Philippians 2:5-11, John 12:12-19

Philippians 2:5-11

John 12:12-19

April 5, 2009

Passion / Palm Sunday

Jesus Is The One We Can Follow

Part 6 of Lent series “Who do you say Jesus is?”

We have used the season of Lent this year to think about who Jesus is – and what Jesus means to us.

I’ve asked you to focus on one basic question:

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Remember that in Mark 8:27-29 Jesus questions the disciples about who “people” said that He was. They came up with a list of things people said about Jesus – that He was Elijah, that He was John the Baptist, or that He was another of the Old Testament prophets who had risen from the dead.

Jesus then made the question more personal by asking who they said that He was.

That’s when Peter made His confession that Jesus was the Christ.

You know – it didn’t really matter what others said about Jesus – did it?

What mattered was who Jesus was to the disciples.

What mattered was who they said Jesus was.

What mattered was that Jesus was the Christ. – the Savior – the only way to salvation – for them.

What mattered was that they said Jesus was their Lord and Savior.

The same is true for you.

You can listen to me talk about who Jesus is – or listen to others tell who they think Jesus is – but what really matters is who you say that Jesus is – who is Jesus for you.

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Who is Jesus – for you?

We’re looking at several answers to that question during Lent.

We began Lent 5 weeks ago by seeing that the most important answer you can give to this question is that Jesus is your Savior.

Until you can say that Jesus is your Savior it doesn’t matter what else we say about Him – but once we can say that Jesus is our Savior – we can say other things about Him – things like:

1. Jesus is the one who helps me resist temptation – which we looked at 4 weeks ago

2. Jesus is the one who gave of Himself for me – which we looked at 3 weeks ago

3. Jesus is the one who keeps me clean and holy – which we looked at 2 weeks ago

4. Jesus is the one I want to see and hear – which we looked at last week

Today – on this last Sunday in Lent – this Passion / Palm Sunday – we are going to end our Lenten season by looking at how we can dedicate our lives to following Jesus.

You see – once you say that Jesus is your Savior – one of the things you can say is that Jesus is one you want to follow – and you can dedicate your life to following Him – regardless of where He may lead.

Jesus is the one I want to follow.

Listen to the Palm Sunday story as John records it in John 12:12-19 – and to Paul’s call in Philippians 2:5-11 to have the mind of Christ.

Read Scripture

I read not long ago about a girl named Susan. Susan had high aspirations of being an actress – and wanted to be a serious actress in Broadway or – at the very least – in serious movies. She went to college and even got a graduate degree in theater. Well, she never thought that the only job she could land after graduation was in an outdoor drama — a Passion Play at that. No, she had visions of going to New York, at least in an off-Broadway role. Or maybe she would wind up in Hollywood. Instead, she was in what she considered to be some frontier outpost of the arts performing on a concrete stage of a half-completed outdoor theater with a strange assortment of misfits who, like herself, could find no other work for the summer.

Every evening at 5:30 she would show up for makeup. When they had started production, there hadn’t even been dressing rooms finished for costume changes. Costume changes had to be done in a scenery shed “right out in front of God and everybody.” Such phrases were as close as most of the cast got to even pretending to be religious. Not many in the cast – if any — found anything spiritual about what they were doing. It was just a way to pay the rent and put food on the table – just a check. In fact, every night the actors played some sort of trick on one another to break the boredom that had set in about this play. The disciples would come backstage after the Last Supper scene to tell what gross or otherwise objectionable object had been place in the wine cup that evening. Sometimes there would be cigarette butts – other times much more objectionable objects – and they would choke as they pretended to drink from the cup.

Behind the stage was a hill that was crossed by a fairly steep path. This hill served various purposes during the show, one of which was the entryway for Jesus as He made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The donkey Jesus rode was, of course, named Jack — and was probably the most reliable and arguably the most religious of the cast. He certainly was the most sensible. One night after a terrible rainstorm Jack refused to maneuver the path down the hill. This caused a real problem in the casts telling the story of the Triumphal Entry. It was of vital importance that Jesus make His entry riding on a donkey. But Jack absolutely refused to maneuver the steep path after it had become covered with slippery mud.

Finally the actor playing Jesus walked the muddy, slippery, path without Jack. About one-third of the way down he slipped and fell. One of the actors near Susan quoted, under his breath, the line about Jesus entering Jerusalem on His — — well, you can imagine what was said. Susan didn’t laugh, though. Instead she felt embarrassed for how the actor playing Jesus must have felt. She got an immediate, painful sense of his vulnerability — and her own.

At that moment the story came together for her as never before — and her faith meant more to her than ever before. She felt Jesus’ vulnerability as He moved toward His cruel death. She began to realize how so many could have loved Jesus. It was not His strength — but His weakness that attracted her now. The God who could incorporate such helplessness into some divine yearning might even use a ragtag band of irreverent actors rewriting the story of Jesus on a muddy hillside as well.

The actor made it down the hill, after two more falls, and, finally, to the cross. As Susan stood at the cross for the umpteenth time watching this pretended crucifixion, she could not help the tears that welled up in her eyes. It was then and there that she decided that — if Jesus could give of Himself for her — even die for her — she could follow Him.

