Mothers

Only a mothers love

Illus. (Scott Malone, SC.com) A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and tried to mouth the words silently, but it did not help. Her son’s memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world." (Bits and Pieces, August, 1989).

•Where would we be without Mothers?

Today is Mother’s Day, the day we set aside to honor and celebrate our mothers.

I wanted to take this opportunity today to say, “Thanks, Mom” to all the mothers here, present and future.

Did you know the Bible uses the word “mother” 227 times?

1. Mothers are a gift because they of their own giving

•We’re going to look at a few key passages, beginning with

: 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

This passage doesn’t say a lot about mothers, but what it says is powerful.

Prayer

Paul is writing to Timothy and he mentions Timothy’s mother and grandmother.

5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

Before we look at this verse in particular, we need to see what led up to this verse.

Before we look at this verse in particular, we need to see what led up to this verse.

We don’t know exactly how this all began, but we can take an educated guess.

•Lois and Eunice, being Jews, apparently had taught Timothy the Scriptures from birth.

: 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus

15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus

These 2 mothers had prepared the ground for his conversion from infancy.

These 2 mothers had prepared the ground for his conversion from infancy.

This is especially significant when you realize Timothy’s father was a Gentile, and probably an unbeliever.

Acts 16: 1 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.

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.

•Lois and Eunice both realized the importance of raising Timothy in a godly home.

•Lois and Eunice both realized the importance of raising Timothy in a godly home.

It’s quite possible that Lois and Eunice came to Christ through Paul’s preaching

Timothy was still a new believer, but he was already making a mark for the Gospel because of his mother’s and grandmother’s commitment to nurturing him in the faith.

20 years later, Paul sees for himself the strong believer that Timothy has become. as we have seen in verse 5

“I HAVE BEEN REMINDED OF YOUR SINCERE (genuine) FAITH”

He didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk. He wore his faith on his sleeve.

Paul is PERSUADED (convinced) that Timothy’s faith is real, largely due to his mother’s and grandmother’s influence in his life.

Timothy’s faith and ministry that influenced countless people for Christ began with 2 committed mothers.

We all have been influenced by our mothers, some in more ways than others.

Some of you who are mothers can see the influence you have had on your children.

•How many healthy or healthier decisions have they made because of you

•How many of your children have become successful because of your influence?

•How many of your children have you to thank for their wellbeing?

The 5th commandment

: 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

We all need to say, “Thanks, Mom”.

I’d like to say “Thank you” to all the Moms here

Thanks, Mom for:

Teaching us the truth.

Thanks for teaching us, not just by words, but by your example.

•Not just by correction and rebuke, but by love and patience.

: 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

26 She speaks with wisdom,

Helping us find Jesus.

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Some of us can say Thanks for instilling in us a sincere faith, for raising us as God’s own children.

Thanks for instilling in us a sincere faith, for raising us as God’s own children.

We saw this example in Lois and Eunice. We also see it in Mrs. Zebedee, who in , brought her sons to Jesus because she wanted them to serve Him in His Kingdom.

 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

21 “What is it you want?” he asked.

She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

2.There for us, even if what they are asking is out of the question

Always being there for us. Even if what they are asking is out of the question

Thanks for being our best cheerleader, our biggest advocate, our best friend.

talks of a wife and mother of noble character.

 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

When the world falls apart and our dreams are crushed, there’s always one person we know will always be in our corner.

Never giving up on us.

Thank you moms for overlooking our many faults, for being infinitely patient with us, for not focusing on the present, but seeing the potential in us.

Jesus’ mother never gave up on Him. She didn’t understand Him all the time.

•But in His darkest hour, when most of His family and friends had deserted Him, she was there ( NEAR THE CROSS OF JESUS STOOD HIS MOTHER…).

Keeping us on the right path.

Thanks for guiding us and correcting us as needed, for picking us up when we stumble, and pointing us in the right direction.

Setting the example of how to live.

(her song of victory) VILLAGE LIFE IN ISRAEL CEASED, CEASED UNTIL I, DEBORAH, AROSE, AROSE A MOTHER IN ISRAEL.

Setting the example of how to live.

Thanks for showing us how to live, how to get our priorities straight.

Thanks for being a model of grace and integrity and Christlikeness.

We can’t praise our mothers enough for what they’ve done for us, how they’ve sacrificed for us, how they have inspired us to be all we can be.

