Lessons from Mom

Last year, in honor of Mother's Day we showed a video entitled, "Stuff Moms Never Say" - this year I have, "Stuff Moms Never Say - Part 2".

Video "Stuff Moms Never Say - Part 2"

First and foremost, let me again say Happy Mother's Day, a day we set aside to celebrate our Moms! As a son who has a wonderful mother, I truly do thank God for mothers. I was blessed to grow up in a household with a mom who is a Godly woman. But each year I feel the need to acknowledge that not all of us had such a blessing.

For most, Mother's Day is a pleasant day filled with wonderful memories. For others, it can be a reminder of a childhood cheated out of the unconditional love of a mother. For others, mother's day may be difficult because they'd like to be mothers, but can't. For still others, it can be a painful reminder of losing a mother, or as a mother – losing a child. But still – it's right to honor mothers the best we can.

I never like to extol the act of 'giving birth' as a virtue in and of 'itself'. No one deserves Heaven or God's favor based solely on their own merits. But motherhood certainly deserves honor! But there's a passage of scripture that some point to where the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:13-15 (NIV)...

For Adam was formed first, then Eve. (14) And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. (15) But women will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

So - is Paul saying women get to Heaven automatically by giving birth? We know that doesn't fit with what the rest of scripture teaches - and we interpret scripture by scripture; so it can't mean that. But what does it mean?

Since Paul isn't here to clarify, I'm going to admit I don't know exactly. But in context, Paul was talking about Eve being deceived and the first sin being committed by a woman – kind of a negative thing. But then he also highlights the point that God still honored women among His creation - though child bearing. And Paul follows that by reminding them of their salvation - IF they continue following Jesus through faith, love and holiness.

In our society, we know that there are some women who've given birth who've demonstrated they have no idea what it means to be a mother. However, women have been given a very special role and gift, by God, in giving birth. And I don't care what anyone in today's society tells you - a man cannot give birth! But - I want to honor what God intended motherhood to be – a Godly example of a woman.

And in doing so, I'd like to look at the parallels between motherhood, as designed by God, and following Jesus. First, being a mother and following Jesus are both…

I. A lifelong relationship

A woman online was praised for calling out her adult son. Shortly after her daughter-in-law gave birth, she went to visit the couple and their newborn baby. The woman's son was on paternity leave, but rather than caring for his baby and taking care of his wife who was recovering from a C-section - he was spending his time at the gym and playing video games. He got upset when his mother called him out for, "acting like a single teenager". And when he went online to complain - he got more than an earful about what people thought of him and how he should knock it off and listen to his mother.

I know this isn't news to any mothers, but being a mom is a lifetime commitment. Even now as a man of 55 years of age, when I leave my mom's house – she still wants me to call when I'm home safe. Just because I moved out and have a family of my own, that doesn't mean my mother ceases to be my mother.

Her responsibilities as a mother have changed drastically over the years, but she's still my mom. She no longer needs to feed me – I can do that all by myself. However, she still takes great joy in fixing a big meal and having all the kids come home and enjoy it. She will always be my mother.

And just as a mother's role is a lifetime commitment, so is following Jesus. A Christian is one who follows Jesus, believes His teachings and acts on them. Just like motherhood – it's not something to enter into lightly. And, just like motherhood – it's not a relationship you can just step 'in and out of' at will.

I've heard people use the term "inactive member" describing some who've chosen not to be a part of this body for a long time. Can there really be such a thing as an "inactive member" in the body of Christ?

Now I'm not talking about those who are home bound and would love to be here if they physically could. Nor am I talking about those who miss Church services occasionally. But what about those who claim membership in the Church, the body of Christ – but choose to ignore Him for the majority of the year? And of course perfect attendance doesn't equal salvation – but how can you say you accept Jesus but then reject His Bride, the Church? Jesus established the Church! How can you follow Jesus but only have an occasional relationship with His body of believers…?

To be a member of any Church – to be a member of Jesus' Church – you follow Jesus. That means full time. That means every day intentionally trying to act like Jesus and do what He teaches. It would be pretty hard to claim to be a Christian one week, put your relationship with Jesus on the shelf for a month or so, then just take it down, dust it off and "voila" - Christian again.

I'm sure there were times when I was young, that my mother really wished she wasn't a mother on some days. I'm sure she would've liked to have put her 'motherhood' on a shelf and walked away for a month long break. She didn't. Why? - Because of love. - Because she was my mom. She didn't just "act" like my mom – she was my mom. It wasn't just a hobby, she was my mom – she'd made that lifelong commitment. Do we take our commitment to Jesus and His Church as seriously as a Godly mother is committed to her children?

Back in the Old Testament, we see this in Isaiah 49:13-15 (NIV)...