Like the Pharisees said of the crowd on that first Palm Sunday, she could “go after” Him.

She could follow Him.

So – how about you?

Are you “going after” Jesus?

Are you following Jesus?

Once you say that Jesus is your Savior – one of the things you can say is that Jesus is one you want to follow – and you can dedicate your life to following Him – regardless of where He may lead.

One of the things you can say about Jesus is; Jesus is the one I want to follow.

Are you following Jesus – regardless of where He may lead?

Are you “going after Him” – which is what the Pharisees were concerned that the whole world was doing on that first Palm Sunday?

Would the Pharisees be concerned if they saw your commitment to Jesus?

Are you “going after” Jesus?

Is Jesus the one you are following – regardless of where He may lead?

Someone once told me that they wished they could have been there that first Palm Sunday. They said they imagined that the sky must have been a beautiful blue — the sun shining — the children running after Jesus, waving their palm branches and shouting:

“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the king of Israel!”

You know what — I’m not sure if I wish that I had been there on that first Palm Sunday or not.

Everyone was excited — except for the Pharisees — the religious leaders. They hadn’t liked Jesus all along. He was a threat to them. His understanding and teachings about God and theirs didn’t match — and as He became more and more popular they became more and more scared — more and more indignant – - and more and more determined to kill Him. So — as Jesus rode into Jerusalem that day — they looked at each other — and said:

“Look, the whole world has gone after Him.”

The whole world has gone after Him.

Too many people were following Jesus — and they didn’t like it. Something was going to have to be done — and quickly. Maybe the sun was shining that Palm Sunday – I don’t know — l but the shadow of the cross already loomed in the horizon.

Jesus — although the crowd is shouting His glory and praise — didn’t even look like a king at all.

Look again.

Isn’t He riding a donkey?

Kings don’t ride donkeys.

Servants ride donkeys.

Why — Jesus looked more like a servant than a mighty king. More like someone who was destined to be humble and to serve — not the powerful and successful king the folks may have thought He was going to be. He seemed to understand life as being a chance to give of Himself — not an opportunity to take over the government and reign in splendor.

“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the king of Israel!”

On that day it may have appeared to the Pharisees that the whole world was going after Jesus — and if you and I had been there we may have “gone after” Him too – we may have followed Him — but what about when He didn’t lead the people in revolt — but made it clear He had come to serve — not rule — and to call His followers to serve — not rule?

What would we have done then?

Would we have followed Him in service to others — even if it meant death — or would we have given up on Him — and even turned against Him – as so many did during the week following Palm Sunday?

Would you have followed Him in service to others – even if it meant death – or would you have given up on Him – even turned against Him?

Once you say that Jesus is your Savior, one of the things you can say about Jesus is;

Jesus is the one I want to follow.

Are you following Jesus – regardless of where He may lead?

Are you “going after Him” – which is what the Pharisees were concerned that the whole world was doing on that first Palm Sunday?

Would the Pharisees be concerned if they saw your commitment to Jesus?

Are you “going after” Jesus?

Is Jesus the one you are following – regardless of where He may lead?

As long as it was the popular thing to do — it seemed the whole world was going after Jesus. As long as it seemed He was bringing power and glory to the people — the whole world went after Him. But when it became clear He had no intention of bringing power and glory but instead was bringing humility and service — well — people changed their tunes.

And I’m afraid we would have changed ours.

That’s why I’m not too sure I would want to have been there on the first Palm Sunday. I may have gotten caught up in the excitement of the moment and shouted my “Hosannas!” to Jesus — but I’m not sure I would have followed Him all the way to the cross.

How about you?

Are you committed to following Jesus – all the way to the cross – all the way t giving of yourself for Him and others?

Is Jesus the one you really want to follow?

Do you really want to be a follower of Jesus?

You know — as much as we hate to admit it — we still prefer power and glory over service and humility — don’t we?

If you had a choice between telling someone what to do or being told what to do — too many times you might choose to be the chief — and not the Indian.

And yet Jesus chose to come into the world in service — even to the point of death — and in the end found new life.

The whole world has gone after Him.

The whole world has gone after Him.

Has it really?

Have we?

Have you?

When Susan in my story saw the vulnerable side of Jesus, she saw how much God loved her — so much that Jesus died for her. She then saw how she could follow Jesus — and serve others. She decided to “go after” Jesus. She decided to follow Jesus.

Have you “gone after” Jesus?

Are you following Jesus?

One of the things you need to say about Jesus is:

Jesus is the one I want to follow.

Are you following Jesus?

Is Jesus the one you want to follow?

In Philippians 2 Paul calls on us to have the mind of Christ.

This is a call to thinking and acting like Christ.

Jesus showed us what God is like — not power-hungry and demanding but serving — suffering — dieing — but finding new life in the process.

That’s one of the things it means to be a follower of Christ.

That’s one of the things it means to follow Christ.

Following Christ – going after Christ – means thinking like Christ thought – and doing things like Christ did.

