I can’t even conceive of who I’d be today without my mother. One of my fondest memories of mom is when she would pray over me before going to sleep when I was 6 years old (right after doing the classic kissing monster routine!). But I remember this so well because it was in these quiet moments that my mother taught me how to talk with God. I can still hear her voice and remember how my awareness of God’s presence grew as she spent time praying with me. While nobody would’ve known by simply watching my behaviour growing up, God already had a hold on my heart at a young age through the prayers of my mother.
I’m sure she didn’t always feel like praying with me at the end of a long day, but she took the time to invest and I’m so glad she did. Only my mom would have had the love and patience it required to do this since I was not an angelic child, but a true brat. My mom didn’t simply look at my outward appearance, she sought to shape my heart by pouring God’s love into me.
God already had a hold on my heart at a young age through the prayers of my mother
Mom has made many more such sacrifices for me along the way, there are simply too many to count. And I have come to see both in Scripture and through the experience of watching other Christ-like mothers (including my dear wife, Jessica) that there are some common features that seem to mark all Christ-like mothers. The following is not so much a list of qualities that Christian mothers aspire to be (though it could be used that way) but is more of a celebration of the qualities I have already observed in mothers who reflect and honour Jesus.
Supernaturally Sacrificial
Like Jesus, Christ-like mothers possess a supernatural ability to be sacrificial for their children. It is not that they sit around contemplating how to be this way, they simply have the instinct to be this way. Consider the famous story of Solomon and the two mothers in 1 Kings 3:16-28. Two women enter Solomon’s court and are both accusing each other of stealing the other one’s child after their own child died. “How will Solomon determine the real mother?” This is the question we are asking as we hear the story. Solomon tells the two women that he will cut the child in half and give half to each of the women. But it’s a test! Solomon knows that his test will reveal the real mother because the child’s real mother will show herself by her sacrificial love. This is exactly what happens in the story. The child’s true mother is willing to do anything to save her child, while the imposter does not truly care for the child at all (see 1 Kings 3:25-26). Such is the case of a mother’s heart toward her children. Mothers are willing to die for their kids. They are even willing to be parted if it means a better life for their child.
Right now, it is inspiring to see how many mothers are showing supernatural sacrifice in their willingness to homeschool their kids and put their own plans and dreams aside for the sake of their children’s joy and health. Many women, Christian and non-Christian alike, are sacrificing for their kids and families in this season in many big and small ways and should be honoured and commended. What distinguishes a Christian mother, however, is the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit to fulfil the task with joy and for God’s glory. Many mothers sacrifice, but Christian mothers do so for God’s honour and with God’s supernatural strength to perform what is best for their kids, at great loss to themselves.
Fiercely Intercessory
Christ-like mothers are also fierce intercessors for their kids in a way that I think sets them apart. If her children are threatened or in danger, you simply can’t stop a godly mother from intervening for her kids. Cue the mama bear comparisons!
I have always thought the story of the prophet Elisha and the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:18-37 to be a story that is true to experience. One day when the Shunammite woman’s son complains about intense pain in his head while working with his father, his dad gives the sadly typical response by replying, “Carry him to his mother” (2 Kings 4:19). Her son is returned to her and he dies in her lap.
The Shunammite woman then places her son in Elisha’s old guest room and then determines to go find Elisha and intercede for her son. At this point in the story, she does not necessarily know that Elisha can do anything for her, but she has business to do with Elisha since he was the one who prophesied that she would give birth to a son after years of barrenness. It is likely that she experiencing intense sorrow mixed with anger toward Elisha and wants a word with him.
Christian mothers do so for God’s honour and with God’s supernatural strength to perform what is best for their kids, at great loss to themselves
Again, her husband is sadly not much help and tries to prevent her from leaving with a lame excuse. But nothing will sway her urgency. When she arrives at Elisha’s mountain-dwelling, Elisha’s servant Gehazi greets her to determine her health and mental state. The Shunammite woman will not allow this servant to stand in her way and pretends to be “well” so that she may see Elisha. After ascending the mountain to Elisha, she grabs hold of his feet and Gehazi tries to protect Elisha by pushing her away. But she breaks down in sorrow and Elisha recognizes her grief and immediately leaps into action, sending Gehazi to bring his staff to heal the child.
But this mother was not content with some prophet’s assistant. She wanted Elisha! Only the best for her son! She clung to the prophet and waited with him while Gehazi was unsurprisingly unsuccessful in healing her son. So Elisha went himself to her house and gave one of the most tender and compassionate displays of God’s power and the child was brought back to life. The Shunammite woman’s response was immediate honour to Elisha for bringing her son back.
This story in God’s Word highlights a trait that we see in all Godly mothers, a fierce intercession that is willing to stand in the gap for her kids. That willingness and determination to plead for the cause of her children.
I have seen this trait in my own wife when our son, Ben, was going through assessments to determine his learning disabilities. We had an early diagnosis of a speech disorder from a child psychologist. But my wife was unsatisfied with this diagnosis because she just knew there was more going on. She worked hard for the next few years to get Ben a more accurate diagnosis and get him the help he needed. It took me a while to come around to this, but my wife knew all along that our son was not getting what he needed because of inaccuracy. As soon as the proper diagnosis of Autism was discovered, it was clear to both of us that it explained a lot more about our son’s unique challenges and abilities. I am so glad that my wife followed her motherly instincts and interceded for Ben, even when I was too dull to see what he needed.
Spiritually Faithful
Last but not least, a Christ-like mother is spiritually faithful for their kids and families. Just as my own mother took time to point me to Jesus, a Christ-like mother is always seeking to help her kids know and walk with God more closely. This is also a trait that many women in the church who don’t have children display and they become like the Old Testament prophetess Deborah who was a “mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7).
The Apostle Paul reminded his young apprentice Timothy that his “sincere faith” in God, was “a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice” (2 Tim 1:5) and he urged Timothy to “continue is what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” In other words, Timothy was taught Scripture from a young age because of his mother and grandmother and the foundation they laid gave Timothy a heritage of faith in the Gospel that would strengthen him for his continued work of ministry.
Mothers, you deserve to be honoured for all that you do! May you experience God’s smile this week as we celebrate you!
Mothers are often both the front line and also the reserve when it comes to spiritual impact. As the front line, they are the first to jump to their children’s spiritual needs. As the reserve, they continue to hold the line when the fathers fail to fulfil their role. They remain spiritually faithful to their children, no matter what.
So this is my homage to you mothers out there (biological, adoptive, and spiritual) for your incredible sacrifice, intercession for others and your faithful spiritual investment. You deserve to be honoured for all that you do! May you experience God’s smile this week as we celebrate you!