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Please stand together with me for this reading from God's Word. We'll read the entirety of Proverbs 31. Lest they drink and forget what the law decrees and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
Give beer to those who are perishing. Wine to those who are in anguish. Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
For the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly. Defend the rights of the poor and needy. A wife of noble character who can find.
She is worth more than rubies. Worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark.
She provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it. Out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously.
Her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arm to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows she has no fear for her household. For all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed. She is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gates where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed. Her husband also. And he praises her.
Many women do noble things but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting. But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned. And let her works bring her praise at the city gate. The attention of our nation today is upon mothers and honoring them.
And it seems that there are less and less things about our nation that we can wholeheartedly endorse as more and more we turn our back on God and his laws.
But here's something we can gladly affirm right along with them. The importance of mothers and the fact that they ought to be honored. And so on this Mother's Day we turn to God's word for a message on mothers.
And the first thing we need to say is that mothers are God's idea. We go back to the beginning. The sixth day of creation. And God takes a rib from Adam's side.
And he fashions it into a woman. And with wisdom he designs her body so that she can carry a baby for nine months in her womb and then nurse that baby once it is born.
Her very physical makeup uniquely equips her for her role of mothering. And such is undeniable evidence of God's plan for mothers in this world.
But a mother's task is not finished once she has brought children into the world. Children do not arrive fully developed and ready for independent living.
They need to be fed and diapered and put to bed and got up and dressed. Indeed for a while everything needs to be done for them.
And after that they need to be taught many many things until that time when a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. Genesis 2.24 Until then it will take all that father and mother together can do to prepare them to leave the home.
God means for it to be a team effort. Together they are to bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6.1 Children obey your parents. Plural. That means that mothers as well as fathers will issue commands that are to be obeyed.
Proverbs 1.18 Listen my son to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Which means that it's not only the father that instructs.
But the mother is given the role of instruction in the home as well. Mothers share in the parental charge of Deuteronomy 6. 6 and 7.
That these commands I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home.
And when you walk along the road. When you lie down. And when you get up. Mothers you see. Have very much to do with bringing up children.
And instructing them. Not only do mothers share in the training of children. But I would argue that they actually have a larger part of the early training of children.
That just as the responsibility for providing for the family falls primarily upon fathers. Hence their call to give themselves to their calling.
And so to provide for their families. So the primary role for nurturing the younger children falls to the mother. She's the one that spends more time with them.
While father is off at his calling. Younger women are told in Titus 2.5 to be busy at home. Giving themselves to that task of bringing up children.
The apostle Paul says to the church in Thessalonica in chapter 2. Verse 7 of his first letter. We were gentle among you.
Like a mother caring for her little children. Paul takes a snapshot from life. And he compares his ministry to the church.
To what he sees and what they see in the home. There you get the picture. Drawn from life. Little children in the gentle care of their own mother.
Now can you see the wisdom of God in all of this? Generally speaking. Who has a greater interest in the child. Than the mother.
Who carried that child for nine months. And then nursed the child. And then did everything for the child. While they were so absolutely dependent upon her.
No one. And so the mother's unique bond with her child. Gives her a unique influence with them.
An influence not shared by any college professor. Any school teacher. Any friend. The unique influence between a mother and her child.
We want today to consider this powerful influence. Of a mother. In shaping the life of her child. We begin with a proverb. And on your handout.
I've been notified that the scripture reference is wrong. It should be Ezekiel 16.44. The prophet quotes a well-known proverb in Israel.
It's just four words. But it's packed with meaning. As all proverbs are. Like mother. Like daughter.
Daughters will be like their mothers. Is the proverb. Now it's not without exception.
Sometimes we say happily so. Because bad mothers can have good daughters. And it happens that good mothers.
Have bad daughters. Lest any. Take upon themselves guilt. That is not. Meant to be. Received. So it's not without exception.
As many proverbs are not. But young men. There's enough truth in this proverb. That before you marry a young lady. You better get to know.
Her mother. Because like mothers. Like daughters. The fact is. That mothers exercise. Such a powerful shaping influence.
Over their daughters. That they often. Grow up to be much like them. The Bible acknowledges this truth.
It demonstrates it. It gives us all kinds of. Examples. Of mothers. Powerful influence. Not only over daughters. But also over sons. And this influence.