It means that you don’t focus on what you want or what seems to be good for you — or what’s in something for you.

“What’s in it for me” is not the first question you ask when considering doing something – but “What’s God calling me to do”?

Are you following Jesus – thinking like Jesus thought – doing things Jesus did?

It means that you participate in things that will help others – even if they are not necessarily convenient for you. It means you do things because they are good for the group – even if they might be inconvenient for you. It means that you do things that God wants you to do – and that will help you grow in your faith – whether they are things you would automatically choose to do or not.

Are you following Jesus – thinking like Jesus thought – doing things Jesus did?

The whole world has gone after Him.

That’s what the Pharisees said.

That’s what the Pharisees were afraid of.

You know – I’m afraid that – if the Pharisees were to see us today – they might breathe a sigh of relief!

They feared that the whole world was following Jesus.

I don’t know about that.

I’m not sure that it has.

I’m not so sure we have.

Have you?

Are you?

Are you following Jesus – thinking like Jesus wants you to think – doing what Jesus wants you to do?

One of the things you need to say about Jesus is:

Jesus is the one I want to follow.

Are you following Jesus?

Is Jesus the one you want to follow?

Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus — Paul writes.

Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Are you following Jesus in the way of service — of giving of yourself — but discovering that true life involves serving others — not demanding to be served by others – and serving God?

Like Susan in my story –have you looked at what God has done for you — the love He has for you — and responded to the love of God by wanting to follow Him?

Is Jesus the one you want to follow?

Is Jesus the one you are following?

If you were to “go after” Jesus if you were to follow Jesus — where might it lead?

Do you think it might lead to giving of yourself?

Do you think it might lead to serving God and others?

Do you think it might lead to sacrifice?

Do you think it might lead to seeing the needs of others and responding to those needs — instead of just looking out for yourself?

Do you think it might lead to seeing what needs to be done for God’s will in the Church and the world – and giving of yourself to doing it?

Do you think it might lead to seeing the things God wants changed in your life – in the Church – in the community – and in the world – and dedicating yourself to working to change them?

Or – do you think it might lead to making God’s things important for your life — things like your prayer life — or your personal study of Scripture — or our corporate worship — or our corporate study times like Bible Study, Sunday School — or our outreach times or fellowship times?

Yes – you know as well as I do that it would certainly lead to all these things – but – here’s the thing — it also would lead to life — life as God calls you to live and experience it — life in God’s will — life that Jesus shows us how to live.

One of the things you need to say about Jesus is:

Jesus is the one I want to follow.

Are you following Jesus?

Is Jesus the one you want to follow?

Maybe it’s a good thing we weren’t in Jerusalem that Palm Sunday.

We may have been part of the crowd that day — but we also may have been part of the crowd on Good Friday, too.

If our devotion to following Christ here and now is any sign — I’m afraid our shouts of “Hosanna!” would not have lasted very long.

Are you following Christ?

Is Jesus the one you want to follow?

Is Jesus the one you are following?

Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus – Paul writes.

Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Do you have “the mind of Christ”?

Do you think the things Jesus would think – and do the things Jesus would do?

Do you have the commitment to following Christ in a life of serving others — while living life in its truest sense?

I invite you to use this day — this Holy Week — to see Jesus in a new light — to see His love for you — and respond by following Him — wherever that might lead you.

Pray for strength to follow Jesus as you give of yourself — knowing that it is in giving of yourself — committing to God and His will — that you find new life.

Once you say that Jesus is your Lord and Savior you c an say other things about Him – things like

Jesus is the one who helps me resist temptation

Jesus is the one who gave of Himself for me

Jesus is the one who keeps me clean and holy

Jesus is the one I want to see and hear

Jesus is the one I want to follow.

So how about it – are you following Jesus? Amen.

Proverbs 31:10-31

Proverbs 31:10-31

“Thanks, Mom! ”

May 11, 2008

Mother’s Day/Pentecost

Today is one of those “mixed bag” days that ministers just love! It’s 2 important days in 1 – Mother’s Day – and Pentecost.

Ministers – myself included – find it difficult to decide which emphasis for this day is the most important – Pentecost – with the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the beginning of what we know as the Christian Church – or Mother’s Day – the day we honor and give special recognition to our mothers. At one point in my ministry – when I was younger and not as wise – I might have opted for the emphasis of Pentecost – believing that the “birth of the Church” that we celebrate on Pentecost to be more important than Mother’s Day.

Well – I am older now – and while I am just a tad wiser I am wise enough to know that there will be Pentecost next year – and I can emphasize it then – and – while there will also be Mother’s Day next year – they won’t fall on the same Sunday. This year, I need to emphasize Mother’s Day. The fact that Mom is here today has nothing to do with that decision. If you believe that, I have some great ocean front property you might be interested in!

But – maybe as I emphasize Mother’s Day I can slip a little of the Spirit in there somewhere.

Our passage for today comes from Proverbs 31: 10-31. Listen to the world of God.

Read Scripture

I heard about a woman – who obviously was of keen mind and understanding heart – who gazed at Whistler’s portrait of his mother.

