Restoring The Value and Priority of Motherhood

"If a woman is blessed to become a mother, God call’s her to make that her chief mission in life, raising those precious little children. Unfortunately, we live in a day where the role of motherhood is diminished and the women who embrace it, face great challenges." 

Hannah deeply loved her husband, but was childless. This weighed so terribly upon her, that she could not eat and was visibly distraught. So much so her husband said, “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8). Eventually she went to her place of worship where “she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. (1 Sam. 1:10) In her desperate prayer for a baby boy she cried out to God and made a promise to Him, if He would provide a child saying, “I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.” (1 Sam. 1:11). God did grant her request and nine months later little Samuel was born, who grew up to become a great leader in the history of Israel.  (Photo from Unsplash)

I love this story because it communicates the natural, maternal instinct of a woman to have a child, which she was amazingly created by God to do. This is a normal God-given desire for a woman, and when she is blessed to have children, there is tremendous joy and fulfillment. Conversely, when a woman is unable to get pregnant or when her baby dies in the womb or after birth, there is deep sorrow.

It is written, “. . . children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man (or woman) who fills his quiver with them! (Psalm 127:3-5) Motherhood is a wonderful blessing and gift from God. Whether it is one child or 12. Whether biological, step, adoptive or foster care children. Whether in good health or with a disability. No matter the ups and downs, bliss or heartache, children are a blessing.

Like Hannah, if a woman is blessed to become a mother, God call’s her to make that her chief mission in life, raising those precious little children. Unfortunately, we live in a day where the role of motherhood is diminished and the women who embrace it, face great challenges. The world we live in does not encourage the pursuit or priority of marriage and family. Instead, it encourages selfish individualism, plunging into entertainment and recreation, a quest for personal pleasure and putting career above raising a family. Today married couples are delaying the start of their family unlike any time in the past, and are having fewer children than ever before. When asking a child what they want to be, we might hear things like being a professional athlete, a doctor, or amassing followers on social media. Where is the discussion about aspiring to get married and become a father or mother and have children?

God has created us and laid out how we are to live, but we have fallen short, sinned against Him and hurt ourselves. To some degree maybe you feel like you have failed as a mom or find it difficult to embrace the idea of motherhood. Maybe you had a child outside of marriage, entered into a bad relationship that ended in divorce, put your interests above your kids or been terribly harsh with them. Whatever it is, stop and consider God’s plan for you.

If you feel have fallen short, come to Him with a humble spirit and call out for forgiveness. He will hear and forgive. When God sent His only Son to die on a cross and rise again from the dead, He showed us that restoration is possible. Through turning from our sin and placing our faith in Christ, all things can be made new, which includes you. 

A prayer for you – “Father in heaven I pray you will hear the cry of the barren woman to have a child. Hear the cry of the mom who has fallen short of your standards and give her new life in Christ. Hear the questions of the young woman who doubts if motherhood is for her. Show her how beautifully she is made and the purpose for which she was created. In Jesus name. Amen."

God's Call to Raise Obedient Children, Pt. 2

"The hard work of raising obedient children is a long, winding and uphill road. Because it often seems nearly impossible, it can bring parents to feel like giving up and letting the kids have their way. However, God provides a plan to help parents succeed in this critical task of great consequence." 

Isaac and Rebecca were an elderly couple with two sons. As Isaac was nearing death, he wanted to impart a spiritual blessing to his eldest son, Esau. Rebecca hearing of this, desperately wanted Jacob, her youngest son, to receive the blessing instead. She conspired with Jacob to deceive her husband and steal the blessing from her eldest son. The Bible shares about this ancient story, “So [Jacob] went into his father and said, ‘My father.’ And [Isaac] said, ‘Here I am. Who are you, my son?’ Jacob said to his father, ‘I am Esau your first-born.’” (Genesis 27:18-19) As the story unfolds, Jacob told lie after lie to his father, with ample opportunities to realize the wrong he was doing and stop. He was a grown man, who was responsible for his actions, but also influenced to do wrong by his mother. Jacob was clearly disobedient and dishonoring to his father, but later when Isaac learned about his son’s disobedience, he did nothing. The way Jacob was permitted to treat his father, is the way he lived many years of his life, until he eventually humbled himself before God and was changed.

The Bible says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1) The story illustrates the need for this command from God. For when it is not followed, it always is a set up for disaster in the home and for the future of the child.

The Creator knows the heart of people and the society in which they live. Each person is born in sin, with an instinctive propensity to rebel against God and other forms of authority, beginning with their own parents. As children develop, this becomes more and more evident. Complicating this, each child is also raised with parents who are the same way, and is part of a larger society that is also the same. The Bible predicts that in the time before Jesus returns people throughout the world will be “proud, arrogant, abusive [and] disobedient to their parents . . .” (1 Timothy 3:2).

