A Mother's Love

Gary Henry
03/22/12 - Bulletin

are insignificant. Each has its counterpart in God’s character, and each needs to be taken seriously in our own character and in our own interactions with others. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the matter of love. The familiar texts that speak of God as having a father’s love are complemented by those that describe the divine love in motherly terms. The fatherliness of God’s love is perfected by its motherliness.

If God loves us with a mother’s love, this is more than a theoretical point. In day-to-day practice, we should not fail to have the same kind of love for one another. Even Paul, the strong soldier of the faith, understood the need for TENDER love. To the church in Thessalonica, he wrote, “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:7,8).

A mother is able to touch her children with a special tenderness because she UNDERSTANDS them in a special way. God’s perfect love for us, of course, is possible because of an infallible understanding of our hearts, and we shall not be able to reach that level of empathy for one another. What we certainly can do, however, is to make a more conscious EFFORT to understand the kinds of things a mother understands — and to love accordingly. If we seek God, we will seek to love as God loves. In our love and in our dealings with God’s children, we will include not only the productiveness of a father, but the tenderness and insight of a mother.

“A mother understands what a child does not say” (Jewish Proverb).
 

Well-Doing
By Jerry Fite
 

Paul writes, “and let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). Not many have died the moment they were raised up from the waters of baptism. Most of us arise to live the life of the Christian. We are honored to live for Christ for years. But time can be a difficult component for us. It is one thing to do what is right for an hour, but to continue in well-doing year after year is a challenge. Paul exhorts Christians to continue in well-doing and not grow weary. The spiritual harvest of eternal life awaits those who consistently day after day engage themselves in well-doing. What does well-doing involve? 

Since Paul relates such activity to reaping, we examine the immediate context regarding sowing to see one aspect of well doing. Sowing to the spirit, as we are led by the Holy Spirit, thus producing the fruit of the Spirit is well-doing (Galatians 6:8, 5:16, 22-23). Over time, we might become lax in studying and applying the Spirit revealed Word. We might tire from always having to manifest love, joy, peace and meekness. We might grow weary in continual kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. During our time on earth we must continue to make sure these spiritual qualities flourish as our spirit sows in the Spirit’s field.

Serving others is well-doing. Paul exhorts the Christian to use the freedom enjoyed in Christ to not selfishly serve the flesh, but “one another” (Galatians 5:13). He encourages the Christian to manifest the Spirit’s fruit of “gentleness” in “restoring” those who are suddenly overtaken in sin (Galatians 6:1-4). Those who teach us the word are not to be overlooked either. We should share our physical means or “communicate” with those who share with us the spiritual truths of God’s word (Galatians 6:6). As we have opportunity, we are to “do good” or meet the current need of all men, but especially those who are faithful Christians (Galatians 6:10). Over time we might become weary in always being aware of the needs of others, and grow tired in expending our energy and physical blessings to help others. But this is the life of the servant. Grow not weary in such well-doing. Not compromising with error is well-doing.  Paul led by example and did not give in to false teaching, “no not for an hour” (Galatians 2:5). He withstood his fellow apostle face to face pointing out Peter’s hypocrisy in “not walking according to the truth of the Gospel” (Galatians 2:14). He did this not to promote himself, but to make sure “the truth of the Gospel might remain” before all (Galatians 2:5).  

You may be courageous and take a stand for revealed truth momentarily. You may have many follow your example and stand with you for truth. But you may be tempted to grow weary when few stand to preserve truth. You may even want to give up, especially when those who compromise hurl disparaging remarks against you. Standing for truth is sowing to the Spirit. We must not become èweary in such well-doing. Reaping eternal life is at stake! Are you continuing in well-doing?

Downloadable File(s)

1. Bulletin_03-25-2012.docx (0.00 B)
2.  

Share Online