What Kind of Mother Are You?

Summary

On Mother's Day the pastor honors mothers as carriers of one of the greatest callings on earth. Reading Matthew 10 and 1 Corinthians 7, he shows that a mother 'loses her life' for her children and her husband: bearing children in pain, giving up beauty, health and strength, and often releasing her husband into ministry. Yet whoever loses their life for Christ gains it back, and with a double reward.

The main message, 'What kind of mother are you?', retells the birth of Moses (Exodus 2, Hebrews 11). His mother Jochebed, whose name means 'Yahweh is my glory,' hid her son, sealed a basket with pitch, and set him on the river with tears and prayer. In the years she nursed him she planted such godly values that Moses later refused Pharaoh's palace in order to suffer with the people of God.

He adds the example of Ronald Reagan's praying mother Nelle and of his own mother, who led her whole family to Christ. The conclusion is simple: a mother's true glory is prayer, and through prayer and example she lays the foundation of her children's faith and shapes where they will spend eternity.

Key Points

• Jesus is our eternal High Priest who always lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7).
• Motherhood is a ministry from God; through mothers new lives enter the world, and it comes at great cost.
• Whoever loses their life for Christ gains it back, so a mother who pours herself out receives a double reward.
• A wife who releases her husband into ministry shares in his reward before God.
• Like Jochebed, a mother seals her children with prayers and tears and entrusts them to the Lord.
• A mother's true glory is prayer: 'Yahweh is my glory.'
• A mother's faith and example lay the foundation of her children's faith and shape their eternity, so honor and bless your mother while she lives.