“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise); that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3).

When God created the world and all that’s in it, He had a perfect plan for family. A man to protect and provide for his family and a woman to be his helper and nurture the family. God created Adam on the sixth day, then drew Eve from him. We know the history. Though God placed our first parents in a perfect place, they chose to rebel. Adam and Eve knew God’s one rule but disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit. Because of that, they were expelled from the Garden of Eden.

“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said I have gotten a man from the LORD” (Genesis 4:1).

Eve was the first mother and recognized that her child was a gift from God. Some erroneous teachings say that Cain was conceived inside the Garden of Eden and his father was Satan. Scripture doesn’t support that belief, but Cain had a sin nature and eventually killed his younger brother Abel. Eve must have been heartbroken. Her disobedience to God brought on Adam’s sin, and the result of that disobedience is the sin and death first seen in her sons.

Sin and death are still a part of our daily life. We all have a mother, and she isn’t perfect, but most of us have warm memories of childhood and how our mothers made things special.

Many mothers are singled out in Scripture, and women can learn from them. One of my favorites is Hannah. She was one of two wives of Elkanah. Polygamy was practiced at that time, though it didn’t follow the example of a one-man/one-woman marriage which God ordained in the Garden of Eden. Elkanah’s other wife was named Peninnah, and she wasn’t a very nice person. Hannah had no children and Peninnah, who did have children, treated Hannah awful. Though Hannah hurt inside, she didn’t allow bitterness to ruin her life. She yearned to have a child, so she prayed. What a blessing a woman of prayer is to her family.

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (1 Samuel 1:10-11).

Hannah’s desire for a son was strong, and her love of the Lord was stronger. She knew that God could allow her to have children and promised Him that if He gave her a son, she would be sure that he would know the Lord. The vow she made was a Nazirite vow. She promised that he would be set apart for God’s service. God answered her prayer, and Hannah gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel and was true to her promise to God. Hannah sent her son to live with Eli the priest, and Samuel did serve God his entire life.

“And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:21).

Scripture doesn’t tell us about her other children, but with a mother like Hannah they were loved and prayed over. Children who are born to a Godly woman are very blessed to have her as a mother.

There are special mothers in the New Testament too. None of them is more special than Mary. She had all the hopes and dreams of a young woman, and her future was clear. She would marry Joseph, raise a family, and live out a normal Jewish life. She must have been a special person because God chose her for a very unique and important task. She would give birth to the Messiah.

Mary was no different than any other young woman of that time, but God knew that she would be a good mother to His Son and chose her to fulfill prophecy. An angel made the announcement to Mary that she had been chosen. There was nothing supernatural about Mary, but she did love the Lord and was humble before Him. When the angel appeared to her, she was afraid, but he put her at ease.

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou has found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS” (Luke 1:30-31).

Mary wasn’t married and only asked how she could become pregnant. When the angel explained that the Child would be the Son of God, Mary was humble and obedient.

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38).

Like Hannah before her, Mary humbled herself and declared she was a “handmaid of the Lord.” Mary had no idea what heartache she would face, but submitted to God. Everybody knew she was pregnant but not married, and that was forbidden under the Law. She could have been stoned to death, but Joseph was also visited by an angel and understood that he needed to stand by her.

After Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary were married and had other children together. Mary knew that Jesus was the Son of God, but she was also a human mother and didn’t want Him to be mocked. There were times when she even tried to stop Him from fulfilling His purpose, but it was only because she loved Him. Jesus understood and He loved her. As He was dying on the cross, shedding His blood for the forgiveness of her sins, as well as the sins of all who will accept Him, He looked down and saw her there along with John. Before Jesus gave up the ghost, He gave the care of Mary over to John, who took care of her until she died. Yes, Mary was a very special mother.

Many times, mothers are a quiet influence upon their children. There’s one mother who is only mentioned by name in one verse, and we are better acquainted with her son. We first learn of her when Paul was on a missionary journey.

“Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:1-2).

The first time Paul was in Lystra, he had quite a time convincing the people that he and Barnabas weren’t Greek gods. He preached the Gospel and established a congregation of believers. When he came back to check on the congregation, he found a young believer named Timotheus, whom we know better as Timothy. Timothy’s mother was Jewish but had accepted Christ. His father was Greek and apparently not a Christian. This quiet mother had a strong influence upon her son.

Paul became close to Timothy and established him as a pastor in Ephesus. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy and, in the second, he mentioned Timothy’s mother and grandmother.

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Timothy 1:5).

Paul was aware of the strong faith of the two women who grounded Timothy in his faith. Many mothers today are the only Christian influence in their children’s lives. Those mothers need to be encouraged, because the influence of an unbelieving father can damage the faith of the children. Timothy was blessed to have Eunice for a mother and Lois for a grandmother.