“It is a remarkable painting of a very lovely lady,” murmured the viewer, “but there is too much peace and calm to be the likeness of a real mother.”

To be sure, serenity and tranquility are desirable qualities of motherhood, yet some may feel that there is also too much work – too much discord – and too much of the character of a referee for there to be the quality of peaceful sweetness offered in the famous painting known we know as “Whistler’s Mother.”

Sure – some mothers have it easy. Just ask Mom – she’ll tell you what an easy job it was to raise her children – that is until I came along! Then things got difficult!

Pearl S. Buck’s novel The Good Earth gives a dramatic portrayal of the birth pangs of China emerging from feudalism into a more modern nation. The key figure in the book is a lowly village woman — O-lan. O-lan is a plain, unassuming kitchen slave, who becomes the wife of Wang Lung, a peasant farmer. In faithfulness, patience, and absolute devotion, she follows the rising star of her husband. During the changing experiences of poverty and wealth, starvation and prosperity, O-lan is the anchor of the home. She is the skillful one who keeps everything together. She is the stabilizing factor in family.

Perhaps nowhere do we get a more vivid and realistic picture of the true status of womanhood than in the Old Testament. The woman in Proverbs represents the ideal. The idealized picture we have in our text, Proverbs 31:10-31, may not represent the average wife and mother in Israel at the time, but it does capture the imagination and remind us of what all a mother can do – and many times needs to do – to keep her family together.

Perhaps you can recognize your own mother in the picture given to us of this woman. I know that I can mine. The woman Proverbs describes here is a remarkable person – and presents an ideal of motherhood that we have never outgrown.

In studying this passage this week I have come to realize that it is written in the form of an acrostic poem — in which each of the twenty-two verses begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in alphabetical order. I think the writer may be using this device to indicate that that he is dealing exhaustively with the subject in an orderly fashion — in other words, he thinks he is trying to say everything he can think of to say about the virtues of a worthy woman.

Let us take a moment to recall some of her characteristics.

First, she is a faithful and supportive wife to her husband:

” Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value. ” (vs. 11)

That’s where the tribute begins, and obviously that is her first priority. But, she is also a career woman also — and the mother of children. However her career and her children do not come before the obligations of her marriage – but they are actually a part of it. Her career – and her raising of her children – actually complement her relationship to her husband. These are some of the things that cause her husband to have confidence in her – and are some of the reasons her husband lacks nothing of value.

I believe that this woman Proverbs describes for us here has learned that a stable and loving marriage is basic to success and happiness in those other areas. She knows that marriage fulfills her as a person and that the first essential of motherhood is to create for the children the environment of a loyal and loving home.

She is faithful and supportive to her husband.

Yet — even so, the marriage does not claim all of her time.

She is too gifted for that.

She is certainly a picture of what we might call – in many ways – a modern woman.

Secondly — she is a businesswoman. She has an interest in real estate and is also a dress designer and manufacturer.

“She considers a field and buys it…. She makes linen garments and sells them.”

There is nothing old-fashioned about this mother in ancient Israel! She is a person in her own right. Her life has significance quite apart from her relationship to her husband and children. And her family respects her for it.

She is faithful and supportive to her husband.

She is a business woman.

Thirdly — she is a teacher. Much of the teaching activity in that time took place in the home. The mother supervised the upbringing of the children. In this ideal little classroom:

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue. (vs. 26)

She is faithful and supportive to her husband.

She is a business woman.

She is a teacher

Fourth — she has interests that take her into the community — where her influence is felt for good. She functions as a member of society with a keen sense of responsibility. She is sensitive, outgoing, and generous, not a selfish woman with no thought of people less fortunate than her own family.

She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy (vs. 20)

One needs only to place this poem against the background of many other sayings about women in the collection of Proverbs to discover that such a woman shines forth with exceptional splendor. The writer paints a picture of the woman as the leading character in her family drama, the focus of the family, the strength of her household. Her husband is a strong person too—a public figure and a leader in society.

It is a full-time job for this woman to keep up with all of her activities as she holds the home together. She manages all of the practical affairs with industry and efficiency.

For all of these reasons, therefore, she is a person greatly admired and beloved by all. Her husband praises her. The writer of Proverbs declares her to be of surpassing excellence, more precious than jewels. Her children,

“rise up and call her blessed.”

Indeed, the picture the author of Proverbs gives us here comes very close to a woman in toady’s world – who is able to balance family, job, and so many other responsibilities. It is this woman who can make a distinctive contribution to society, while at the same time giving her family the love and support that they need.

But if Proverbs does not rise completely to the standard of our modern era in which women are playing a major role in families and in the world of business – and yes – of politics — we should remember that in the interval between the writing of Proverbs and our own time, the world has been profoundly affected by the teaching of Jesus.

We might ask ourselves where Jesus got his respect for women, which is evident throughout the gospel narratives. Of course, it came from God – for God holds all people equal – but I think it also came from His own earthly family, and his own mother!

