1 Mother's Day: Powerful Example

Introduction

On this Mother’s Day we honor our mothers, the mothers of our children, and those women who have stood in the place of a mother in our lives.

Mothers hold a special place and have an incredibly important role in helping to form faith in their children from an early age.

Sometimes mothers feel stressed and inadequate to pass on spiritual lessons. It isn’t about having the perfect daily devotional time with the kids. It isn’t about teaching them all the Bible stories. Those things are good, but realistically, how many mothers or fathers really win at those things? We don’t need to feel like a failure because we aren’t consistent or are not able to lead our kids in this way.

Question: How can we ensure our children have the best potential of living a God-honoring life?

Let’s start from what God says is important.

Commands and Sin

Deuteronomy 5:1 NLT

1 Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them!

Deuteronomy 5:6 NLT

6 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

I am the Lord, rescued you from slavery. Freedom in Me.

Deuteronomy 5:7–10 NLT

7 “You must not have any other god but me. 8 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 10 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

Moses retelling the commands. Sin of setting another god or idol before them. The promise to affect the sinful for 2-3 generations or bless the obedient for 1000 generations comes after this part – not the rest of the commands.

Moses and 10 Commandments – God promised to lavish unfailing love for 1000 generations on those who love and obey. 2-3 generations will suffer for those who reject Him.

Does not mean God unnecessarily brings harshness on kids for parents’ sin. But there are consequences that can impact and affect future generations. Unrepentant sin. Consequences of sin.

Genesis 12:10-13 Abram lied about Sarah being his wife – Isaac eventually did the same thing. Example from OT on sin continuing in next gen. Genesis 26:6-7

Kids most often follow parents’ example more than their teaching.

Deuteronomy 5:10 NLT

10 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

This is the heart of God’s commands and meant to be in the heart.

Deuteronomy 5:29 NLT

29 Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.

if only they would keep this heart – fear (respect, reverence) and obey. Prosper forever.

Hebrews 8:8–12 NLT

8 But when God found fault with the people, he said: “The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 9 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord. 10 But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. 12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

– written on hearts rather than stone.

Repenting and making right will bring blessing.

Romans 8:1–4 NLT

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Humans cannot live out God’s Law perfectly, so Jesus lives in us by His Spirit to fulfill the requirements of the Law and to transform us day by day.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT

18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

With Jesus there is a new covenant that is written on hearts and minds instead of stone. Those who follow Jesus increasingly are transformed and reflect the glory of the Lord coming from His Spirit in us.

Conclusion

We bring our past into our present. That means all of the good and bad that we have faced shapes who we are as people, but also as parents, as influencers among children and youth. Forgiving those who have hurt us and allowing Jesus to live in us brings healing and maturity and is a far better example to our children than just telling them how they should live.

Maybe you have hurt others including your own children or the children you influence. Owning the responsibility and seeking forgiveness begins the repair of those relationships.

If you need help to work through the repentance and forgiveness process, reach out to a trusted friend or leader who can walk with you through the challenges and pray for you and encourage you.

Big Idea: Our example of following Jesus impacts our children more than our words do.

What About You?

Family Discussion Questions:

1. What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message?

2. What is one positive tradition or trait that your family has passed down through generations?

3. How have you influenced the young people in your life? What are they learning by observing the way you live?

4. In what ways do you see your parents reflected in your own life, good or bad? Have you seen God continue a godly legacy or break generational patterns of sin in your family?

5. Are there areas in your life that you are concerned are affecting or will affect your children negatively? What steps can you take to help change the pattern?

6. Pray together.