Mum’s Who Make a Difference
2nd March 2008 pm
You Know You’re a Mum When...
The kids are fighting, you threaten to lock them in a room together and not let them out until someone’s bleeding.
Your idea of a good day is making it through without a child leaking bodily fluids on you.
You’re willing to kiss your child’s bady, regardless of where it is.
Your baby’s dummy falls on the floor and you give it back to, after you suck the dirt off of it because you’re too busy to wash it off.
Spit is your number one cleaning agent.
You’re up each night until 10 PM vacuuming, dusting, wiping, washing, drying, loading, unloading, shopping, cooking, driving, flushing, ironing, sweeping, picking up, changing sheets, changing nappies, bathing, helping with homework, paying bills, budgeting, folding clothes, putting to bed, dragging out of bed, brushing, chasing, feeding (them, not you), PLUS, playing, bike riding, pushing trucks, cuddling dolls, football, catch, bubbles, sprinklers, slides, nature walks, colouring, crafts, jumping rope, PLUS raking, trimming, planting, edging, mowing, gardening, painting, and walking the dog. You get up at 5:30 AM and you have no time to eat, sleep, drink or go to the bathroom.
The closest you get to gourmet cooking is making rice crispies bars.
Here are four examples from God’s Word of mother’s who made a difference in the lives of their children.
I. The Protective Mum - Exodus 2:1-4
Jochebed was from the tribe of Levi from which would come the priests and those who would carry out the duties of the Tabernacle and later of the Temple. She, and her husband Amram, were evidently very dedicated and religious people. They were willing to defy the order of Pharaoh and keep the commandments of God.
Every mother needs a relationship with the Lord. Every child deserves a saved, sold out, dedicated mother? Nothing would make more difference in the lives of our children than having good, godly examples in the home. Everyone in the home needs a relationship with the Lord.
Let’s go one step further every person needs the Lord Jesus Christ! My friend, more than you need your next breath or your next heartbeat, you need Jesus and His salvation. It is the one credential you need to miss hell and enter into heaven when you die - Acts 4:12; John 3:3, 7.
The Decree of Pharaoh - Ex. 1:15-22. Jochebed refused to give in to a godless system that would have cost her the life of her son.
God give us parents who aren’t afraid to take a stand for that which is right in these dark, sinful days! Men and women who demand more for their children than the world can give them. Parents who are willing to say, "Enough is enough, my child is going to learn the way of the Lord!" People who will declare the same thing Joshua declared for His family, Josh. 24:15.
It is interesting to note that in our day, often the young people have more of a heart for God and His business than their parents do. It is a blessing when young people live for God, but it is the parents who ought to set the example in courage and godliness for those who are following behind!
Moses’ Mother made sure that Moses was protected, even when Moses was in great danger. Godly mothers protect their children physically, morally, emotionally and spiritually.
II. The Supportive Mum - 1 Samuel 1:24-28
Hannah had promised God that if she had a male child, she would give him to the Lord. Samuel was born and at an early age taken to the Lord’s house to be a servant. Mothers usually weaned children at the age of three, and surely during those years, Hannah taught her son and prepared him for serving the Lord.
When Elkanah and Hannah presented their son to the Lord, Hannah reminded Eli that she was the women who had prayed for a son three years before. I wonder if the old man remembered how unfairly he’d treated Hannah – remember he thought she was drunk.
Considering the low level of spiritual life in Eli and the wicked ways of his sons, it took a great deal of faith for Elkanah and Hannah to leave their innocent son in their care. They knew that the Lord would be with Samuel and take care of him, even protect him from the pollution around him. Just as God had protected Joseph in Egypt, so would He protect Samuel in Shiloh, and He can protect our children in this present evil world.
Judgement was coming to Eli and his family, but God would have Samuel prepared at the right time to guide the nation and move them to the next stage of their development.
The story so far makes it clear that the life and future of a nation depends upon the character of the home, and the character of the home depends upon the spiritual life of the parents. An African proverb says, “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.”
Eli and his sons had “religious homes” that were godless but Hannah had a godly home and honoured the Lord, and gave Him their best. The future of the people of Israel rested with that young boy in the Tabernacle learning to serve the Lord. Never underestimate the power of the home or the power of a child dedicated to God.