Those of you who have been to the Holy Land may have visited the Grotto of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where, tradition says, Mary received the news that she was to be Christ’s mother. When you see the caves that the people of those times called home, you sense that the real miracle is that God chose this humble village maiden for such an awesome responsibility, and that she accepted and fulfilled the exalted role of mother of our Savior with perfect obedience and love. When you visit these surroundings, you realize that the Holy Family lived in the most crude and perilous conditions. Mary brought Jesus up in the tiny village of Nazareth (then not more than three hundred to five hundred folk), guided him through childhood, and loved him, even when she could feel him growing away from her.

It must have hurt Mary when Jesus left home and the family business, but her love followed him in his new career. She appears from time to time in the Gospels during Jesus’ active ministry. She was there at the end, even when his friends deserted him, suffering as only a mother can suffer in the tragedy of her child.

Mary gives the Christian community a good example of motherhood.

There is no substitute for a loving, caring, Christian mother.

There is no substitute for a mother loving, Christian mother. She can be an angel of God to her children and husband, and the instrument of God’s purpose and guidance and love and support.

The truth is that nobody can take a mother’s place in the life of her family. She bears children in her body, ushers them into the world, feeds them at her breast, makes a home for them, rears them, gives them goals, teaches them ideals, fires their ambitions, loves them, helps them, suffers with them, and stands by them. They have every reason to rise up and call her blessed. She is still the focal point of the family drama.

But – how does a mother do it all?

That’s where to Spirit of God comes in. (I said I would slip the Spirit in here somewhere!) When a person gives their life to following God, they also give their life to living in the ways of God – and when a person gives their life to living in God’s ways, they are strengthened by God to living in His ways. They begin to show what Paul calls “the fruit of the Spirit” – those things Paul lists in Galations 5:22-23:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

These are qualities of a Christian mother.

Loving – joyous – patient – kind – good – faithful – gentle

Sure – there are other qualities at times – and these Spirit – filled qualities are not the only ones you’ll find in a Christian mother – for even the most spiritual mother has times when she will feel exasperated – overwhelmed – overworked – and will show qualities that are not quite from the Spirit of God! But – when you look at all they do and all that’s expected – who can blame them? God understands – and God forgives. We need to understand and forgive also.

So, dear mothers – on this your designated day — we salute you and thank you.

But – we are not trying to repay your love — but let me suggest that we try to pass it on – share some of the burden – and take on some of the qualities this wife and mother in Proverbs exemplifies for us.

You see — if in Christ there is no male or female, then, spiritually speaking, motherhood is not confined to biological mothers, or even to women alone. The ideal of fulfilling oneself in service to others is a fine ideal for everyone.

Mothers feed hungry children. Why shouldn’t we all?

Mothers conserve human life. Mothers humanize a forbidding world. Why should we all not do that?

A loving, caring, Christian mother is indeed an example for us all.

A mother’s love is indeed a gift from God.

Thanks Mom.

Amen.

Proverbs 31:10-31

Proverbs 31:10-31

A Mother’s Day Card From God

May 13, 2007

Happy Mother’s Day!

Today is Mother’s Day – the day we think about, honor, and give praise to God for our mothers. It’s good to have a day to stop and think about our mothers – because a mother is one thing we all share in common.

Whether our mother’s are alive or whether they are not –

whether we live with them or we don’t –

whether we can easily share our lives with them or – for whatever reason – it is difficult to do so –

whether they have been examples of love and patience to us or have not showed us a lot of love in our lives –

we all have – or have had – mothers.

A good, Christian mother is indeed something to give praise to God for.

I believe that all mothers attempt to be good mothers and start out wanting good things for their children – but at times circumstances or things or choices get in the way and the relationship between a mother and her child can be strained. But – deep down – I think all mothers love their children – and want the best for them.

So – regardless of things that may have happened –

Regardless of our relationship with our mothers – good or bad – it’s god to have a day when we can think about, honor, and give praise to God for our mothers.

Being a mother is not an easy job.

In some ways it is harder now that it ever has been.

A woman of keen mind and understanding heart gazed at Whistler’s portrait of his mother. “It is a remarkable painting of a very lovely lady,” murmured the viewer, “but she is too peaceful and calm to be mother.”

Being a mother – especially in today’s world – is not easy.

Sure – there are more appliances and conveniences placed within the home with the goal of making the household chores easier – but in spite of all the modern day conveniences in then home, women today are probably busier than at any other point in history.

Expectations for women have changed. Today, a mother is expected to not only cook the bacon, she has to help bring it home as well. Even though she may work 40 hours plus, she is still expected to be the main housekeeper. She is often expected to keep the house, cook the meals, wash the clothes, and take care of the children. Their day is often from before sun-up to past sun-down.
Another change we have seen in recent years is the “super mom”. This is the woman that attempts to have it all, a good education, a great career, and be a great mother as well. Many women are finding that this is not that easy. Regardless of time schedules and calendar organizers, there is still only 24 hours to work with in a day. I know, there are occasions that I wish for 36 hours in a day so I could get everything done as well, but there is no such thing. It takes a great deal of organizing – and making choices – to get around to just what needs to be done.