And this power. Is. Is. Like atomic energy. It can be used for. Great good. Or great evil. And the Bible. Shows us.
Both. We begin. In Proverbs 31. The passage read for us. The sayings. Of King. Lemuel. Now we don't know. Who this king is.
And we don't even know. For sure. What nation. He ruled over. We do know. He was an important man. In history. He was a king. And his words.
Were included. In Holy Scripture. And we know. He had a good mother. What do you think. He has to pass on to us. What words.
Will. Will history record. From this man. What will be written down. In our Bibles. The best book. Best selling book. Across the world. Today.
Thousands of years later. What words. Will he have. To give to us. Some. Words. That he learned. From a PhD. At university.
No. From his long. Experiences. In life. No. Not from. Another king. That he met. Along. Life's journey. No. Not a. A counselor. In his court.
No. It's the words. Of his mother. That are recorded. For us here. The sayings. Of King. Lemuel. An oracle.
His mother. Taught him. She probably. Had him memorize it. As a young prince. Who was. In line. To the throne.
And she would prepare him. To rule well. And so we have these sticky words. Of a mother. Verse 2. Oh. My son.
I would say there's emotion. In just that one phrase. Isn't there? You can see why these words. Would stick in his heart. Oh. My son. But not just once.
But three times. Oh. Son of my womb. Oh. Son of my vows. Had she vowed. That if the Lord. Gave her a son. She would give him back.
To the Lord. Here. With affection. She's appealing to him. And then she charges him. Not to give his strength. To wine and women. That would incapacitate him.
From doing his duty. Of enforcing the law. Of the land. Of judging fairly. And of defending. The defenseless. Speaking up for those.
Who can't speak. For themselves. And so now here he is. As a grown man. King. Over a nation. And he still remembers. Those words.
That his mother. Taught him. He's never been able. To escape them. They followed him. All through his life. And they're. They're with him. As he sits on the throne. Moms. What sticky words.
Are you speaking. To your children. Affectionate words. Weighty words. Important words. Biblical words.
Repeated words. Words that will stick like. Burrs in their socks. And follow them through life. Don't understand. Or. Don't underestimate.
The powerful influence. Of a mother's words. Especially when those words. Are God's words. Carry the truth. And wisdom.
Of almighty God. Timothy. Timothy had such a mother. Eunice. And from her. Even from infancy. He heard. The holy scriptures.
Which were able to make him. Wise for salvation. Through faith in Jesus Christ. And he became a helpful. Co labor. To the apostle Paul.
Because. A mother did her homework. Pouring the scriptures. Into her son. The sticky words. Of a mother. When it's.
None other than scripture. That she's giving. Charles Spurgeon. Who became such a blessing. To the salvation. Of thousands. In the 1800s.
Had a faithful mother. And his own brother. James. Said of their mother. For she was the starting point. That's the important word. Moms. She was the starting point.
Of all the greatness. And goodness. Any of us. By the grace of God. Have ever enjoyed. Charles. Tells of her. Reading the scriptures.
To them. And pleading with them. To be concerned. About their souls. She took. A page. From King Lemuel's mother. As she. Plead with them.
Spurgeon says. I cannot tell. How much I owe. To the solemn. Words. Of my good mother. I remember. On one occasion. Her praying thus. Now Lord.
If my children. Go on. In their sins. It will not be. From ignorance. That they perish. And my soul. Must bear. A swift witness.
Against them. At the day of judgment. If they lay. Not hold. Of Christ. Christ. That thought. Of my mother's. Bearing a swift witness.
Against me. Pierced my conscience. How can I ever forget. When she bowed her knee. And with her arms. About my neck. Prayed. Oh.
That my son. Might live before thee. Mothers. Let your children. Hear you pray. For them. Sticky words.
The prayers. Of a mother. Well that's the first exhibit. From scripture. We turn to 2nd Chronicles. Chapter 22. And verses 2.
And 3. We meet another king. Or the mother. Of another king. We didn't even know. King Lemuel's. Mother's name. But this mother. Is given to us.
Her name is given. Her name is Athaliah. And in 2nd Chronicles. 22. 2 and 3. We read about her son. Ahaziah. Ahaziah was 22 years old.
When he became king. And he reigned in Jerusalem. One year. His mother's name was Athaliah. A granddaughter of Omri. He too.
Walked in the ways. Of the house. Of Ahab. Now we need to understand. Something about the book. Of Chronicles. It's probably not your favorite book. Let me tell you what it's about.
