“as we honor our mothers on Mother’s Day, we ought to remember that we are demonstrating what we believe about what Christ has done for us and what we have been called to do in following Him.”
Ephesians 4:1 tells us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called. We are all called to be followers of Christ, but being a mother is one of the greatest callings in life. Mothers shape the worldview of their children and it is through their example that they are able to model Christ and demonstrate the gospel.
So whether you are a mother or someone who loves a mother, we are all called to be a witness for Christ. Here are three ways to make this Mother’s Day an opportunity to proclaim the gospel.
Being a Godly Mother
One day a year is set aside to honor everything that mothers do every day. All of the meals they cook, dishes they wash, clothes they fold, noses they wipe, and prayers they pray on sleepless nights are a picture of their devotion. To raise a family is one of the most important vocations anyone could have, but the main responsibility of a mother is not packing lunches, kissing boo boos, or chauffeuring children. It is pointing the family to Christ. Paul tells us that a mother does this through her selfless love.
Let's deal with the elephant in the room, right away. The idea of submission is not a popular one in our society. Yet our knee-jerk reaction might cause us to lose sight of the gospel implication. Jesus humbled Himself when He came to earth. Although He was God, He took on human flesh. Although He was the King of kings, He became a servant. Although He was sinless, He became sin for us. The mark of a true follower of Christ is not flanking His throne, but humbly carrying a cross. This is how mothers demonstrate the gospel to their children by selflessly loving their husbands. If Jesus was able to humbly submit to the Father’s will, even when it meant He must lay down His life, then we all ought to submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.
Mothers are the most selfless human beings on the planet. But selflessness over time can turn into resentment. True love is not self seeking. Look to Jesus who loved us while we were still sinning. Seeing ourselves as the object of Christ’s love will help us to love even when it is hard.
We love God because He first loved us. The way He showed us love overwhelms our hearts with devotion. The more we comprehend how matchless the love of Christ truly is, the more we will be freed to love people the way we have been called to love.
Mothers, let your love be characterized by selfless devotion and be a witness of the gospel to your children.
Love a Mother Well
With all that mothers do in a home, it can be easy to love them. But love simply felt does not always transfer into love demonstrated. Paul tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. This is more than simply saying you love her and showing affection. Loving your wife requires devotion, attention, and active appreciation. Jesus did not simply say He loved the Church. He demonstrated His love on the cross. Love cannot be fully expressed through words, it must be accompanied by self-sacrifice.
As men, it’s easy to disengage. Life is happening around us and it seems to move forward without our involvement. But love is not passive. Love demands that we break into our families’ lives. Just because someone else is doing something doesn’t mean we are off the hook. Years ago I was speaking at a men’s gathering where the church had just hired a worship leader and I asked the men, “Who is the primary worship leader for your family?” They all pointed to their newly appointed pastor. I (lovingly) scolded them, “No! You are the primary worship leader for your families.” This is not a job we outsource to someone else. The Bible calls husbands to lead their wives and raise up their children. Pray with your wives, teach your children the Word, and model for them how to follow Christ.
Husbands, love your wives by stepping up and leading them to Christ. They will respect you, and your children will see the importance of putting Christ first in their lives.
Honoring a Mother Rightly
Mother’s Day is about honoring our mothers for all of the hard work they do throughout the year. So we dress up in our Sunday best, coordinating outfits, plaster on a smile for ‘one more’ family portrait, and wait in line for an hour because we forgot to make reservations at her favorite restaurant. But honoring a mother is more than simply going along with her requests for a day.
We are told to be obedient and honor our mothers because it is right. This is where we learn to do the right thing for the right reasons. So much of our lives we are motivated to do good because we have something to gain. We work hard because we want a promotion. We obey the laws because we don’t want to go to jail. We serve in the Church because we want to be recognized by our peers.
The gospel takes our personal ambitions and lays them at the feet of the cross. We are not our own. We have surrendered our hearts to Christ. We obey God because it is right, not because we are looking for approval or rewards. God is not impressed or deceived by our selfish motives. True gospel devotion and obedience comes from love. Therefore we are to love our mothers by doing what is right.
Mothers and fathers are not always perfect examples of Christ. Moreover, we may have parents who are not followers of Christ themselves. But this makes the gospel principle even more relevant. Love endures all things. Families are not perfect, but they are a perfect training ground for gospel preparedness. The world is full of challenges and obstacles. If we want to succeed in life it starts with being faithful in the small things. Learn to do what is right because it is right.
Children, love your mother. Honor her by learning from her example of selfless love and devotion to do what is right.
The Apostle Paul makes a strong correlation between the gospel and the family in his letter to the Ephesians. In each of these instances there is a call of respect, devotion, and love. This is how the gospel is personified through our lives. So as we honor our mothers on Mother’s Day, we ought to remember that we are demonstrating what we believe about what Christ has done for us and what we have been called to do in following Him.