You can forget about getting it all done.

All these expectations can lay a big guilt trip on the modern day women – whether she be a mother or not.

Not many households can be like the Cleavers on the old TV show “Leave It To Beaver” – or like the Nelson’s on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”. Maybe your family is more like the “Ozzie Osbourne Family” than it is the “Ozzie Nelson Family”!

So – what can I say today to help you with your struggle to raise a family in the best way you can?

I believe the Bible has a lot of encouragement for mothers. Certainly it has encouragement for us all – but I want to focus on mothers today.

First – listen to God’s word as the book of Proverbs describes a Godly wife and mother. Listen to Proverbs 33:10-31.

Read Scripture

You may have noticed the sign in front of the Church as you arrived for worship or Sunday School today. It reads reads:

A mother needs:

Feet that are fast

Arms that are strong

And hands that are folded in prayer.

Fast feet.

Strong arms.

Praying hands.

Such are the things a mother needs to fill all the roles she has to fill these days – or to be the woman – the wife – the mother Proverbs describes in the passage I just read.

Fast feet

Strong arms

And particularly praying hands

are the only things that can help mothers – or any woman – or any man for that matter – be the people God has called us to be.

The passage from Proverbs we have before us this morning is not an easy one to live up to. It can be taken as just a few more unrealistic expectations to add to the list of unrealistic expectations laid upon mothers these days. But – before you just mark this passage off as an impossible list to live up to – I ask you to consider one point – God gives you strength to do these things – if not perfectly – then better than you can do these things on your own.

The fast feet –

The strong arms –

Are all made faster and stronger by the praying hands. It’s the praying hands that make all the things God expects of Christian mothers – all the things Proverbs 31 tells us about – all the real expectations that are placed upon Christian mothers these days – do-able.

God is with you as you pray for the strength to do all you need to do.

God is with you as you pray for fast feet – strong arms – and all the other things you need.

Many of us might have spent some time looking for Mother’s Day cards this week – looking for the one that says just the right thing in the right way. The “perfect mother’s day card” is just about as rare as the “perfect mother”! Usually you look around – then settle for one that is not quite perfect but covers what you want to say well enough.

Well – you know what?

God has selected a Mother’s Day card for all you Moms here today.

A copy is here in the pulpit.

There are copies in the pews.

Some of you brought your own copy with you from home.

I would dare say all of you have at least one copy in your house.

God’s Mother’s Day card for all you Moms here today is the Bible.

Mothers have a very difficult job – actually more of a ministry than a job. But God doesn’t bless you with Motherhood, then leave you to hang out to dry. He’s given you His Word to encourage you – to help you — to bless you – to comfort you – and to give you direction. The Bible is God’s Mother’s Day Card to you. You can pick out the verse or verses that apply to you as a Mother – and that can be God’s message to you as you strive to be the best Mom you can be.

For example –

When you feel discouraged.

Moms – have you ever felt discouraged?

What Mom hasn’t?
Motherhood isn’t for the weak or faint-hearted, is it?
Mothers need a lot of encouragement … and need it on a daily basis.
Listen to what God writes on the inside of His Mother’s Day Card to you in Isaiah 40:28-31:

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

When you feel like giving up – don’t!
Why? Because Isaiah tells us that God “understands”.

Can you identify with being tired and weary? Isaiah reminds you that God strengthens the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Mothers — when you get discouraged, open up God’s Mother’s Day Card, read His message to you, and then –like the Paul in Philippians 4:13 – you can say:

13I can do everything through him who gives me strength

How about:

2.- When you feel angry
How about it – Moms?

Have you ever gotten angry with your kids?
If you haven’t, you need to be nominated for sainthood!
Listen to what God has written on the inside of His Mother’s Day card to you:
In Ephesians 4:26:

In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

God doesn’t say it’s wrong to be angry, but He does say that you need to control your anger. God’s message to you is to not stay angry.

There’s a purpose for anger — you’re supposed to get angry over disobedience, lack of respect, insolence, and other things. If you didn’t get angry over these things, but permitted and encouraged them, you wouldn’t be much of a Mother. But – you have to control it instead of letting it control you. You need to turn it into a useful tool, not a destructive weapon.
Moms — when you feel angry, open up God’s Mother’s Day Card and read His message to you. Don’t let your anger control you … let God control your anger.

How about –

3.- When you need help.
Moms — do you ever feel like you’re in this motherhood business alone? You might get a lot of help from all sorts of people – including your husband – but — do you ever feel like you need more help?
Open up God’s Mother’s Day Card to you, and see what He’s written in it to you in Proverbs 3:5-6:

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

God is always there to help you. He’s got some other helpful words of encouragement:

Ps. 32:8 – I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.

Mom’s — you’re not alone. Paul writes in Phil. 4:19 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”

God’s not going to abandon you — He’s always there to help you.

When you feel discouraged –

When you feel angry –

When you feel that you need help –

God is with you giving you what you need.

Well – how about:

4.- When you feel alone?

Moms — You can have a houseful of children — all wanting your attention at the same time … and still feel alone – can’t you?