It's a chronological history. Of the kings of Judah. And so we have the. The author. Telling us a little bit.
About every king. In this. These two books. 1st and 2nd Chronicles. And we're told here. That Ahaziah became king. When he was 22 years old.
We're told that he reigned. For one year. And we're given his mother's name. Athaliah. Now historians. Need to summarize. If they said everything. About every king. Chronicles.
Would be. Too big. To be in our bible. So they've got to be able. To summarize. A king's reign. In just. A sentence. Or two. And so that's what. The chronicler.
Does for us here. He boils down. The king's reign. Into. A few descriptive words. And we're told. What kind. Of king. Ahaziah was.
Verse 3. He too. Walked in the ways. Of the house. Of Ahab. Now if you've been reading. Chronicles. You know. Who Ahab is. What kind of king he was.
This is a loaded statement. When it says. He walked in the ways. Of the house of Ahab. Remember Ahab kids. He wanted a certain vineyard. That belonged to Naboth.
And he was willing. To use his influence. As king. In order to corrupt. The courts. In order to murder. Naboth.
And to get. For himself. What he wanted. That's how he used. His kingly power. He hated God's word. He persecuted. God's prophets. He led the people.
To worshiping. False gods. Gods of Baal. And Ashtoreth. He built altars. And temples. To these foreign gods. And introduced a worship.
That included. Sexual immorality. As one of the. Parts of worship. Lawlessness. Self-will. Idolatry.
Greed. Lust. Murder. Injustice. That was Ahab. And the summary. Of king Ahab's life. Was this. Ahab did more evil.
In the eyes of the. Lord. Than any of those. Kings. Before him. And now. It is said. Of his grandson. Ahaziah. He too. Walked.
In the ways. Of the house. Of Ahab. Enough said. What an obituary. To have written. On your life. On your reign.
But the summary. Of his reign. Is followed. By an explanation. For such behavior. He too. Verse 3. He too. Walked. In the ways. Of the house. Of Ahab. For. Because.
His mother. Encouraged him. In doing wrong. His mother. What does she have to do. With a 22 year old. His mother.
Encouraged. Him. In doing wrong. Now this is. Significant. I say. That when the Holy Spirit. Inspiring. The chronicler. Comes to state.
The reason. Why Ahaziah. Walked. In the ways. Of Ahab. He points. It once. To the powerful. Influence. Of a mother. Athaliah.
Was her name. She was the daughter. Of Ahab. And Jezebel. She had been a little princess. Growing up in the palace. The northern kingdom of Israel.
Oh. How that home. Had it. Shaping. Shaping. Influence. Upon her. Like mother. Like daughter. And she became. A little Jezebel.
Just like her mother Jezebel. Her true colors. Are seen in the. Story. As it unfolds. That she. She kills off. All the remaining. Heirs to the throne. Only Joash.
Was saved. And hidden. But that's the kind of woman. She is. Athaliah. This is the mother. Of King Ahaziah. And she used. Her motherly influence. To encourage.
Wickedness. In her son. So much. So is it the case. That she is cited. As the reason. Her son. Walked. In the sinful ways.
Of Ahab. You talk about. Female influence. Her influence. Was felt. By the whole nation. Came under God's judgment.
Because of the sins. Of the king. And the nation under him. Mothers. Here's a negative example. But it shows us. The power. That you have. Over your sons.
Even 22 year old sons. Perhaps. Use that influence. To encourage them. Not to do wrong. But to do right. To do what is right.
In God's sight. In the New Testament. We have. An example. Of this unique influence. That God hands. To mothers. In the raising.
And shaping. Of their children. Mark chapter 6. We meet up. With Herodias. And her daughter. And you remember. Herod. Herod. Was king.
And. Had given orders. To have John the Baptist. Arrested. And had him bound. And put in prison. He did this. Because. Of Herodias. His brother. Philip's wife. Whom he had married.
For John had been saying. To Herod. It is not lawful. For you. To have your brother's wife. So. Herodias. Nursed a grudge. Against John.
And wanted to kill him. But she was not able to. Because Herod feared John. And protected him. Knowing him to be a righteous. And holy man. When Herod heard John.
He was greatly puzzled. Yet he liked to listen to him. Finally. The opportune time. Came. On his birthday. Herod gave a banquet.
