Scripture Text
1
Corinthians 13:13
And now abide faith,
hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Intro: Mother’s Day is soon. In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. As we honor our mother’s today, we want to thank God for those attributes that make them so special.
I. Thank God for a mothers’ faith. [Heb. 11:6] Without faith it's impossible to please God. Godly mothers have a personal relationship with God and have put their faith and trust in Him. She teaches this faith to her children. Everything she does is based on her faith in God. It's a working faith, not just a talking faith. She demonstrates her faith by not only what she says, but also by what she does and how she conducts her affairs. Her faith is rooted and grounded in God alone. She has faith in herself. Her faith in God has caused her to have faith in herself. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.She is a child of God and she can do what her Heavenly Father says she can do. She has faith in her children. No matter what her children get into and no matter what they do, a godly mother still has faith for their very best. She believes in them because she has dedicated them to the Lord for His safe keeping. She prays for them.
II. Thank God for mothers' hope. [Hebrews 6:19] This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil. Her hope is in God. Hope means confident expectation that God will do what He says. That hope of eternal life in God’s Son Jesus Christ, is like an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. This is the success of any godly mother. A mother’s hope in God and His word is her foundation. It's her basis for all of life. Godly mothers have hope for the future. She believes in God’s word for the future. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. No matter what the future holds, she has the promises of God before her at all times. Because of her standing with God, she lives in joy, without fear of the future because God is already there. Godly Mothers have hope for their children's future. Because she has taught her children to put their faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord, a godly mother has hope for her children’s future; because she trusts and relies on God to take care of her children. III. Thank God for mothers love. [1 Cor.13:8a] Godly Love never fails! Godly mothers love God. They practice the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37 Godly mothers have love for others. In practicing the first commandment she begins to love others. [Matthew 22:39] As a godly mother she sees others as God does. She realizes the importance of sharing the love of God with others. Her love for others is based on her love for God first. Godly mothers love their children. [Romans 5:5] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. God has shed abroad His love in a mother’s heart and she becomes a demonstration of His love toward her children. This gives her children worth and stability, security and peace. They begin to see their importance to God and they also begin to realize who they are, someone for whom Christ gave His life.
Conclusion: Yes, we thank God for our mothers, for what they stand for and what they have taught us and all they have done for us. We honor them this day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank You for our mothers, whether alive on this earth or in Your care there in Heaven. Thank you for the godly influence they were and are. Thank You for giving them a portion of Your faith, love, and hope which they have shared and do share with us today. We pray for the protection of each one still living and we pray for Your continued guidance and direction in each of their lives. Let them know how special they are to us and You. We remember those of our mothers who have gone on to be with You and we honor them today as well. We pray in the Spirit and name of Jesus. Amen!