Today is Mothers’ Day in the UK. Mothers generally hold a special place in our hearts and there is much we can learn from godly women.
Dave spoke this morning from Is 66:13, which tells us ‘as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you, and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.’
A mother’s love is seen as being very special and Jesus Himself remembered His mother even as He hung on the cross. (John 19:25-27). God promises to comfort His people as mothers comfort their children; Jesus promised His disciples the comfort of the Holy Spirit after He had left earth. (John 14:16) God is not remote and aloof, a cosmic killjoy or cold judge or old-fashioned bearded grandparent; He loves us compassionately and caringly, comparing His love to a mother’s.
1 Kings 3 reminds us that a true mother loves her child. In this famous test of Solomon’s wisdom, Solomon discerned the true mother of the baby through her love; the real mother was willing to allow someone else to have the child rather than seeing her child harmed. God cherishes us in exactly the same way, rejoicing over us and singing over us (see Zeph 3:17).
Mothers comfort their children (even when they have to chastise them!) God does not treat us as our sins deserve, but disciplines us as a wise parent who nonetheless is always present to comfort and forgive. His promise of comfort to us in Is 66:13 is very real; He is the God of all comfort. (2 Cor 1:3)
Mothers sacrifice for their children. The child who was asked to give a fraction of the pie he would receive if there were two parents and five children replied ‘1/6.’ This may not have been the mathematical answer expected, but was a reflection, he said, of his mother’s sacrifice: she would willingly forego her piece of the pie for her child! Just as mothers give sacrificially, so too God gave His only Son (John 3:16) in order to save us. Mothers give us natural life; God gives us eternal life, at the cost of His own Son.
Mothers encourage relentlessly and continually. Against the odds, they continue to support and motivate their children. In the same way, God repeatedly speaks words of encouragement to us, reminding us to ‘Hang in there! Keep going!’ Faithfulness, perseverance and love are all characteristics of mothers and God; He seeks to develop these characteristics in each one of us and encourages the disheartened. (1 Thess 5:14)