For his high officials. And military commanders. And the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias. Came in and danced. She pleased Herod. And his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl. Ask me for anything you want. And I'll give it to you. And he promised her. With an oath. Whatever you ask.
I will give you. Up to half. Of my kingdom. She went out. And said to her mother. What shall I ask for? The head of John the Baptist.
She answered. At once. The girl hurried. Into the king. With the request. I want you to give me. Right now. The head of John the Baptist. On a platter. The king was greatly distressed.
But because of his oaths. And his dinner guests. He did not want to. Refuse her. So he. Immediately sent an executioner. With orders. To bring John's head. The man went.
Beheaded John. In the prison. And brought back. His head on a platter. He presented it. To the girl. And she gave it. To her mother.
To her mother. Teenage girls. Imagine. You had. One wish. You can have anything. That you want.
Up to half. Of the kingdom. What do you want? Well. I can think of a lot of things. That teenage girls. Might want. More than. A bloody head.
A prophet of God. On a platter. Like an iPod. Like a new car. A new chariot. I guess it would be. Or a camel. A wardrobe.
Girls. Always have liked clothes. I'm sure. Maybe a. A monkey. From. From some exotic land. To play with. But why does she ask.
For such a ghastly thing. I'll tell you. There's one reason why. And one only. Because of her mother. She sought the advice. Of her mother. And her mother said. I know what she ought to ask.
You ought to ask. For John the Baptist's head. And. At once. She went right into the king. And asked. What her mother said. Had more weight with her. And more pull on her.
Than all of a. Girl's desires. For things. Asked. Maybe even for a husband. Get me a man. She could have asked. Motherly influence.
At it's worse. But it too. Demonstrates. The power. That a. A mother had. Now we don't know the story. Do we? Maybe she had such. A close. Relationship.
With her. Teen daughter. Because. She never. Had disciplined her. And just been a little chung. With. With her daughter. And never confronted her.
And said. And never. Said no honey. You cannot do that. You cannot have that. Maybe she just spoiled her. And so. Mom's the best chum. She's got. Maybe that's why. She had such a close influence.
We don't know. But we know. There was a strong bond. We know. She sought her mother. For counsel. And we know. That mother's. Words. Carried. Tremendous weight.
With her. Now. If that can happen. For evil. It can happen. For good. It can happen. For good. Your bond. With your daughters. Mothers. Can be so tight. That they come to you.
For advice. Mom. What should I do? And your words. Can carry. Tremendous weight. For good. So mothers.
Do you realize. The opportunity. That God is handing you. When he gives you. Children. To shape. With this. Powerful influence. Of a mother. Put it. To good use.
Influence. Over teenage daughters. And 22 year old. Sons. Some of you. Are mothers. Of older sons. Recognize.
Your powerful. Influence. Still. But a lot of you. Are mothers. Of younger. Sons and daughters. So we're. We're seeing births.
All through this summer. Aren't we? And we recognize. There's a lot of. Mothers. With younger children. So I want to bring. A special application. To mothers. Of young children. This morning.
Be aware. Of the special impact. Of your influence. In the earliest years. Of your children's. Development. How sad. That our day. Finds children.
Being separated. From their moms. At earlier. And earlier. Ages. It's not a step. In the right. Direction. The early years.
Are so critical. To the shaping. And forming. Of a character. Think of this. Your son or daughter's.
Initial ideas. Of reality. Are being. Daily forged. In their minds. As just little squirts. Their ideas.
Of this world. That they live in. Their first ideas. Are being. Formed. Every day. In their minds. And you.
Have the opportunity. Of being. The first one. To speak. Into. That mind. What a tremendous. Advantage. Mothers.
That God. Would give to you. To shape. Their first thoughts. There's a. A notorious. Jesuit. Saying. Give me the child. Until he is seven. And I will show you.
The man. In other words. I will so inform. His mind. And conscience. In those seven years. And I will so develop. His habits. And attitudes. That what I shape.
In seven years. Will. Prove to be the man. When he's older. They were on to something. Of the critical nature. Of the first seven years.
And blessed is that child. Who can say with Timothy. From infancy. I have. Known the holy scriptures. I've been taught. By my mother. The holy scriptures.
Which are able to make. You wise. For salvation. Through faith. In Jesus Christ. Don't underestimate. The youngest years. The tenderest years. For the formation.
