The Motherless Child is Still Loved (2)

I. Introduction/Illustration

God’s love is universal. When we struggle to have a voice to speak or the strength to get through the day, we feel God’s love. For those who are motherless and can’t call their mother for advice or comfort, God’s love reaches out and turns their darkness to joy. I’d like to mention a child who never had a healthy relationship with his biological mother. In fact, their relationship deteriorated over the years. This child never felt loved by his mother but hated by her. His grandmother stepped in and became that mother, filling the void this child desperately needed at a young age. He loved his mother but had a stronger bond with his grandmother. Grandmother could only do so much financially, but her love for the grandchildren she raised was undoubtedly pure and genuine. This grandmother wanted her family together.

This child began attending a local church in the area, and there, he began to gain mothers within the church. He learned various expressions of love. He experienced God’s tender compassion while finding refuge in Him. He saw the purpose of the church family. He gained mothers within his congregation who showed him the love they showed their own kids. Although the relationship between this child and his mother fell apart, he felt that he was a motherless child. Yet, he was able to experience what a mother’s love felt like, even in his darkest hours. When the child was wrong, he was corrected in love and patiently guided in the right direction. Hold on to that story for a minute.

Tension:

In the halls of our churches, amidst the hymns and prayers, two profound questions linger in the air, stirring hearts and souls alike: What should the church do with a motherless child? And how can we reflect on the profound truth that even a motherless child is still loved and cherished by God and His Bride? As we confront these complex issues, it is becoming increasingly clear that there is a fundamental tension between the duty to provide comfort and support and the profound spiritual understanding of divine love and compassion that underpins our actions. Follow along as we navigate this delicate balance, seeking wisdom and grace in our response to the plight of the motherless and embracing the eternal truth of God's unwavering love for all His children.

II. The Definition of Love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Truth/Scripture: This is the Word of God. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Page # _________ / _________)

‘1 Corinthians 13:4–7 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (ESV)

Exegesis:

When we hear this passage, we think of the text read at weddings, right? It is the standard sermon text for a man and a woman who love each other and they are professing that love in front of God and man. I want to focus on a few parts of this text. Love means much more than how we use the word. I was watching a TikTok video, and I saw this video of a lady asking the question, “Why do white people adopt black children?” It was a question out of anger and racism aimed toward Michael Chandler, a UFC fighter, and his wife. Now, a lot of people came to Michael Chandler’s defense, but his response was amazing, and it lines up with the message today. Michael Chandler said, “I'm not raising black children; I'm raising children; I'm not raising black men; I'm raising men. We think that the most important thing about us is our skin color.” He is not removing or rejecting their skin color; he and his wife are only trying to show love to the motherless and fatherless. They are responding to the Biblical mandate to take care of the orphaned. There are a few words in Greek that mean love. This one word, Agape, appears in the ESV translation 115 times and is present in 106 verses in the New Testament.

Agape is the love of benevolence and brotherly love. It is an indescribable, selfless love that is completely committed to the good of others, no matter how or if they respond. Agape is the highest form of love—a love that persists no matter the circumstance, is always giving, and devotes total commitment. That is the love God poured out to us when He gave us Jesus Christ. Yes, a mother may love her child and is committed to rearing the child in the way of the Lord. She cares for him, and she provides for him. There are children who do not have parents to love them or who want them. They do not get to feel or experience a genuine love of a mother.

The connection between the attributes of love outlined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and God's unwavering love for His children, including those who are motherless, describes what love ought to look like in action. Patient: God's love is infinitely patient, enduring beyond human comprehension. Despite our flaws and failures, He patiently waits for us to turn to Him, offering forgiveness and redemption. For those who are motherless, God's patience provides a comforting assurance that His love remains steadfast and unchanging, regardless of our circumstances. Kind: God's love is marked by boundless kindness and compassion. He extends His grace and mercy to all, offering comfort and solace to those who feel abandoned or alone. In times of need, His kindness serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that we are never truly forsaken in His sight. Not arrogant or rude: God's love is characterized by humility and gentleness. For those who are motherless, God's love is never domineering or harsh but rather gentle and tender, like a mother's comforting embrace. It does not persist in its own way: God's love is selfless and sacrificial, always seeking the best for His children. Not irritable or resentful: God's love is patient and forgiving, never holding grudges or harboring resentment. He extends grace and mercy to all. Does not rejoice in wrongdoing: God's love is rooted in righteousness and truth. He does not delight in our failures or misdeeds. The orphan may feel like he caused himself to be in that state where no one loves him or wants him. Just as the lady who asked the question, why do white people adopt black children? She is not showing love to the ones who are showing their adopted children love, regardless of outward appearance. There is no rejoicing in that!

