Disobey Your Mother

I believe Jacob should have disobeyed his mother. Jacob should have heard her idea about running away and should have said, “no!” He should have gone to his father and to his brother and humbly asked for forgiveness so that this seed of bitterness that was planted between them all could be dealt with. The anger and bitterness and brokenness would only grow worse over time because that is how bitterness works!

* Mothers should encourage their children to face up to their mistakes and confess.

* Mothers should teach their children to prayerfully make their relationships right no matter how difficult it might be.

* Mothers should be all about encouraging their children towards love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and thinking about noble things.

Rebekah didn’t get that message.

I believe Jacob should have disobeyed his mother.

MOTHER’S DAY LESSON

In case you have not figured it out, my message today is not actually: Disobey Your Mother. Not completely anyway. I would like to leave you with a principle from this passage that I believe is a needed word for our day and it fits with everything we have been talking about.

The Mother’s Day Lesson: Be careful to whom you listen and to whom you obey.

I think about complementary passages like:

READ COLOSSIANS 3:23-24 (ESV)

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

READ HEBREWS 13:7 (ESV)

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

We live in a world where many people claim authority and have some kind of influence over us. People can influence us towards God and people can influence us away from God. We may listen to a Bible teacher about politics or moral situations or laws and I am saying to you today… be careful! In this passage, a mother influenced her son away from God and he should have disobeyed her in favor of obeying God.

* May you be encouraged to follow the will of God and not some other way.

* May you prayerfully remember to Whom you belong.

* May you face up to your mistakes and confess.

* May you prayerfully make relationships right no matter how difficult it might be.

* May you be committed to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

CONCLUSION IN PRAYER

INVITATION

I’d like to do something a little different this morning as we have our altar call. I would like to lead us in a responsive reading where you participate as we pray for those who may have decisions to make. The words will be on the screen. I will read some and you all, if you would, read together the bold print.

Preacher: Lord God we come to this time of decision and know that some among us may have decisions with You to make.

Congregation: Lord Hear Our Prayer

Preacher: For those among us who need to accept you for the first time as their Lord and Savior, may you give them the boldness and the confidence to come forward.