Of character. I used to pour concrete. And you've all seen it. Come tumbling out of the truck. And down the chute. It's a lumpy mix. Of concrete. And stones.
And sand. And water. And as it comes off the truck. It's so pliable. And squishy. And shapeable. And formable. But don't be fooled.
It won't stay that way. For long. On a hot summer day. You probably have about an hour. To get it into the right place. The right amounts.
The right shape. And into the forms. And after that. It starts to set up. And get harder. And harder. And the longer you wait.
The harder it gets. And the greater the work needed. To change the shape. And concrete workers know. There's a critical time factor. And early. Is better than later.
Now. I'm not suggesting. That our children. Are like impersonal. Matter of rocks. And sand. And stones. They have a mind of their own. They have a will of their own.
Unlike concrete. They are capable. Of later development. Blessed be God. By the grace of God. They are capable. Of later change.
Yet there is. This critical time factor. In the bringing up. Of our children. Mothers make the most. Of the early years. It will take.
Much work. To undo. Early habits. To change. Early attitudes. And ways of thinking. You've got them. Around your knees.
All day long. And they're watching. What you do. They're watching. What you value. They're watching. How you live. How you pray.
How you read the Bible. How you confess. How you confess your sins. How you love God. How you worship God. How you love your neighbor.
How you serve others. They're watching. They're watching. Their character is being shaped. By what you do. And then they're listening.
They're watching. How you submit to authority. In your life. The authority of your husband. Listen. They're learning about. Authority. Just by watching.
And then they're listening. They're getting. Your interpretation. On all of life. Isn't that a wonderful privilege. A mother has to give her interpretation.
On all. That crosses before the eyes. Of the toddler. Dearie. Do you see that hummingbird at the feeder? That's not a mouse.
That grew wings. And over millions of years. Learned how to flap them. Real fast. Seventy times a second. No. God made.
The hummingbird. To flap its wings that way. He designed it. So that it could hover. Right there. Over the flower. And suck the nectar. Isn't God wonderful?
Isn't he? Isn't he creative? Isn't he good? Isn't he wise? And do you hear that? Do you hear that woodpecker? If you banged your head against a tree all day.
You'd have a terrible headache theory. But isn't God kind? To build in a shock absorber. Inside the head of this bird. Because he knew that it would need it.
Isn't God good? And so you're teaching them about creation. About their world. The world they live in. This big world. And you're teaching them. It's God's creation.
It's the work of an almighty hand. The same hand that made you. Without Jesus Christ. Not anything has been made. That has been made. And they're hearing that.
And they're hearing that long before. They're getting the poison. Of the world. Of just time and chance. And more time and chance.
And voila. Here we are. What a precious privilege. Make the most of it. Give them the biblical worldview. On creation. On life.
On money. On sexuality. On family. On work. On play. On church. On prayer. On every subject.
Under the sun. There it is. Lay hold of it. Our time. Is so short.
And they're gone. There is this. In the development of a child. A period. When whatever mom says. Is taken. As unquestioned truth.
You know that. Don't you moms? But you also know. It doesn't last forever. Make the most of it. While you have it. Make the most of this. Most impressionable time. Buy up every opportunity.
Redeem the time. And then remember this. That you are training them. To leave you. Genesis 2. 24.
For this reason. A man will leave his father and mother. And cleave to his wife. Don't be overly protective. As they grow up. No. Your goal is to equip them.
To train them. To discipline. Instruct them. In order to leave the nest. And to go out into that big bad world. And not get swallowed up. But to learn to stand on their own two feet.
So. Keep before you. Even from the earliest stages. The goal. It's not to keep them here forever. The goal is to send them out on their own. And the older they get.
The more you need to. Plug in that reality. And prepare them to be leaving you. Recently. I heard a father say. After reading his daughter's paper. For a college class.
That he recognized. Some of his own thoughts. In that paper. Well. You see. That influence. Goes with them. When they go off to school. It's a part of them now.
They've taken it on board. For themselves. They've made it their own. But do you see how your parental influence. Continues. Through their lives. So though.
The mothering role changes. Once. Children leave. You'll be a mother still. And you'll have a powerful influence. Still. Directly.
And indirectly. Directly. As you have ongoing opportunity. To speak. To your children. But indirectly. As you always have opportunity. To pray. And don't think.
Because I say. That's indirect influence. That it's any weaker. In fact. It's stronger. Because when your words. Can no longer reach. The ears of your children. They can still reach.