God knows the task of raising obedient children is a long, winding and uphill road. Because it often seems nearly impossible, it can bring parents to feel like giving up and letting the kids have their way. Therefore, God gives a plan to help parents succeed with practical guidance saying, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4) 

1. Dads should lead in the spiritual instruction of the children. In cases where a dad refuses, is absent or has died, this is the mother’s role. God is clear on this, parents are in charge of the home, not the children. 

2. Do not stir up your kids to anger. When parents ignore, threaten, yell, curse or hit their kids to get them to obey it only serves a ball of fire to them, which will be hit back with great force in the moment or in the future. 

3. Raise your children on God’s Word. The Bible is a parent’s curriculum for spiritual instruction. Help your children to read it, memorize it, study it, pray it, learn it and ultimately; do what it says. If you feel inadequate, admit it and walk together with your children on this. The Bible has an answer for every problem your child will face, continually point them to it. 

4. A divine promise to children who persevere to the end. God states, “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Eph. 6:3) This ancient Hebrew expression communicates the promise of God’s continual presence, provision and power to children who walk faithfully with the Lord God through trusting in His glorious Son.

A prayer for you – “Lord God, help parents to know whatever obstacle they face in teaching their children to obey, you can overcome. Persuade them to teach their children the Bible day-by-day, and fill parents with all manner of love and humility for this work. May families walk according to your conditions to have your promise poured out on them in great measure. In Jesus name. Amen."

Gods Call to Raise Obedient Children, Pt 1

"It seems like common sense that children should be taught to obey, but why? Because it produces order in the home, sows seeds of love and respect, teaches children to rule themselves, lays the foundation for an orderly society and prepares children to know God. Although teaching obedience is hard, for the good of our children, family and community, lets accept God’s call to do this difficult but rewarding work."

Eli was a priest that served the Lord God. He had two sons that served with him, who were perverse in all their ways. Eli knew of his sons’ misconduct, but only confronted them after the complaining of all the people became great. Eli angrily said to them “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.” (1 Samuel 2:23) The sons refused to listen, but persisted in their corruptible behavior. Eventually, God’s patience ran out when He declared about Eli, “. . . I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.” (1 Sam. 3:13)

God has a direct word for all sons and daughters, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord. For this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1) This was something Eli’s sons needed to hear. God has a word for parents too, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4) Children need to be taught obedience and done so in a spirit of love. This was something Eli obviously did not do, but needed to hear.

It seems like common sense that children should be taught to obey, but why? 

1. It produces order in the home. Obedient children create a peaceful, unified and productive household. 

2. It sows seeds of love and respect. When children obey their parents, it demonstrates love and respect (or honor) for their father and mother, establishing the framework for a healthy relationship with them. 

3. It teaches children to rule themselves. When children are told to do something by their parents, there is often natural resistance. A child has to overcome this resistance in order to obey. When children learn this, they learn to control their inner self in order to do what needs to be done. This teaches the child self-control. 

4. It lays the foundation for an orderly society. If there is order in the home through children obeying their parents, that will affect other relationships. If children show love and respect to their parents, this will likely affect their relationships with other siblings, their grandparents, school teachers, coaches, bosses and co-workers. If children were never taught to obey, then all those relationships will be touched by varying degrees of chaos, division, lack of trust and conflict. These are a few of many reasons to teach a child to obey. The last is the most important though. 

5. It prepares children to know God. The relationship between parents and children is a picture of a relationship between God and mankind. When parents do the hard work of lovingly teaching a child to obey, they are showing their son or daughter what a covenant relationship with God is like.

He requires faithful obedience to His commands. The very first one is to repent, turning from one’s sinful ways, and trusting in Jesus. After that first command, there are others. If children are taught obedience in the home, it prepares them to humble themselves and follow Christ.

Reading this as a son or daughter, and humbling ourselves before our parents can be difficult, especially if there is a history of conflict. Reading this as a parent is challenging too. Everyone knows that teaching obedience to a defiant child is not for the weak-minded.

I end with this statement from God, who declared a powerful truth about faithfully and lovingly instructing children to obey, “For this is right.” (Eph. 6:1). Although teaching obedience is hard at times, is the right thing to do. For the good of your child, your family, your community, accept God’s call to raise obedient children – it is the right thing to do.

A prayer for you – “Lord God, I pray you will give parents the moral determination to face the daily challenge of teaching their children to obey that it would go well with their kids when they grow up. And I pray you will help all of us, as sons and daughters, to obey your command to repent and place our trust in Christ. In Jesus name. Amen."