You can be in the middle of Wal-mart with kids hanging off the shopping cart and still feel alone.

Open up God’s Mother’s Day card – and you’ll see it has some words for you in those times too.

Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you; I will never forsake you.”

Moms – – you’re not alone in raising your children. God hasn’t abandoned you.
Whenever you feel lonely, just open up God’s Mother’s Day card to you … and be assured that He is just a prayer away.

Well – how about:

5. When you feel tired.

Sometimes a “stay-at-home Mom” will be asked this question: “Do you work?” Your first impulse is probably to punch the person asking the question in the nose — your second impulse might be laugh hysterically until you cry.

Author and preacher Tony Campolo said that when his wife, Peggy, was at home fulltime with their children and someone would ask, “And what is it that you do, my dear?” she would respond, “I am socializing two Homo sapiens into the dominant values of the Judeo- Christian tradition in order that they might be instruments for the transformation of the social order into the kind of eschatological utopia that God willed from the beginning of creation.” Then she would ask: “And what do you do?” Moms — open up God’s Mother’s Day card, and see what He wrote to you: Mt. 11:28 – ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” You won’t find “rest” by hiding in the closet or by locking yourself in the bathroom. You’ll find “rest” in Jesus. Moms — when you get to the end of your rope — don’t hang yourself – but instead come to Jesus for some much deserved rest. Well – what about: 6.- When you are worried Show me a Mother who never worries! You can’t – can you? Worry is a part of being a Mother. Open up God’s Mother’s Day card, and see what He has for you: Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Mothers have very broad shoulders – but they don’t compare to the broad shoulders of God, your Heavenly Father. When you are worried, you’ve got Somebody to go to who is eagerly waiting for you to unload on Him. So – God has sent you a Mother’s Day Card – the Bible — to encourage you When you feel discouraged When you feel angry When you feel you need help When you are alone When you feel tired When you feel worried and – of course – in many other times of your life. Mothers have a very difficult job – actually more of a ministry than a job. But God doesn’t bless you with Motherhood, then leave you to hang out to dry. He’s given you His Word to encourage you – to help you — to bless you – to comfort you – and to give you direction. The Bible is God’s Mother’s Day Card to you. You can pick out the verse or verses that apply to you as a Mother – and that can be God’s message to you as you strive to be the best Mom you can be. Read your Mother’s Day card – the Bible – every day – and pray for God’s strength and guidance. Being a mother is a tremendous task – but God is with you through it. Yea – the Church sign might just have it right – A mother needs: Feet that are fast Arms that are strong And hands that are folded in prayer But – the fast feet – The strong arms – Are all made faster and stronger by the hands that pray – and keep God’s Mother’s Day card – the Bible – close – and of course the eyes that read it. That is, when they’re not looking to see what the kids are up to! Happy Mother’s Day! Amen

 

Proverbs 31:10-31, Ephesians 5:21-6:4

Proverbs 31:10-31

Ephesians 5:21-6:4

“STRONG – INVINCIBLE – CHRISTIAN”

EASTER 7  (MOTHER’S DAY)  MAY 14, 2006

 

Today is Mother’s Day – a day when we celebrate our Mother’s love and our love and gratitude to God for our mothers – a day we honor our mother’s – but I don’t like to just stick to honoring or talking about our mother’s and our mother’s love on this day.

So — today – I want us to look at what it means to be a real  woman – because I think that when look at what it means to be a real woman we’ll see what it means to be a real Christian – be we male or female.

There are so many ideas of what it means to be a real woman in today’s world. The modern definition of womanhood can be very demanding – and very confusing.

Some of you may know that one of my hobbies is maintaining a blog – or a web log.  I also like to read other blogs and web sites because I believe they give a picture of our society today. 

I understand that there are numerous web sites out there that are advertised to be “by women, for women.”  Many give examples – or models – for women to pattern their lives after.  Many web sites feature tips for women on how to make it in the business world – how to “look the part” of a successful business person and still be feminine about it – and many other tips all the way from cooking and cleaning to how to pick the best mechanic to how to pick the best financial advisor.

The fact is that many women are moving from the home into the business world.  Some are doing this for the first time – and may not have experience to draw on to make the transition — so the creators of internet web sites and blogs are glad to dispense advice – most times with a charge. Over 50 million women are expected to log on this year to internet sites — becoming the most critical demographic of the Web. Bigger bucks for e-commerce. More e-millionaires starting up e-businesses appealing to – shall we say — e-women.
            When a Washington, DC-based market research group called the Women's Consumer Network recently studied household spending, they discovered that women are responsible for spending more than 85 percent of it. So now we have www.ka-Ching.com — a Web site that assumes from the get-go that women will be handling the insurance forms, completing the financial aid applications and negotiating the contracts with service workers. If you don't know how to do these things, “ka-Ching.com” will teach you how, while also brushing up your tax preparation and investment skills. There is also www.womenshands.com — which takes the ancient business of making and selling homemade crafts from church bazaars and roadside stands to the global marketplace. Whether women are selling cars or jewelry, buying real estate or lipstick, it's happening on the Web.
            There’s a lot of things for women out there on the world wide web! Most are trying to convince women to make a name for themselves – go out there and change the world – be your own person –

            Or – as Helen Reddy once sang – be

 

STRONG – INVINCIBLE – WOMAN

 

            There are a lot of images out there with a lot of advice on what it means to be a woman — some good advice – and some not so good

            What’s a woman to do?