The ears of the God. Who can move the heart. Of your children. You talk about. Influence. Blessed is the man.
Who's known. The reality. Of a mother's prayers. Long after. He's left home. Pray. At the end of the fourth century.
A mother. Monica. Wept. As she saw her son. Go off. And live. A promiscuous life. And she prayed. And he continued. To live. A promiscuous life.
And she refused. To quit. Praying. For the conversion. Of her son. And when he was. Thirty years old. Augustine. Was saved. And became.
Such a blessing. To the church. We profit. From him still. She refused. To quit.
Praying. The influence. Of a mother's prayers. Not just upon. The son. Directly. But. Upon God. Who has. The key. To every heart. Pray on.
Mothers. The Bible says. Mothers. That. That you're doing. A good work. If you're raising. Your children. I want to encourage you. As we. Come to a conclusion. Kids.
That doesn't mean. We're landing. The airplane. Just yet. But we're. We're circling. The airport. Now. We're ready. To come down. First Timothy. Chapter 5. We heard it. In. Sunday evenings.
Over. A month. A month. Ago. Or so. First Timothy. Chapter 5. We see the church's responsibility. To care for. For. Older widows.
Who have no families. To take care of them. And they were to be put on a list. You remember. And. These. Were to be supported. By the church.
And it wasn't just anyone. There were qualifications. They needed to be over 60. But there were other qualifications. They needed to have been faithful. To their husband.
That's verse 9. She. She must have been faithful. To her husband. While she had him. And then. Secondly. We read. And. She must. Be well known.
For her good deeds. Such as. And a whole list. Of good deeds follow. But I want you to notice. What the first good deed is. On the list. Verse 10.
Such as. Bringing up. Children. Children. Now this is not real difficult. But I want you to see. That in the eyes of God.
Bringing up children. Is a good. Deed. The word for good here. Is the common word. It means good. It means right. It means proper. Fitting. It means honorable.
It means beautiful. It means precious. Precious. And this is God's appraisal. Of your task. Mothers. What you are doing. Is precious. It's an honorable.
It's a good thing. In the sight. Of God. I trust you. Mothers. Will be. Armed. This morning. With God's truth.
To not let the world. Sway you. And tell you. You can't have any influence. At home. The influence. Is to be had. Out in the world. I know a mother.
Who poured her life. Into bringing up her children. And her children. Are now grown. And have children. Of their own. And they're putting. To good use.
Much of what they learned. At her knee. And under her instruction. And example. And some of her children's. Children. Are getting married. And so her legacy. And influence. Will carry on.
To the next generation. And God willing. To many generations. To come. And it keeps. Getting. Passed. On. Mothers.
What. Influence. Can last. So long. I see people. Grasping. For influence. They want their name. On a trust fund.
Something that will. Outlive them. They want their name. On a building. They want their name. On a company. That they're looking. For permanence. Of influence. They don't want to. Just have spent. 70 years.
And be gone. And just be a forgotten. Footnote. They want influence. What else. Can last so long. Can affect so many.
Generations of lives. As a mother. Bringing up her children. Pouring their life. Into bringing them up. In the nurture. And admonition. Of the Lord. Them passing it on.
To the next generation. The next generation. It goes on. Reaping. Benefits. Even eternal salvation. As Timothy found. That from infancy.
He learned from his mother. That word. That makes one wise. For salvation. Through faith. In Jesus Christ. So be encouraged. Not to. Be tempted.
To be pulled away. From your task. Of mothering. And then be encouraged. To press on. In this noble task. Of bringing up. Children. Despite all its sacrifices.
All its discouragements. All its difficulties. Know this. God highly values. What you're doing. As you're bringing up. Children. It's a good thing.
So run on. In that race. That God has marked out. For you. It's often a thankless job. Isn't it? Much of the world.
Fails to applaud you. For your efforts. Even your. Sinful husbands. Fail to show appreciation. For all you do. And your children. Often. So self-centered. And self-preoccupied.
Don't thank you moms. For what you're doing. But the most important one. In the universe. Says what you're doing.
Is a good thing. In my sight. Keep it up. Keep it up. And one day. You will hear. Christian mother. Good. Well done. Good and faithful servant.
So on Monday morning. When you face. That stack of laundry. And when you face. That pile of dishes. And when the list. Of things to do. No sooner. Do you check. One thing off.
