When James A. Garfield was
inaugurated as President of the
Mother's Day has come to be one of the most
appealing & impressive days in the life of the American people.
Today -- from the President in the White
House -- to the humblest tenant in his cabin -- people pause -- as they should
-- to pay tribute -- gratefully & lovingly -- to the best loved person in
all the world -- their mother!
Mothers touch our lives in a way that no one
else can.
The most beautiful sight in all the world is
the picture of a mother with a babe in her arms.
It is no wonder that artist -- painters --
sculptors -- poets & orators -- have summoned themselves with all their
resources to portray that picture in a worthy fashion.
The Bible clearly commands us to "honor
thy father & thy mother."
Even when Jesus was dying on His cross -- He
paused there in the midst of His agony -- & revealed His loving care for
His precious mother.
It is amazing to consider that the third of
the seven saying Jesus spoke from the cross was one addressed to His dear
mother.
We find it recorded in
Although it may seem odd to us today that
Jesus called His mother "woman" -- rather than "mother" --
the term here as it appears in the KVJ -- is not a cold, detached word -- but
rather a warm term of respect.
Many have correctly translated this
expression by using the words: -- "Dear, woman" -- as it appears in
the NIV & others translations.
It is impossible to sound the depth of love
& tender memory that are contained in these brief -- but precious words
uttered by our Lord Jesus -- as He spoke to His mother -- while He was on the
Cross.
There is no mention of Joseph -- Mary's
husband -- & most Bible scholars believe he had already died. -- We don't know at what point Joseph died --
but he is never mentioned again after the time when Jesus went with Mary &
Joseph to the Passover -- when Jesus was 12 years of age.
Jesus wanted to be sure His dear mother was
taken good care of; -- so it was here at the cross that Jesus assigns His
mother to be the mother of
So while faithfully fulfilling all of His
responsibilities to mankind -- in dying for their sins -- Jesus is careful not
to neglect His precious mother.
With loving care Jesus entrusted her future
into the hands of His faithful servant -- the disciple named John.
With
no reservation or qualifying conditions -- Jesus commended His mother to
There on that cross the Son of God died for
the sins of His mother -- as well as for all sinners -- past, present &
future.
On this Mother's Day -- it is essential for
us to remember that the Bible places great emphasis on the importance of godly
mothers -- & the tremendous spiritual condition which mothers can render --
both at home -- & in the life of a Nation.
A study of Mary's life should challenge every
mother -- & every young girl who aspires to one day become a mother -- to
be their best for God!
Mary was a woman of sacred dedication to the
will of God.
She is an excellent example of a godly lady
-- & Christian motherhood.
When the searching eye of our Heavenly
Father sought for a woman of suitable dedication through which to bear His Son
into the world -- God found just such a young lady in the person of this Jewish
maiden named -- Mary.
We read that "the angel went to her
& said: -- ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you'“(Luke 1:28 NIV).
It was not just God's choice of Mary -- that
made her "highly favored" -- but rather it was the dedication of her
life to righteousness.
God saw her dedication -- & that
prompted His choice of her to be the mother of His Son -- the Son of God, Jesus
Christ.
Oh -- how this world today needs dedicated
mothers who will seek to live for God -- & raise their children in the
nurture & admonition of the Lord.
I'd like for us to consider on this Mother's
Day -- some spiritual truths about Mary -- the one God chose to be the mother
of our Lord -- & to learn from her example.
When Jesus commended His mother to the
Apostle
There are three things that stand out to me
about Mary's life -- which I would like for you to consider with me today: --
1. Mary Portrayed Genuine Character!
God saw in Mary that genuine character that
made her highly favored!
You may rest assured that Mary was a woman
of real character!
Next to salvation -- perhaps the most vital
need in the life of every mother -- is genuine character.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of a
good reputation based on character -- when it says in the Proverbs (22:1 NIV):
-- "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is
better than silver or gold."
You know -- there is such a rich variety in
the kinds of people around us.
Some people are like wheel barrows -- they
don't work unless they're pushed.
Some people are like trailers -- they have
to be pulled.
Some people are like kites -- always up in
the air -- & if you don't keep a string on them, they fly away.
Some people are like canoes -- they have to
be paddled.
Some people are like footballs -- you never
know which way they are going to bounce next.
Some people are like balloons -- always
puffed up -- & you never know when they are going to blow up.
Some people are like flat tires -- they have
to be jacked up.
Some people -- thank God -- are like good
watches -- pure gold, open faced, always on time, dependable, quietly busy --
& full of good works.
That is a pretty good description of
character!
Character is so much more important than
most other qualities of life.
It's far more important than outward
beauty!
It is said that beauty may be skin deep --
but character goes to the bone.
Character is not something that you are born
with -- but something that you acquire as you move forward in the progress of
life.
Character comes by living according to
principles -- rather than by fleshly whims & human fancy.
Character,
in my humble opinion, is the
moral, ethical, & spiritual under girding that rests on
truth -- that reinforces a life in stressful times -- & resists all temptation
to compromise.
Fame is a vapor; -- popularity is an
accident; -- riches take wings & fly; -- those who cheer you today may
curse you tomorrow; -- there is only one thing endues the test of time -- &
that is character!
Nothing stands the test like solid
character!
Character will always win the day!
Reputation is what others think of you; --
character is what you really are!
Your character is what God knows you to be;
-- your reputation is what others think you are.
Character is about doing what is right &
proper!
Mark Twain use to say -- "Always do
what is right! -- This will gratify most people -- & astonish the
rest."