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. (14) But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." (15) Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

Godly mothers stand firm, come what may. But God says that His faithfulness to His people goes so much further than even that! We need to work to stand firm, to follow for the long haul – even when we may not feel like it. We need to take a lesson from Godly mothers who persevere because of love.

One more similarity between being a mom and following Jesus…

II. Both require sacrifice

Once again, this isn't news to you who are mothers or those who are Christians. With motherhood - you give up having your needs being top priority to the needs of your children taking precedence. Yet selfless women choose to bear children anyway.

A few years back, Erin was walking in the Walmart parking lot with our passel of kids and one got ahead of her. At the same time, someone started backing up without noticing there was a kid behind them. Erin sprinted into action, pushed our child out of harm's way and stood with her arm out as if she could will the vehicle to stop. How many other moms could repeat almost that exact same story? Probably the vast majority – that's what moms do.

Motherhood requires many sacrifices, but following Jesus requires that you give up your life. And I know that's not a popular thing to say in our independent culture – but that is what Jesus asks. Following Jesus requires repentance – turning around from doing things our way and surrendering to His way. Jesus was speaking to His followers in Mark 8:34-38 (NIV)...

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (35) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. (36) What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? (37) Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
(38) If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Jesus is calling all who want to follow Him to 'take up their cross and follow' – to give up their old life. Notice that Jesus was saying this just a few weeks before He Himself would be carrying His own cross to His crucifixion. He may have been speaking metaphorically about each person's burdens in following Him, but He certainly had to have had His own impending death on a cross on His mind when He said those words. Jesus was telling us, we have to fully give ourselves to Him to follow.

And one more similarity between 'being a mom' and following Jesus…

III. They're both painful

I've been in the delivery room for the birth of five of my kids – and I'd say it was relatively awful! The end result was wonderful – but watching Erin give birth – the pain, and the blood and the yelling – that part was not overly pleasant... The act of birth can be painful, but just being a mother can hurt much worse. With motherhood comes heart break.

For every young man who goes to jail there's a mother who aches for her child. Every guy sitting in prison right now at one point had a mother who had hopes and plans and dreams – none of which included him being locked up.

And even though most children avoid the serious mistakes that lead to incarceration – there's a million things about which mothers have to worry. Will they be healthy? Will they be liked? Will they have friends? Will they do well in school? Will they be prepared for life? Will they get a good job? Will they find the right mate and have a great marriage? For some – will they ever move out?

Mothers have an endless list of worries concerning their children. If kids can cause so much pain, why do women continue to have them? Because there can also be great joy. Jesus even referred to the fact of a mother's pain fading into joy in John 16:21-22 (NIV)...

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. (22) So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Jesus was explaining to His disciples that they would have pain, but just like a mother's pain in childbirth, it too would turn to joy when they saw Him alive again. The fact is - everyone who follows Jesus will experience pain.

I'm always amazed when I hear a preacher talk about how God just wants us to be healthy and wealthy and successful. Well, being a Christian is a great life – however – we know it's not all smiles and laughs all the time. Following Jesus is The greatest decision that anyone can make – and you will live an amazingly blessed life! - But blessed doesn't necessarily mean pain free.

Jesus Himself said to His early disciples later in the same chapter, in John 16:32-33 (NIV)...

But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. (33) I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Jesus never said that life as a Christian would be easy. In fact, He pointed out that it was just the opposite – that we would have trouble and be persecuted. Why then would anyone want to follow Christ? Yes, in this world, you will have trouble, BUT Jesus has overcome this world! Jesus defeated death, and this life is not all there is! Yes, there will be pain, but it will be worth it in the end when we get home, to Heaven!

Just as the pain of childbirth is followed by joy, so it is with the Christian life!

So What?

Think about this - You are your mother's legacy. Are you giving her a legacy worthy of the sacrifices she made…?

- When kids are sick in the middle of the night, who do they usually call out to for help? - Mom. Why, because Dad doesn't love them as much? No. - Because Dad isn't capable of handling a sick kid? No. It's because Mothers seem to have a better ability to nurture, to just make you feel better somehow. Why is that? - Because God put that characteristic, His nurturing spirit there.

Jesus shows the nurturing characteristic of God in Matthew 23:37 (NIV)...

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

Mothers may excel as nurturers, but they didn't invent nurturing – God did. We worship a God who loved us before we were even born, like the way our Mother's all looked forward to us in anticipation (even if they might have also had some worry, too). We worship a God who looks after us, and keeps after us and will not let us go!

Every single one of us has or had a mother. In order for us to get into this life, that relationship was essential. To get to the next life, there's another relationship that's essential. If you don't have a relationship with Jesus, now's the time to start one. Yes, your Mother may love you, but God loves you best!