Hannah continued to support the boy by providing for his needs. (1 Samuel 2:9) Hannah is a model for all parents of Christian children. Our children should be given over to the Lord for whatever purpose He has for them. And whatever the Lord chooses to do with that child, we, as parents, should be supportive.
III. The Instructive Mum - 2 Timothy 1:5 and 3:15
For the most part, our mums are the ones who first begin to instil in each of us a sense of values, beliefs, and morality! A mother who intentionally instils her faith, her belief in the Lord, her faith in God’s Word, her love for the church, and her own testimony of faith in her children will have a great influence on the future of her children.
Some experts say that by the age of 4 to 5, most children have already formed a basic set of beliefs and values which shape their world view. Without a mom passing her faith onto her children, the world for many of these children will become a lonely, dark, scary place. It is the job of all Christian parents to instil into their children Godly character.
In our passage Paul reminds Timothy that is was the teachings of his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois that built in him is strong foundation for living based on faith in the Lord. Timothy’s father was Greek and was not even a believer. That did not distract or discourage his mum and grandmother from teaching him about the love of the Lord. They taught Timothy about how God loves and provides for His people. They taught him how disobedience toward the Lord brings about consequences. They taught him that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin and how Jesus had risen from the grave in victory!
This heritage of faith they instilled in Timothy’s life helped him become a man of God who ministered in the name of Jesus and made an impact for the Lord in the lives of other people!
Where did Timothy learn to have faith? (Rom 10:17) Timothy’s mother and grandmother set the example of faith. It is all very well to tell the children about faith, but it is much better to demonstrate it in your lives – lead by example.
Timothy was taught the Scriptures at a very early age, but not only was he taught the Scripture, he saw the Scripture lived out in the lives of his grandmother and his mother – they were different…
When Paul wrote to Timothy, the church was going through a time of persecution. Paul paid tribute to the reality of Timothy’s faith. I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee (1:5) According to verse 4 Timothy’s faith filled Paul with joy.
The word translated “unfeigned” is the negative of hypocrisy. Timothy was not pretending to have faith, it was not put on for Paul’s benefit. He was glad that Timothy had real faith because only genuine faith, anchored in side the veil (Heb 6:19) would withstand the storm that was breaking in on the church.
Paul reminds Timothy, The unfeigned faith that is in thee… dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice.” The word translated “dwelt” means “to live in a place as one lives in a home.” Unfeigned faith had found its abode in the hearts of Timothy’s mother and grandmother. It felt at home there.
IV. The Loyal Mum - John 19:25
Mary was loyal to her son to the point of death. We need to be loyal to our children to the end. This does not mean we should approve of our children’s sin. We should, however, be loyal to our children wherever they are, and whatever they are doing.
The first time we meet Mary in the Gospel of John, she is attending a wedding (John 2:1-11) now she is preparing for a burial. The hour has come. She was experiencing “the sword” that had been predicted years before Luke 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,)
How did she suffer? She suffered physically when she brought the Saviour into the world. She suffered shame and reproach and gossip when found to be with child before the marriage was consummated with Joseph. She fled to Egypt to save her child, but countless innocent children died because of her child. How do you think she felt about that? She would have suffered emotionally. There was a growing separation between her and Jesus when Jesus declared to her one day, “Don’t you know that I must be about my Fathers business?”
Yes, a sword shall pierce your side. She felt the climax of Simeon’s prophecy at the cross, when her son died, and she suffered because of 1) the way he died (on a cross, numbered with the transgressors) and 2) where he died (openly, publicly, shamefully). And Mary stood there feeling the pain of the sword go through her soul.
Don’t you think that Mary’s silence is significant? Surely if anyone could have rescued Jesus, it was His mother. – Mum’s do anything to rescue children, giving no though of their safety. All Mary had to do was announce that His claims were false – but she said nothing. What a testimony to the deity of Christ.
Conclusion
Mums are so important. They shape and mould us into who we are. They guide us, love us unconditionally, they do so much for us not expecting anything in return.