We certainly need mothers of genuine
character -- & we need parents who will instill character into the lives of
their children.
We desperately need a generation of boys
& girls in this Nation who have been reared by God-fearing parents -- who
themselves possess real genuine Christian character.
Moral values are not being taught in our
schools today.
Moral values are being played down now days;
-- most young people are being urged to make their way through life without
respect for truth, honesty, honor, purity, integrity, & justice.
Without an example of Christian character by
a godly mother -- & a god-fearing father -- any child is morally &
spiritually handicapped for his/her entire life time.
The best way to teach character is to have
plenty of it around the house!
The mother of our Lord was a woman of character
& virtue.
2. Mary also Portrayed Christian Consecration!
Akin to character is Christian Consecration.
As we seek to explore the components of
Mary's life -- it is easily observed that Mary was wholly given to the service
of God.
She
said to the announcement from the angel -- "I am the Lord's servant, --
& I am willing to accept whatever He wants” (Luke 1:38
That is a real portrait of consecration to
the will of God.
My friends -- it is not enough to just be
against something; -- our lives ought to be aligned with the full will of God
-- as we seek to live our life for His glory day by day.
The Bible calls Mary a virgin -- & that
simple commentary tells us a great deal about her purity; -- about her personal
life as a girl -- & the extent of her consecration during the critical
teenage years of her life.
Far too many women in our day & times
are trying to imitate the standards of
May God give us Christian mothers who will
teach their children to "perfect holiness" in the sight of God --
& forsake the evil ways of this present wicked world.
"For God has not called us unto
uncleanness -- but unto holiness" (1 Thess. 4:7).
Every child is entitled to the blessed
memory of a godly mother who faithfully reads God's Word -- & offers prayer
as part of their daily routine.
Dear Christian mother -- hear the counsel of
the Apostle Paul as he writes for us in
3. Finally, Mary Portrayed Great Courage!
Once the Angel Gabriel had made his holy
proclamation to Mary about the impending birth of Jesus -- it took real courage
for this young lady to face her fiancé -- Joseph -- & the people of her
small village.
Even Joseph was apprehensive about Mary's
condition when he discovered that she was expecting a child before the time of
their marriage (cf Matt. 1:18-20).
God -- in His goodness sent an angel to
relieve Joseph of all his fears -- & instructed him to marry Mary -- since
the child in her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Human nature hasn't changed a bit in the
2000 years since then -- so you can be sure that tongues began to wag as the
town gossips looked the situation over -- & let their evil imaginations run
wild.
Mary knew that bringing the Son of God into
the world would be a tremendous honor -- but she would also pay a price with
the people's perception of her -- & what they would say.
But she demonstrated great courage in doing
God's will.
Satan is the arch-enemy of the dedicated life!
Never forget that fact for one moment.
It never has been -- & it never will be
easy to stand true for God when the circumstances around you seem to favor
compromise & sin.
Any dead fish can swim downstream -- but it
takes real courage to go against the flow & current of human opinion --
& live your life for God!
The three Hebrew children were put on the
spot when common sense & popular opinion would have bowed their knees
before a pagan idol.
Daniel the prophet discovered through the
route of the lion's den that it cost something to be faithful in prayer with
the Lord.
Rather than seek the approval of those
around her & attempt to quiet their criticism -- Mary praised the Lord that
she had been counted worthy to be used of God for such a majestic purpose.
It took a young lady of real courage to
accept this Divine visitation from the Lord -- & to believe that God was
able to take care of the circumstances -- as well as the consequences.
May the Lord inspire you -- dear mother --
to "live godly in Christ Jesus” -- & to manifest true courage -- as a
testimony before your children.
Conclusion:
-- In closing -- let me remind you that the very roots of a godly life must
have their beginning in God's precious Word.
It is impossible to be saved apart from the
grace of God -- & it is also impossible to live a good Christian life
without reading & studying the Word of God.
Mary was faithful to obey God -- & she
was fervent in a spirit of worship.
Spiritual devotion to God will inevitably
lead to a sincere desire to see others come to the saving knowledge of God in
their lives -- especially the lives of our children.
Just think of the tremendous opportunity
that is available to each Christian mother in the winning of her own children
to the Lord Jesus.
No one is as close to a little child during
those tender & formative years of life -- as is a mother.
From her lips they learn to speak; -- from
her footsteps they learn to walk; -- from her motor patterns they learn to move
about & manipulate their arms & fingers.
Would to God that every precious child might
first be led in prayer by a praying mother.
Would to God -- that every boy & girl
might first hear the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ -- from the lips of
their godly mother.
Since God has entrusted into the hands of
the woman the principle care & responsibility for the children -- Christian
mothers should earnestly seek the Lord's guidance in raising their children to
love the Lord Jesus.
Mary -- the mother of Jesus -- gives us a
picture of motherhood that serves us well.
Mary was a woman of genuine character -- of
complete consecration -- & of great courage.
And we honor her today -- as we honor all
Christian mothers!
Even while Jesus was suffering in agonizing
pain upon the cross -- He was thinking about His dear mother.
From the Cross -- Jesus said: --
"Behold thy mother."
There is a lesson to be learned right here;
-- the lesson is that no matter what -- Jesus is thinking about you -- dear
mother!
From beneath the cross -- Mary witnessed
love in action -- such love as she had never witnessed before.
And that same love can be witnessed in your
life today as you seek to be the godly mother He has called you to be.
May every mother -- may every person here
today -- say, “Jesus, keep me near to cross!"
Pastor
Wynne
Chapel -- Cochise, AZ
www.wynnechapel.org