We can’t praise our mothers enough for what they’ve done for us, how they’ve sacrificed for us, how they have inspired us to be all we can be.

That having been said, there are probably some here who might disagree with me.

•Maybe your mother didn’t teach you the truth, maybe she didn’t help you find Jesus.

•Maybe she wasn’t always there for you.

•Maybe she wasn’t the example of Christ she should have been.

If your mother isn’t the ideal mother to you, you can still thank her for giving you life, for helping you to become the person you are today (whether directly or indirectly).

And maybe you can still let her know that her greatest desire for you has been accomplished.

I haven’t met a mother yet who didn’t want her son or daughter to grow up and be successful, to be somebody.

If you know Jesus, if you’re a member of His family, then you are somebody special, you are God’s very own child, and there’s no greater “success” in all the world.

•You see we need to honor our mothers, even if they are somewhat imperfect, just as we are

Maybe you’re a mother and you feel like a failure because you didn’t do those things as well as you feel you should have.

If you’re feeling guilty because you aren’t the perfect mother, you can relax because you’re in great company.

•The truth is, there is no perfect mother (or father for that matter).

We all fall short, we all make mistakes. We all have regrets.

•But you can still be the best mother you can be by continuing to teach your children the truth, by helping them find Jesus, by always being there for them no matter what, by never giving up on them, by keeping them on the right path, and by setting the example of Christ for them.

Being a mother is one of the most important callings in the world.

•It’s also one of the most demanding and carries the biggest consequences.

(Theodore Roosevelt) "When all is said, it is the mother, and the mother only, who is a better citizen than the soldier who fights for his country. The successful mother, the mother who does her part in rearing and training aright the boys and girls who are to be the men and women of the next generation, is of greater use to the community, and occupies, if she would realize it, a more honorable as well as important position than any man in it. The mother is the one supreme asset of the national life. She is more important, by far, than the successful statesman, or businessman, or artist, or scientist."

Moms, your job is critical to the future of mankind.

You are in many ways the light of the world.

•Every step that you lead your children closer to Christ is a step in the right direction – and for that you are to be commended.

Illus. Susannah Wesley, who lived around 1700, was a great Christian mother.

•She had 19 children, yet made a habit of spending at least 1 hour a week in religious instruction with each child and praying for them an hour every day.

•Two of her sons were John and Charles Wesley.

•Together, they brought revival to England and started the Methodist Church.

•John Wesley rode over 250K miles on horseback and preached 40K sermons.

•Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns!

•Susannah Wesley had one goal – to bring her children to Jesus.

•What a legacy she left behind – and what a legacy each mother here can continue to leave behind.

Moms, do you realize the potential that you have in being an example of Christ to your children?

•Who knows where the next Billy Graham/Mother Theresa/George W. Bush might come from?

•Moms, you have the potential of changing the world simply by instilling sincere faith in your children.

Where would we be without mothers? Thanks, Mom.

3.Mother are one of God’s favorite ways of saying I love you.

Illus. (unknown source) Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born.So one day he asked God, “They tell me You’re sending me to earth soon. But how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

So one day he asked God, “They tell me You’re sending me to earth soon. But how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

•Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.

“But here in Heaven, I just sing and smile. That’s enough for me to be happy.”

•Your angel will sing for you and smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy.

“And how am I going to be able to understand people if I don’t know the language that men talk?”

•Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you to speak.

“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to You?”

•Your angel will place your hands together and teach you how to pray.

“I’ve heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?”

•Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life.

“But I will always be sad because I won’t see You anymore.”

•Your angel will always talk to you about Me and teach you the way for you to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.

After a long, silent pause, the child asked softly. “Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.”

•That’s simple. You just call her “Mommy”.

These two women recognized how critical their job was.

They took the job of raising godly children seriously.

They invested their time and energy into one young man.

As a result, he became a key leader of the early church.

As a result of their example, he fanned into the flame the gift of God.

As a result of their commitment, the legacy of faith passed on for generations.

I’m sure that Timothy recognized their efforts.

I’m sure he said on many occasions, “Thanks, Mom”.

The Bottom Line: The greatest legacy a mother can pass on is a legacy of faith.

For those who do, we especially say “Thank you”. Thanks, Moms, for everything.

Prayer/Reflection Take time now to praise God for your mother. Pray for reconciliation if needed. Pray for your children.