            Which image does she follow?

            Is it really possible for a woman to be completely independent –

 

STRONG – INVINCIBLE – WOMAN?

 

Well – when we look at Proverbs 31 we see that the talk of the strong woman is nothing new – for here we have a good image of a strong – what you might call invincible – woman!  

 

            READ PROVERBS 31:10-31 AGAIN

 

Is the strong – invincible woman the one who does these things our passage lists for us?

Well – it certainly sounds pretty strong and invincible to me

But where does this strength come from?

Where does this ancient Hebrew woman get what she needs to do all these things? 

Not from the internet!

Not even from chatting at “empowerment meetings” with her friends!

No – I believe it comes from her faith.

It is a woman of faith the author of Proverbs is describing here.

In Hebrew, the word to describe her is chayil, which is to say that she is strong and powerful and faithfully living up to her full God-given ability. The bottom line is that this passage is a poem in praise of the kind of woman all women should aspire to be, not because she can be the goddess of home and commerce, but because it is a life of using your God given talents – and praising God for these talents.

 

So — we have chayil – the strong woman of faith.

Strong. Invincible. Faithful.    

But what does Paul add to the image of the strong – invincible – faithful  woman in Ephesians 5?

 

READ EPHESIANS 5:22-24

 

Talk about mixed bag of images

At first glance, this is not the picture of the strong – invincible – faithful woman Proverbs gives us.

What gives?

Proverbs says the strong – invincible – woman is to:

 

do her husband good – and not evil

be adept at buying and selling

rise while it is still night to cook for the family

be able to buy property

gird her arms with strength

have profitable merchandise

work at sewing and other crafts at night

clothe her household

give her husband a good reputation

sell some of the clothes she makes

not be idle

 

Then – Ephesians says that the faithful woman is to be subject to her husband. 

 

These seem to be a confusing set of images here!

A confusing set of images indeed! 

 But — are these really 2 conflicting images – or are they the same image – the same person – the same goal – just different aspects of it?

 

Can a woman be a strong – invincible – faithful – woman – and:

 

do her husband good – and not evil

be adept at buying and selling

rise while it is still night to cook for the family

be able to buy property

gird her arms with strength

have profitable merchandise

work at sewing and other crafts at night

clothe her household

give her husband a good reputation

sell some of the clothes she makes

not be idle

 

and at the same time be subject to her husband?

 

Maybe so.

In fact maybe that’s the Christian way.

A woman who:

 

does her husband good – and not evil

is adept at buying and selling

rises while it is still night to cook for the family

is able to buy property

girds her arms with strength

has profitable merchandise

works at sewing and other crafts at night

clothes her household

gives her husband a good reputation

sells some of the clothes she makes

is not idle

 

While – at the same time lets herself be subject to her husband.

 

Maybe this is what it means to be strong – invincible – Christian.

Maybe – just maybe – instead of trying to be thoroughly modern — thoroughly strong – thoroughly invincible – women – and men – can strive to be thoroughly Christian:

 

 doing  their husbands and wives good – and not evil

being adept at buying and selling

rising while it is still night to provide for the family

adept at business –

doing what needs to be done for the other – and the family –

 

While at the same time letting themselves be subject to each other.

 

Strong – Invincible – - Christian

 

Paul gives some roles for the man in Ephesians also, you know.

What it boils down to is mutual strength – mutual love – helping each other.

Not so much thoroughly modern – but what I call thoroughly Christian.

 

Strong – Invincible – Christian.

 

How can we accomplish this?

 

Only with God.

Only with God’s love.

Only with God’s strength.

 

God can strengthen us so we can be a strength for each other in our families and marriages.

God can strengthen us for we can love each other in our families and marriages.

God can strengthen us so we can support each other in our families and our marriages.

God can strengthen us so we can be strong – invincible – Christian.

 

Being a thoroughly modern woman may not be the answer.

Being a thoroughly modern man may not be the answer.

But –

Being a thoroughly Christian woman may be the answer.

Being a thoroughly Christian man may be the answer.

 

Strong. Invincible. Christian. 

 

I believe that the key to life – for a man or woman – is not being thoroughly modern — but thoroughly Christian.

Not paying attention to all the self help sites that are on the web and everywhere we look – but paying attention to God – and God’s help for our lives.

 

Strong. Invincible. Christian

 

So – to all you Moms out there – - Happy Mother’s Day!

I praise God for all you do – the way you tackle the hard tasks – the way you do all you can for your family.

 

And – to all you men – do all you can to support them in their tasks.

 

Let’s all be thoroughly Christian women and men.

 

Let’s all be: Strong. Invincible. Christian

 

Amen.