I invite the people of the United States to display the [United States] flag…as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country. – President Woodrow Wilson
On May 8, 1914, Congress passed a joint resolution to establish the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day. Then on May 9th, the President signed the proclamation saying, “I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States…invite the people of the United States to display the [United States] flag…as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” (Image by pexels)
The proclamation said nothing about cards, candy and roses, but did encourage the flying of the American flag. Why? Because of the noticeable and indispensable patriotism of America’s mothers to their country.
During the years 1776 to 1914 America fought in numerous wars. The Revolutionary War (1775-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican-American War (1846-1848), American Civil War (1861-1865) and the Spanish-American War (1898). They combined to loose over 650,000 American soldiers, the majority of those being young men.
When President Wilson, congress and the American people celebrated the first Mother’s Day, they were thinking of the United States’ 138-year history, and the sacrifice of tens of thousands of mothers and wives that had become widows and single moms because their husbands and sons chose to go and fight for America.
This patriotic spirit continued in the hearts of American mothers following 1914. Just three years later they were called upon again during WWI (1917-1918). There, thousands more of young men perished on battlefields leaving a new generation of grieving mothers and young wives.
Since 1776, how could young husbands with children have gone off to defend this nation without courageous wives and mothers staying behind to manage the home and care for their children? Thousands of these women never saw their husbands come home and became widows at an early age.
The role of women in our nation has changed much since 1914. Today, America’s landscape is filled with wives and mothers serving throughout the military, in the church, business and elected office. The value of the service they provide in and outside the home has not changed. I think we can say, there would be no America if it was not for the sacrifice of our mothers.
What makes a great woman? Is it the mom that supports her son risking his life on the battlefield? Is it the hard work of a wife and mother to care for her husband and children? Is it the determination of a single mom who works two jobs to provide for her kids? We should applaud these types of women, but greatness goes much deeper. God tell us that, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30).
What is charm and beauty? It is all outside stuff. The form of a woman will grab the eyes of a man and grant her favor in his presence. However, it deceitfully masks the true condition of her soul. Additionally, it is all temporary as age, sickness and the trials of life will gradually sweep it away.
A woman may focus on all the outside things to measure her worth or success, but the fear of God is something of the heart. It refers to combination of a woman who respects the majesty and power of God, while being committed to keeping His commands. This kind of a woman may be overlooked by some, but she will be welcomed with honor into the presence of Jesus, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. This is what makes a great woman! A nation filled with women like these will be blessed. The Bible scholar Matthew Henry penned, “The fear of God reigning in the heart, is the beauty of the soul [that] lasts forever.”
A prayer for you – Lord God, thank you for the women that have sacrificed their husbands, sons and themselves for this nation. I pray you will raise up a new generation of young women that will not seek the presence of a man because of her beauty but will desire a holy heart to please her Creator. Raise up women who will not look to others for their worth but will seek to walk in the fear of Lord all the days of their life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jesus did not just change the world, He altered history, caused the rise and fall of nations and effected the eternal existence of billions of souls. – Clint Decker
Johaness Gutenberg, a German inventor, built a printing press in the mid-1400s that historians say brought about an “information age.” In 1455 he printed Europe’s first-ever book, a Bible. The printing press changed the world. (Image by Istock)
The United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, and provided a unique system of government unknown to any nation on earth. The opening lines of the constitution state, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." The founding of the United States changed the world.
Though these are consequential events in world history, neither has impacted humankind like the incarnation and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. He did not just change the world, He altered history, has caused the rise and fall of nations and effected the eternal existence of billions of souls.
The incarnation of Jesus occurred in Israel between 6 and 4 B.C. According to Webster’s dictionary, incarnation is a word that describes “the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthy form.” In particular, it refers to the birth of Christ, when the Lord God took on human form and became one of us. This is called the Doctrine of the Incarnation. It is said of Jesus “…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The incarnation is the moment in history when the God who made the heavens and the earth, made Himself a simple and normal looking man who came to live among us, in order to reveal who He is and deliver the world’s most important message directly to us.
