetus is found in Jeremiah 1:5. In this passage Jeremiah states that the Lord knew him before he was born and that the Lord sanctified him as a prophet while he was still in his mother’s womb. Two nations struggled in Rebekah’s womb (Gen. 25:22-23). John showed life in the womb of Elizabeth (Luke 1:44). There are other forms of abuse and neglect of the fetus, such as drinking, drugs, smoking etc.; read I Cor. 6:19. The body within you is a temple of God.
The Godly woman is responsible for much more than simply bringing children into the world. She and her husband complement each other in the molding of their children into what God would have them to be. God put the husband and wife together so that the parental unit could function.
The Law of Moses demanded that mothers be honored (Exodus 20:12) and respected (Lev. 19:3). Her teaching was not to be abandoned (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20). She was not to be despised, mocked, or scorned (Prov. 15:20, 17:25; 19:26; 23:22; 30:17). She should be a good woman. Mary “found favor with God,” thus he was with her (Luke 1:28-30).
Proverbs 31 provides for us the characteristics that all Godly women should strive for in their life:
· Virtuous (pure).
· Trust
· Godly (honest, faithful, loyal).
· Good to her husband.
· Wise (reasonable, rational).
· Benevolent (generous, compassionate, unselfish).
· Rightfully self-confidant.
· Honorable (honest, ethical).
· Blessed and praised by her family (comes with living a Christian life).
No woman should ever feel that there is something wrong with being a mother or a “stay home mother” or a “homemaker.” It is said of Sarah in Genesis 17:16: “And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” Notice also the following passages:
· “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them” (Gen. 24:60).
· “The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7).
· “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalms 113:9).
· “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb” (Psa. 139:13).
Mothers should be honored (Exo. 20:12; 21:15, 17; Lev. 19:3; 20:9; Deu. 5:16; Pro. 20:20; 28:24; Mat. 15:4-6). Children should obey their mothers in those things that do not violate God’s will (Pro. 1:8; 6:20; 10:1; Deu. 21:18-19; Eph. 6:2).
Mothers, determine that you will be good examples for your children and the world to see being obedient to God in all things. Children, see to the needs of your mothers and obey her. Jesus did (John 19:26-27; Luke 2:51).
There is nothing greater on this earth than being part of a Christian home. It is Christian because the father and mother love God, each other and their children and they work to set the example and to support that home. The importance of the home in our country has continued to decline and people’s souls are perishing. We live in a dollar standard society; and while we do, our homes, and our morals will continue to depreciate.
Will you commit to being the person God wants you to be today? That can only occur through your complete submission and obedience to His will.
It is great to have a day on which we can honor our mothers. What God would have us to do is show our honor for them every day.
Unfortunately, the feminist movement in this country has set out to denigrate women when it comes to being a wife and mother. They would have you believe that if a woman “accepts” these roles she has “admitted” to being “inferior”.
As our country prepares to celebrate Mother’s Day, I feel it is appropriate to look at what the Bible has to say about Godly women, thus Godly mothers.
Mothers have always been considered to be special. In Genesis 3:20 we read, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” In Genesis 2:23 Adam expresses both the closest kind of kinship to the woman and at the same time is giving expression to the great value and worth that belongs to her. Genesis 2:24 teaches that the new relationship of marriage is stronger and more permanent than the relationship with the mother and father. God created one man for one woman. This new home is a permanent home for the earthly life of the man and woman (Matthew 19:4-6).
The Godly woman realizes that God saw in the beginning that it was not good for man to be alone. She will strive to fulfill her divine obligations to her spouse. She will recognize and respect her husband and his authority as the spiritual head of the family (Ephesians 5:22-23). Wives and mothers follow the spiritual leadership provided by the husband and work within the family to accomplish the great goal – heaven for each family member (I Peter 3:1, 7). We see, all too often, families that give little or no concern about their spiritual well-being and have no desire to go to heaven but rather are filled with a desire for more and more material possessions.
In addition to the previous points, the Godly woman, as a loving and faithful companion, works to create an atmosphere of warmth, joy, love, and security at home. She, like no other family member, creates a home atmosphere where it is a joy for father and children to come home from the difficulties of earning a living and growing up in this world.
Further, she, through patience, perseverance, and prayer, so lives and works as to help lead each family member to Christ. Many men have entered into marriage only to be won to Christ by the respectful and pure behavior of a Godly Christian wife.
The Godly woman loves her children (Titus 2:4). If she truly loves them, she will do all in her power to bring them to love God and obey him. Children are a sacred trust from God (Psalms 127:3). Normally, children trained properly will not depart from God (Proverbs 22:6), but they can allow evil companions to corrupt good morals (I Corinthians 15:33). The way to respond to the challenges of life and the answers to the questions of young minds are often first given by a loving mother (II Timothy 1:3, 5). How do you do this?