And there's two more. To put on. And what. Mothers must do. Draw encouragement. From the fact. That God. The Lord Jesus Christ. Says what you're doing. Is good. Precious.
Honorable. Mothers. Are to be honored. Fifth commandment. Honor your father. And your mother.
That means. Obey them kids. But it means. Far more than. Just obey them. It means. Honor them. In the way. You speak to them. In the way. You speak about them.
To your friends. But I want to challenge you. That honoring them. Has to do with. How you live. As well. Did you know. Your mother. Has poured so much. Into you.
That you. Carry the potential. Of making her. Very glad. Or very sad. That's what the. Proverbs say. Proverbs 10.
One. A wise son. Brings joy. To his father. But a foolish son. Brings grief. To. His mother. Are you.
Honoring your mother. Are you. Living in such a way. That. That your behavior. Is an honor. To your mother. The way you act. At school.
Teachers. Want to know. Who's. Her mother. The way. You behave. With your friends. It's an honor. To your mother. She's not.
Selfish. Like the other girls. He's not. Out for himself. Who taught you this. Where is she. Are you an honor. To your mother. As you leave home.
As you go out. Into the world. Does your life. Speak well. Of your mother. Or is it such. That. Would bring her shame. Children. Honor.
Your father. And your mother. Her children. Arise. And call her. Blessed. Her husband. Also. And he praises her. Many women.
Do noble things. But you surpass them all. Charm. Is deceptive. And beauty. It's fleeting. But a woman. Who fears the Lord. Is to be praised.
Give her. The reward. She has earned. And let her works. Bring her praise. At the city gate. That's where her husband. Works. Husbands. Do your workmates.
Know what a. Gift from God. You have at home. They ought to. Her praise. Ought to be heard. In the workplace.
Mothers. Being a good mother. Doesn't get you into heaven. No. You need perfect righteousness. To get into heaven. And even as we've heard about.
The influence of a mother. Perhaps some of you. Have recognized. Boy. I didn't use that. As I should have. And you have some regrets. Of. Your own sin of omission. And you say.
I haven't. I. I. It's not perfect righteousness. No. Being a good mother. Will not get you into heaven. There are no perfect mothers. There's only one perfect son. And he laid down his life.
For mothers. Fathers. Boys and girls. Yes. Even for his own mother. Who was not a perfect mother. But a sinner. Who needed a savior. Even the savior.
She was used to bring into the world. There is a fountain. Open for sin and uncleanness. Go and wash. This morning. Come to Christ. Any sins.
Bothering you. From your task of mothering. Come and wash. Isn't it a wonderful thing. That in Christ. We start all. We can start all over. Every day. Whatever we've done.
We start anew. By grace. You say. Oh. But I'm so weak. I'm so. My patience is so short. That's the number one. Prerequisite. For a good mother. To know.
Her weakness. She doesn't have it in her. And so she comes. Every day. And says. Help. Help. Help. Help. Help. Help me Jesus. And he gives strength.
And so through your weakness. His strength is made perfect. And children have that. Nurturing influence. Brought upon them. And glory is brought to the God.
Who designed the whole idea of mothering. And the whole idea that. That the most powerful shaping influence. For the. From the get go. Should be that.
Of the one who has bonded with the child. During those initial months. May God be honored. And praised. Let's pray. Almighty. Almighty.
Wise. Father in heaven. We have stood before your wisdom again this morning. What can we say? But. There is no one like you. We see the wise men of this world.
Trying to redefine the home. And we see the messes we're getting ourselves into. And we turn back to the opening pages of scripture. And we see. How you have designed the home.
And we thank you for. Designing mothers. And we thank you for the power. And the saving grace of Jesus. That saves mothers from their sins.
And gives them a heart. To glorify God. By raising their children. Thank you for our mothers Lord. Thank you for the way that you have blessed us.
Through them. And we would trace back. Every good thing that we have. That we've received from mothers. We would trace it back to you. The fountain of all goodness.
Thank you Lord Jesus. For our mothers. For the different men and women we are. Because of their influence upon us. Do bless them. Draw near to them.
Fill them with the joy and peace. Of believing in Jesus. And draw others. Children that have heard from their mothers. The gospel of Jesus Christ.
Wing it with power this day. Make our homes to be a praise to you. In the midst of the disintegration of the home. All around us. We ask for Jesus praise.
Amen.