We are called to love all people in all situations at any given time while bearing one another’s burdens. Love bears all things: Just as love bears all things, enduring through every trial and tribulation, Hosea's story exemplifies God's enduring love for His people despite their waywardness and disobedience. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God's love for His people remains steadfast, bearing the weight of their transgressions and offering redemption and restoration. Believes all things: God's love believes all things, trusting in His promises and faithfulness. In Hosea's prophecy, God's belief in His people's potential for repentance and reconciliation is evident, as He extends mercy and dispensation even in the face of rebellion. Likewise, for those who are motherless, God's belief in their capacity for transformation offers a future filled with His grace and mercy. Think about this for a moment. Mothers, you believe that your children will stop annoying you while you are trying to clean the house, right? Hopes all things: Just as love hopes all things, Hosea's message is infused with the hope of God's redemption and restoration. Despite the Israelites' waywardness, God's love offers the hope of reconciliation and renewal, as He promises to heal their land and restore their relationship with Him. For those who may feel motherless, God's love offers the hope of a future filled with His presence and provision, where His faithfulness never wavers. Endures all things: God's love endures all things, remaining steadfast and unwavering through every trial and tribulation. In the young man’s younger years, some bad bosses treated him and others unfairly. His grandmother endured that pain with him, and even at times, he rebelled against her. In like manner, for those who are rebel against their mothers, God's enduring love serves as a source of strength and comfort, sustaining them through every season of life's challenges. God’s love never gets angry.

IV. Finding Refuge in God (Psalm 27:10-14) (Page # _________ / _________)

Psalm 27:10–14 “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Psalm 27:10-14 provides profound comfort and guidance to motherless orphans, reminding them of God's unfailing love, His guidance and protection, and the hope and courage found in trusting in His promises. It serves as a beacon of hope and assurance, offering solace and strength in times of loneliness and adversity. Even when we feel lonely and heavily laden, God’s love remains steadfast. Just as He soothes the motherless's soul, so will he take care of you. In God’s grace and love, we never fell motherless.

The Lord is our light and our salvation. In Him, we do not have to fear. We do not have to be lonely. We can rely on His ever-presentness as our fortitude. The Chandler family found refuge in God when they decided to adopt and care for two children who were once orphaned. The grandmother of the young man mentioned earlier took refuge in God when she cared for her grandkids. Their mothers forsook them, yet God raised up people to fill in the gap so that those children wouldn’t have to live in this world motherless, just as the children of Israel were not forsaken.

III. God’s Tender Compassion (Hosea 11:1-4) (Page # _________ / _________)

Hosea 11:1–4 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.”

In the narrative of Hosea 11:1-4, we witness a profound depiction of God's relentless pursuit of His people, even amidst their waywardness and brokenness. Hosea's portrayal of God's love emphasizes that no matter how far we may stray, God's love remains steadfast and unwavering, reaching out to us with compassion and grace. Despite Israel's rebellion and unfaithfulness, God's love pursues them with a fervent desire for reconciliation and restoration. This imagery of pursuit highlights the depth of God's love, which transcends human understanding and persists even in the face of our shortcomings. In our own lives, we may experience moments of insubordination and brokenness, where we feel distant from God or unworthy of His love. The child I mentioned earlier had to embrace the fact that he might have been unworthy of his mother’s love. He felt that his mother’s love had limits to who she could love and how much she could love her children. Yet Hosea's narrative reminds us that God's love knows no bounds; it pursues us relentlessly, seeking to draw us back unto Himself. In times of doubt or despair, knowing that God's love remains constant and unwavering is comforting. His love offers us security and assurance, providing a refuge in the midst of life's storms. No matter how far we may wander, God's love is always there, ready to welcome us home with open arms. I like to think that God gave women such an incredible way to love and care for others. Especially children. Yet due to the fall, our brokenness can make us capable of not showing love.

V. The Church as a Family (Galatians 6:2) (Page # _________ / _________)

So how does the church as a family grafted into God’s greater family respond to caring for motherless children? “We are to raise motherless children in the church, by the church, for the head of the church who is Christ Jesus” - Hank Williams.

Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Recall with me, if you will, Jesus, who, before his ascension to the Father, said that he would not leave us as orphans but would send us another comforter. We are to come alongside those who are in need! We are to assist in areas that many are afraid to enter alone. We are to come alongside the mothers who consider abortion. (Only for Port Gibson: This congregation partners with the Center for Pregnancy Choices to assist mothers in going through with their pregnancies and helping them make a better choice not to abort. Kudos for bearing that burden with these women.) The church is responsible for the motherless born into homes where no other family members want to step in. Paul states that this is the burden of the church. We are called to be of assistance to the widows and those in need. Therefore, we are partnering in the work of the Holy Spirit when we come alongside the needy and provide help, comfort, and advocacy for the oppressed, orphans, widows, and helpless.

VI. Conclusion

As the young man had issues with his relationship with his biological mother and not feeling loved by her, his congregation rallied around his family and became the extended family. Several mothers within that congregation decided that it was best to bear the burden with that grandmother and assist where she was not able to provide. This grandmother took her grandchildren from being orphaned to being loved with that agape love. She gave up her life and dreams to keep them together. This young man was brought up in the love of women who prayed for him, corrected him when he was wrong, and loved him when he was depressed. They brought a kid who thought he was an outcast into a greater family. They are still bearing his burdens with him to this day. They do not see his burdens as a season but as a lifetime commitment. Whereby they are glorying God in their plight to bear to endure all things! Cyprian of Carthage said, “You cannot have God as your Father unless you have the church for your mother.” God bless all the mothers who answer the call to care for the motherless. Happy Mother’s Day!! Let’s Pray!

VII. Benediction:

As we conclude our time together, let us remember that the love of a mother extends beyond physical presence. In the embrace of community and compassion, the motherless child is still cherished and held dear. Be the church that continues to be the mother to the motherless. Amen.