Opening illustration: Illustration of the Das family who reside in Ireland now.
Introduction: Around Mother’s Day we hear the old saying, "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Rules the World." Is that true? History is replete with examples of the influence of not only mothers, but godly mothers! The fourth century saint, Augustine, wrote a prayer concerning his mother which reads, "My Mother, your faithful servant, wept to You for me, shedding more tears for my spiritual death than others shed for the bodily death of a son. You heard her."
Amy Carmichael, a great missionary influence in India, heard the call of God to "go ye." Her mother wrote these words to her: "God has lent you to me all these years, I can trust you to Him and I do. Go ye." Amy, though in a wheel chair, went, and became a great missionary, poet, and hymn writer in her time.
George Washington, the first president of the United States, wrote of his mother, "All that I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my successes in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her."
What did these mothers have in common? They say motherhood is a mission from God, and they immersed their children in the Bible and prayer, and they never gave up on them. They taught them morals, and to care for the less fortunate and they loved them unselfishly. In times like these, we need to remember that God looks with favor on mothers who nurture small hearts and minds, and train up children to impact our world for Christ. What profession, and what job is more important that that? Truly a mother’s work has eternal consequences. Thank you, godly mothers for your faithfulness and spiritual strength which is so evidenced in your families today. We thank God for you.
What is the ROLE of a Godly Mom?
1. Knowing your child’s calling (Luke 1: 30 – 33):
Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
• Seeking God’s leading for your child
• Adhering to God’s leading
• Continual reflection and pondering on God’s leading
• Be still and know that He is God
• Praising Him always for the call being placed upon his/her life
Illustration: My parents knew within 14 months after my birth, the call of God upon my life, but did not adhere and follow His leading. God did not forget, He had His way. It took a while for Him because He was patient with me. It took a while for me to yield.
2. Mentoring your child in Godly ways (Luke 2: 40 – 42; 51-52):
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
• Teaching God’s Word
• Leading a Godly life to exemplify Him
• Disciplining in love and Godliness
• Seeing that the child is set under a sound and strong mentorship
• Building a Godly child in a sinful world
Illustration: Amy Carmichael ~ a great missionary influence in India.
3. Facilitating your child’s call (John 2: 2 – 5):
Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
• Making the ministerial road clear
• Never to stand in the way of the call for selfish or any reasons
• Encouraging to take ministerial challenges
• Testing your child to check his/her heart
• Assist him/her to stay focused and not get side-tracked
Illustration: My mentor (Pastor Ernest & his wife Lalitha) who I also consider my spiritual parents did exactly for us what Mary did for Jesus. It is not easy to be a mentor. It taught me to be able to put my life on the line for the ones I mentor.
4. Letting go when the time comes (John 19: 25 – 27):
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
• Holding nothing back
• Complete surrender and yield to the will of God
• Selflessly pouring out yourself for your child
• Being emotional and yet not letting it rule over the Spirit
• Completing in style what God had asked you to do
This is the hardest part of being a Godly mother. It is difficult but not impossible. When God has chosen you to do it, He will also give you the grace to go through it all ~ just as Mary did.
Conclusion: Specially in the west we see a great famine of ‘Godly Moms.’ Where are they today? It is not easy to be a Godly Mom, but to be one, one has to be a woman after God’s own heart. If you think you are a Godly mom, it is time you reflect and ponder on today’s message and also check yourself out whether you are a woman after God’s own heart ~ to be more precise - are you HIS WOMAN?
