Moms Are Unsung Heroes Series

Introduction

If you have done any reading in the Old Testament, you will come across those passages of Scripture, where the writer begins telling us that so and so begot this one and so and so begot that one. We don't see that in the New Testament except in the very beginning of the Gospel of Matthew.

But then we come to the conclusion of the Book of Romans, in particular to Romans Chapter Sixteen. And Paul does something like the listing of all those names of who begot who, but his listing of names is more of a meet and greet type of listing.

In Romans 16, Paul mentions approximately thirty names. He starts each verse with greet so and so and then he states what he or she did. Well, I want to us to hon in on one of the greets of Romans 16. In that list of approximately 30 names, nine women are listed: seven of them by name: one is mention not by name but as the sister of another. And then there is another woman who is mentioned as the mother of Rufus and Paul says she was like a mother to me. That's the person we want to focus on today.

So, if you have your Bible or today's bulletin, we are going to look at Romans 16:13. One short verse; please stand for the reading of God's Word.

My Scripture

Romans 16:13

13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

My First Point

Moms, in many homes, are the unsung heroes.

This is a well know family of early Christendom. This woman's husband is recorded in Scripture as the man who carried the cross of Jesus. Let me read it to you from Mark 15:21 (NIV) 21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

Paul says about Rufus that he was chosen of the Lord, and Alexander. we don't know much about, but historians believe that he and Rufus were included in Mark's Gospel to verify the accuracy with which Mark wrote since they both were eyewitnesses of Jesus' death and became followers of Jesus after those events.

And then we come to mother of Rufus and Alexander and the wife of Simon the Cyrene, and the second mom to Paul. Nowhere is her name recorded in Scripture; she is just known as Rufus' mom and second mom to Paul.

In this passage Paul listed seven women by name; Paul certainly would have known her name; but instead, Paul opted for a greater title to describe her-mother- an unsung hero.

And moms are indeed unsung heroes because much of what a mother does is unnoticed by others.  That is natural because much of what a mother does is behind the scenes.  Even if there is not recognition, mothers are going to do what a mother needs to do.

I can remember when I was a young boy and I had three good friends. I knew each dad's first name and I would call them Mr. and their first name. But my friends, moms, I cannot recall that I ever knew their name. If I were addressing Jerry's mom, I would address her as Ms. J short for Jerry's mom. As I look back, they were unsung heroes, they took care of my friends but also took care of me, and I don't even know their name.

Maybe, you have been blessed in this life. Perhaps some lady came along side you and treated you like family right when you needed family in your life. That person was the unsung hero in your life. This world will always need moms who are those unsung heroes.

I hope those unsung heroes never vanish. But you know what this world is trying to do. It is trying to eradicate those unsung heroes. It is trying to get you to do everything else other than mothering. Let me tell you ladies that is your greatest profession. Even if you were not blessed with children, maybe your calling is to be that second mom to someone who needs it.

My Second Point

Moms have an overflowing capacity to love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I saw it last Sunday at church this capacity of moms to love. Little Jade was running along the sidewalk, and she tripped and fell. There were several mothers who rushed to her aid. And I watched the men; they looked up when they heard the crying child; and then went right back to their conversations.