WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN MOTHER (Part 6)

Remember the Christian mother’s love as it relates to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Bears all things: #4722. stego, steg’-o; from G4721; to roof over, i.e. (fig.) to cover with silence (endure patiently). Some unthinking mothers expose their children’s faults to others so they will have sympathy. Why would they do that? Are these mothers seeking godly counsel or are they just enjoying the pity

they get from outsiders? Maybe they are just looking for something to talk about. Is this how we like to be treated? On the other hand, some mothers can’t accept someone’s telling them about a fault their child has. We don’t need to ruminate over all their weaknesses with every one of our buddies, but neither do we need to ignore genuine problems. We need to learn the meekness to endure some of their problems in silence. This word bear also indicates “to roof over” as in protect. We must protect the children from wolves and the evil influences.

Believes all things: #4100. pisteuo, pist-yoo’-o; from G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by impl. to entrust (espec. one’s spiritual well-being to Christ):–believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. Does this mean we have to believe everything our child tells us? No, the faith we need to have is in God’s promises. What promises has He given us in regard to our children?

“Train (not beat) up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Prov. 29:15).
“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying” (Prov. 19:18).

Hannah believed God would reward her for keeping her vow (1 Sam. 1:11, 26-28). Jacobed believed God enough to fear Him above Pharaoh and do whatever it took to save Moses (Exod. 1:16, 22; 2:3). But this is not the only way that believing all things is loving our children. We need to instill a faith in our children in ALL of God’s promises so that it becomes a living faith that causes us and them to work. When a situation arises, use the Word to answer questions, reassure, reprove, etc.

Hopes all things: We are saved by hope (Rom. 8:24). Do we have hope for our children? Can we pray for this and get renewed energy to work with them and to run with patience our own race? Then following our example will strengthen them to do the same. Do we want to be a Hannah, Lois or Eunice? Did they have their hope in the temporary or the eternal things? Do we often encourage our children to think about physical, temporary things instead of eternal things? (For example: Is our encouragement toward a certain career—lawyer vs. preacher?) Our eternal hope needs to be what drives our every action. Our children’s spiritual lives may depend on our communicating that to them.

We think with our kids we can have the best of both worlds: that they can be super stars, career climbers, sports champs, and also good Christians, but where we place our focus will be what they are most encouraged to do. What will a man give in exchange for his own soul? What will a mother give in exchange for her child’s soul? If we focus on school, the school will be child’s number one priority. If we focus on Bible (not just nominally, but really) then the Lord will be the child’s number one priority If you had a choice, for your child to actually be able to become a millionaire or to be a preacher, which would you choose? God values the preacher! His only Son was a preacher. Daughters need to prepare themselves to be wives of preachers, elders or deacons.