Mothers, Special In God′s Sight

This message is being delivered on God’s special Day of the week-- His Sabbath. He is the one who sanctified it and set it apart for us to use in worshiping Him. We’re told to remember it and to keep it Holy. BUT, HE ALSO GAVE NINE OTHER COMMANDMENTS TO FOLLOW AND OBEY IN OUR WORSHIP OF HIM. Remember what Jesus Christ told the young man in Matthew 19:17 “---but if thou wilt enter into life (eternal), keep the commandments.” And James was inspired to write in Chapter 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law (all ten), and shall offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

What does Mother’s Day have to do with what I’ve just quoted?

Mother’s Day would tie in with keeping the fifth commandment of God! As I speak, tomorrow is Mother’s Day, as I am sure you are aware of. We’re told in Exodus 20:12 to: “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

This commandment is considered so important to God, that He had it recorded in the N.T. Matthew 15:3 “But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4. For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”

No, none of the commandments are nullified or “done away with”, but rather increased in spiritual intent, including the fifth one. What did the Apostle Paul write? Ephesians 6:1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2. Honor your father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3. That it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth.”

You may remember that The Apostle Peter wrote in I Peter 2:21 that “---Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” What was the example He set in honoring His mother? John 19:25 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple (John) standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman behold thy son! 27. Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

With His dying breath, our Savior made provision for His mother’s well-being and care! He placed her in the responsibility of His trusted and beloved friend, John. This is the fullest meaning of the commandment to “Honor thy father and mother.” I’m sure He followed the same example for His adopted father, Joseph, before he died, and certainly His Heavenly Father. John 8:49 “Jesus answered, ----; but I honor my father, and ye do dishonor me.”

As we have a loving mother, to whom we owe great respect and honor, for giving us life, we also have a heavenly SPIRITUAL MOTHER, which will give birth to us as Spiritual children. It is a type of God’s Church! Isaiah 66:8 “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith the LORD?” (Speaking of being born again, into the very Family of God!) Galatians 4:26 “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son (a type of this world held in bondage): for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31.So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” (Also read Heb.12:22.)

Isn’t it amazing and wonderful, that OUR HUMAN MOTHERS AND THE CHURCH OF GOD are likened as TYPES of each other! WE SHOULD HONOR BOTH! So as we observe Mothers Day, tomorrow, remember to keep God’s Fifth Commandment as well. Let’s all honor and esteem our mothers in some special way on this day. If they are deceased, we can remember them in our thoughts and hearts.

 
The Church of God, New World Ministries P.O. Box 5536 Sevierville, TN 37864