MOM as SCULPTOR
The sculptor for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour, Bartholdi, gave 20 years of his life, practically impoverishing himself over the work. Various stories circulate about who he chose as a model for the colossal masterpiece. One strong suggestion is that his own mother was “Liberty Enlightening the World.” True or not, when God created the world, He sculpted a model and placed her at the harbour of every human heart pointing the way to Him: MOTHER!
- Mothers mold the hearts of their children to trust in God.
The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 71:
“For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.” (verses 5-6)
- Mothers model faith in God to their children.
Paul wrote to his young friend Timothy saying:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother, Lois and your mother, Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” (2 Timothy 1:5)
It’s more than saying the right things, it’s saying them the right way.
It’s more than just teaching them right from wrong, it’s showing them.
It’s more than just telling them the truth, it’s living it before them.
One of the most compelling reason a child will seek God is because Mother, who is the most influential person in their life, does! And that influence will last a lifetime.
Mother! Here are four suggestions for molding the hearts of your children for the Lord.
- Children will remember your presence or your absence. More than that, they want to know and feel that you WANT to spend time with them.
- Remember Paul’s reference to Timothy’s mother and grandmother? In another reference in the same letter, Paul reminded Timothy that his salvation came in part because He knew the Holy Scriptures from infancy-childhood. Who do you think taught Him? You’re right! It was His mother and grandmother. In my view, a mother cannot do any better than memorize Scripture with her children in order to raise her children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
- Whatever a child does or does not learn, they will live what has been modeled in their home. Often, it’s MOM who leaves the most compelling example for a child to follow. Once in a while I will look at my hands and say to myself, “my hands remind me of my mother’s hands.” Then, I will wonder more importantly if I can see her heart in mine. I pray so, because she was a selfless woman who gave her life in service to her family and friends.
- Our children have all left “the nest.” They are married and are raising their own families now. We went from being parents, which was great, to being grandparents, which is greater. April and I have committed that the ONE thing we will give our family every day is prayer. We have long since released our children to God’s will for their lives. But, we are intimately involved in their lives every day at the “Throne of Grace.” Prayer is one of the primary means of lighting the way to the safe harbour of God’s freedom in Jesus.
MOM, you are our “Lady of Liberty.” We thank God for you every day but especially today! Happy Mother’s Day!
It’s Simple, Really!!
ow does a Christian maneuver the polarizing positions of the day without being overwhelmed by it all? How do we protect our hearts from being stunned by all the stress in the world? How do we manage to stay spiritually and emotionally healthy in a deeply divided world? The answer for the Christian is quite simple. It’s found in the second letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthian church to warn and protect them from the “super-apostles” that were leading them away from a sincere and pure devotion to Jesus. Paul’s sage advice appears in 2 Corinthians Chapter 11, Verse 3: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (NKJV) The ESV (and several other translations) interpret it to read, “be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
I find that truth very helpful in keeping me focused on what matters most. I need to pause the flow of information and reconnect with a person, Jesus. This is the re-set point for us as Christians. If any thought, act, word, idea or person is leading us away from love for Jesus, we need to self-correct.
Do you see Paul’s point? Christianity is about relationship with Jesus. The simplicity that God wants you to experience today is the simplicity of restored relationship. Stay tight with Jesus. Stay close to the Father’s heart. Remain sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The GOSPEL is much more than a philosophy or a theology to defend. It’s a relationship to be enjoyed. I fear knowing the Gospel so well and being able to defend it bravely while missing the relationship with Jesus Himself. Staying tight with Jesus is the basis from which you can wrestle with the bigger ideas that challenge our world.
From the garden onward, God’s goal is always to reconcile the world in relationship with Himself. And the calling for every Christian is to spread that great message of reconciliation with God, through Jesus Christ.
After a long and challenging day, I get to go home to the love of my life, my bride, my honey. As I drive down Eglinton Avenue and up Winston Churchill Boulevard, I experience a growing excitement to spend time with the person who fills my tank and recharges my batteries. It’s the same way in the spiritual life. Our God is the source of joy and the strength for us. As we spend time with Him, we are renewed in the inner person.
When the realities of a chaotic world start to threaten your inner peace, go back to the ONE who alone can recharge your soul. He’s your first, best and greatest friend, your forgiver, and Great Shepherd.