- Be an example (I Timothy 4:12)
- Begin to train them properly while they are young (II Timothy 3:15)
- Worship together as a family (Hebrews 10:25)
- Discipline your child (Proverbs 29:15) and restrain them from wrong.
- Teach your child respect for authority (Titus 3:1), for the rights and property of others (Deut. 5:21) and for honest labor (Ephesians 4:28).
- Mothers should also be concerned for their children (Judges 5:28; 1 Sam. 2:19; 1 Kin. 3:27).
- Along with her husband she gives good gifts to her children
- Matthew 7:9-11
- II Corinthians 12:14
- Shows the proper kind of love (I Corinthians 13:4-8).
- Older women are to teach the younger to love their children (Tit. 2:4, I Cor. 13:4-7).
- She should guide and teach her children.
- A major portion of the mother’s time will be spent with her children leading and protecting them. Children go in the direction that they are aimed. The Hebrews realized how important it was to pass the godly life-style to their children (Deut. 11:18-21).
- Elizabeth was righteous and blameless (Luke 1:6). She passed this onto John.
- The faith which Eunice exhibited was evident in the life of Timothy (II Tim. 1:5).
- She is a comforter.
- Isaiah 66:13
- She is must exercise proper discipline upon her children.
- She must be an extension and complement to the rules laid down by the husband
To have a child is a tremendous joy (Gen. 21:6-7; Luke 1:46-55; Psalms 113:9). She honors and treats with dignity the sacred human life within her womb (John 16:21). A Godly woman appreciates the great privilege of motherhood. Motherhood is a special and dignified position. Woman is uniquely qualified for the great work of bearing children, of keeping the home, and of fostering love, companionship, and security for her husband and children. God endowed the female with qualities of reacting more emotionally and mercifully than man to special needs and situations, of showing more love and sympathy, and of being able to more adequately minister to the demands of the child. Remember that it was woman who gave birth and reared Christ (Luke 1:26-38).
Yet we live in a society where, since September 11, 2001, abortion has murdered over 9 million babies before they even had a chance at life. In a world without the Life, without the Light, without the Word, the epidemic of abortion reigns and grows stronger every day.
The fetus has all properties that are essential to being a human being. In Psalms 139:13-16, David makes reference to when he was in his mother’s womb. The pronouns “me”, “my”, and “I” are used throughout the passage in reference to David’s pre-natal state. One of the clearest statements in the Bible concerning the humanity of a fetus is found in Jeremiah 1:5. In this passage Jeremiah states that the Lord knew him before he was born and that the Lord sanctified him as a prophet while he was still in his mother’s womb. Two nations struggled in Rebekah’s womb (Gen. 25:22-23). John showed life in the womb of Elizabeth (Luke 1:44). There are other forms of abuse and neglect of the fetus, such as drinking, drugs, smoking etc.; read I Cor. 6:19. The body within you is a temple of God.
The Godly woman is responsible for much more than simply bringing children into the world. She and her husband complement each other in the molding of their children into what God would have them to be. God put the husband and wife together so that the parental unit could function.
The Law of Moses demanded that mothers be honored (Exodus 20:12) and respected (Lev. 19:3). Her teaching was not to be abandoned (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20). She was not to be despised, mocked, or scorned (Prov. 15:20, 17:25; 19:26; 23:22; 30:17). She should be a good woman. Mary “found favor with God,” thus he was with her (Luke 1:28-30).
Proverbs 31 provides for us the characteristics that all Godly women should strive for in their life:
· Virtuous (pure).
· Trust
· Godly (honest, faithful, loyal).
· Good to her husband.
· Wise (reasonable, rational).
· Benevolent (generous, compassionate, unselfish).
· Rightfully self-confidant.
· Honorable (honest, ethical).
· Blessed and praised by her family (comes with living a Christian life).
No woman should ever feel that there is something wrong with being a mother or a “stay home mother” or a “homemaker.” It is said of Sarah in Genesis 17:16: “And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” Notice also the following passages:
· “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them” (Gen. 24:60).
· “The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7).
· “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalms 113:9).
· “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb” (Psa. 139:13).
Mothers should be honored (Exo. 20:12; 21:15, 17; Lev. 19:3; 20:9; Deu. 5:16; Pro. 20:20; 28:24; Mat. 15:4-6). Children should obey their mothers in those things that do not violate God’s will (Pro. 1:8; 6:20; 10:1; Deu. 21:18-19; Eph. 6:2).
Mothers, determine that you will be good examples for your children and the world to see being obedient to God in all things. Children, see to the needs of your mothers and obey her. Jesus did (John 19:26-27; Luke 2:51).
There is nothing greater on this earth than being part of a Christian home. It is Christian because the father and mother love God, each other and their children and they work to set the example and to support that home. The importance of the home in our country has continued to decline and people’s souls are perishing. We live in a dollar standard society; and while we do, our homes, and our morals will continue to depreciate.
Will you commit to being the person God wants you to be today? That can only occur through your complete submission and obedience to His will.