The resurrection of Jesus took place outside of Jerusalem about 33 A.D. Before this miracle, day’s earlier Jesus was arrested and tried by authorities on false charges of blasphemy. The high priest demanded of Him saying, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Matthew 26:63) When Jesus told them the truth, they responded with rage, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.” (Matt. 26:64), Subsequently they immediately ordered the sentence of death upon Him. The day of Jesus’ crucifixion, history records as Good Friday, where He died a sacrificial death for the sins of all humanity; past, present and future. Then for three days He lay in a borrowed tomb. But early on Sunday morning, history’s most renowned miracle took place. Jesus had risen Himself from the dead and walked out of His tomb. He is alive and still is today!
Why is Jesus’ incarnation and resurrection the most monumental events in world history? Why is Jesus the most significant person to ever walk the earth? Jesus own words confidently and boldly state why, because “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6).
Jesus declared He is the way. All mankind is searching for meaning, purpose and direction. Jesus says to the whole world, “Come, follow me.”
Jesus declared He is the truth. Everyone longs to know what is right and wrong and how to live a life free from guilt and shame. Jesus is the standard for truth, balancing the scales of justice and raising up high the banner for holiness in an unholy and evil world.
Jesus declared He is the life. Every man and woman hungers for the intangible things that money, power and success can never buy – life, real life. Jesus proved He is the source and giver of real and lasting life.
A prayer for you – Lord God, help us to see Jesus as more than a good man. More than a moral teacher. Let us see Him as the Son of the living God who died and rose again that we might have new life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
From the moment of His birth to the present, Jesus has consistently topped the Who's Who List for the world's most polarizing figure. – Clint Decker
It is not who you might think. A local news outlet in Campbell County, Kentucky, reported that in 2024, graduating high school senior, Micah Price, told his classmates at the beginning of his commencement address, “the honor, the praise and the glory [goes] to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the light, He is the way, the truth and the life. Class, [and] everyone in the audience today, I’m here to tell you if you don’t have any of those things in your life, you can’t seem to find the answer, my Lord and Savior is your answer. He will give you the truth, the way and the life.” Then Micah proceeded with the rest of his speech, sat down and the program continued. However, as students were receiving their diploma, things were different for Him. The Superintendent withheld giving it to Micah. Why? One mention of Jesus’ the school district okayed, but when Micah went off script talking further about Him that was not okay. (Image by Pixabay)
David Limbaugh, the author of Persecution put it in very simple terms, "Jesus is offensive." Jesus Himself explained this by saying, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before…you." (John 15:18). From the moment of His birth to the present, Jesus has consistently topped the Who's Who List for the world's most polarizing figure. On the one hand, every Sunday, including the seasons of Christmas and Easter millions gather to worship and adore Jesus as Savior and Lord. But on the other hand, there are nations across the globe where His followers are imprisoned, killed or culturally ostracized.
What is so offensive about Him? His name. Strong’s Lexicon states the Hebrew origin of Jesus’ name as meaning “Yahweh is salvation.” This communicates how Jesus is Redeemer and Savior. Peter, one of Jesus’ key Apostles declared, “…there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Jesus said of Himself, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) This naturally leads us to ask, “What has Jesus come to save us from?”
When mankind was created by God, we were made perfect and walked in a beautiful relationship with Him. But then we disobeyed God, became separated from Him and came under a curse. It causes all humanity to be born with a bent toward evil, pride and selfishness. Consequently, we are subject to the Lord God’s anger. However, due to our Creators grace and mercy He did not leave us to ourselves. On Christmas Day we celebrate how He sent His only Son to save us from our waywardness. On Good Friday, we remember that He sacrificed His life for all our wrongs, and on Easter Sunday we recognize that He rose from the grave conquering Satan, evil and the darkness within us. His victory over death has become our victory too.
Jesus is offensive because many view themselves as generally good and reject His message that they need saving from sin. Therefore, when our moral failings are pointed out, it becomes a point of contention. He is also offensive due to His teachings of exclusivity claiming that “He is the only way to God,” that “Jesus is the only Savior” and that “Forgiveness can only come through Him.” In a world of many religions and spiritual options, these messages of Christ offend. Jesus is also rejected because of His divine justice. When He speaks of hell and the judgement of God coming upon those who refuse Him, it is uncomfortable.
What will you do with Jesus? One day He will bring the whole world to its knees. The Scripture says, "God has highly exalted him…so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…" (Philippians 2:9,10,11) Today seek Him, know Him and receive Him.
A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray people will come before you with their questions or objections about Jesus. And may they see Him high and lifted up above all others and recognize their need for Him as Savior and Lord. In His holy name. Amen.
