Mothering in the Shadow of the Cross- A Devo

Tips on Mothering in the Shadow of the Cross... 

"The principle of godly authority. God has placed parents in authority over their children. This is clear throughout Scripture. The fifth commandment teaches us to honor our mothers and fathers. Ephesians 6:1 says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." This places a heavy responsibility on us as parents. In order to exercise our authority in a godly manner, we must take heed to obey the words of Christ our King: "Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon then. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your servant, and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45). Godly authority is expressed by our service to those under our authority.

 

The principle of children as blessing. Psalm 127:3-4 tells us, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

 

The principle of the special status of children. Jesus said, in Matthew 18: "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged bout his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea...Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." And, in Matthew 19:14: "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me, for such is the kingdom of heaven."

 

The principle of religious training. In Deuteronomy 4:9: "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons." And, in Deuteronomy 6:3-7: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

 

The principle of wife as helpmate. Genesis 2:18 describes how God declared that it was not good for the man to be alone; it also states God's intention to create woman as a helpmate to the man. The Bible makes clear the responsibility of the father to his family. The role of the wife and mother is to help the husband and father in fulfilling and discharging his obligation towards the family. The upbringing of children is not the responsibility of the wife, but the responsibility of the husband. Our responsibility, as wives, is to aid our husbands in the teaching and training of our children.

 

The principle of compassion and gentleness. "As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us...For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8;11.

 

The principle of loving guidance and discipline. "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth...Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?...Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:5,6,9,11)

 

The principle of the golden rule. Luke 6:31 states, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Further on, in the 36th verse of the same chapter, Jesus taught, "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."

 

The principle of love. When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment in the Law, He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Mt. 22:37-40) He also said, in John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." We find the definitive description of love in 1 Corinthians 13."