Times are changing, and many women have placed a higher priority on working outside the home rather than doing the most important job they can do, being a wife and mother. Raising a son to be a God-honoring man and a daughter to be a God-honoring woman is the most important thing a woman can do. Circumstances or poor choices may have required her to be a single mother and work to support her children, but teaching them about Jesus and not to make the mistakes she has made will give the children a solid foundation on which to build their lives.

I was very blessed to have had a mother who was a beautiful Christian lady. She faced many tests of her faith but always came out stronger. Though she died over 40 years ago, she is still an influence over my life. Like Timothy, I also had a grandmother who found strength in her faith and is still an example to me. God has blessed me with three children whom I love very much and pray they see God’s love shine through my life.

None of us are perfect, not even our mothers. Take time to thank God for your mother, and say a prayer for her.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

 

There are certain times during the year that we remember Jesus, or at least give Him a passing thought. Christmas: The time of year when we decorate trees, give gifts, and dust off the Nativity Scene. Easter: The time of year when we buy new Spring clothing, color eggs, eat chocolate bunnies, and sometimes call it Resurrection Sunday. If you don’t attend worship services any other time of the year, those two dates are most likely when you join with fellow Christians to remember Jesus. Joining with a congregation doesn’t mean you’re a Christian.

Many pews are filled with people who haven’t bowed before the Lord and accepted His blood sacrifice for salvation. If you’re a Christian, it’s easier to walk in your faith when you fellowship with fellow believers. That’s especially true if that fellowship is a daily thing you do rather than just on Sunday. The friends you choose make a difference as to how faithful your walk is with Jesus. If you try to blend in with the secular world, you’ll clash with Christians.

Jesus Christ lives today and Christians need to serve Him.

I serve a risen Saviour; He’s in the world today.

I know that He is living, whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ should be on a Christian’s heart every day. It’s the foundation of our faith.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). 

The cross was empty and the grave couldn’t hold Him. Christ arose from the dead, and no matter what non-believers say, He lives today. As He walked throughout the Holy Land, many people followed Him. Some liked what they heard, some wanted healing, and some just followed the crowd. Jesus showed them love, and it must have been like a breath of fresh air to listen to Him speak. Then things changed.

The joy which people found in the novelty of His teaching changed quickly to fear and denial when He was arrested and put to death by crucifixion. People haven’t changed much over the years. It’s easy to follow Him when there are no challenges to our faith. When illness strikes, our faith is tested, and He gets blamed. Other people laugh and mock our faith; and rather than stand up for Jesus, we deny Him.

When we venture into the darkness of the world around us, we may find ourselves denying Him. When sin tempts you and anger causes you to use foul language or make obscene hand gestures, remember that He sees you and hears you. Jesus isn’t just some words on paper or fire insurance in case of trouble. When you accept Him for salvation, then you accept the lifestyle He has given as an example. Other people watch Christians and see how we represent our Lord.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). 

Humble yourself before Him, put self-interest aside, and let others see Him through you. Jesus lives.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,

And though my heart grows weary I never will despair.

I know that He is leading, thro’ all the stormy blast;

The day of His appearing will come at last.

We have many choices in life. Some make us better people and some tear us down. The most important choice is to accept Jesus Christ for salvation. If you’ve done that, then make a choice to see Him everywhere. That’s not always easy. There’s so much in the news today about horrific things that people do to each other, and to themselves. Mass shootings horrify us. Christians are murdered as they worship our Lord, politicians and the loony left promote the murder of babies, schools will accuse parents of child abuse if the parents don’t allow their child to choose their own sex, homosexuality is politically acceptable, and the list of horrors goes on and on.

How can we see God’s love in a world that’s very much as it was in the Days of Noah?

In spite of the evil, God’s love is all around us. We need to keep our eyes on Him and be an instrument of His love. Even in this day and age, many people are coming to salvation. Jesus never promised that when we turn to Him for salvation that life would become easy. In fact, He said just the opposite.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).

The persecution is becoming worse, and it seems as if it’s easier to choose to turn away and deny Him instead of following Him daily. Through it all, Jesus is with each and every Christian. The Christians in Sri Lanka weren’t abandoned by Jesus when the Muslim terrorists murdered them as they worshipped our Lord. The Christians who refuse to deny Jesus and are beheaded for their faith are strong, and I admire their courage. Christians who won’t compromise God’s truth and are sued and persecuted for not conforming to the world are standing on God’s word instead of denying Him.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Christians need to keep our eyes on Heaven and understand that this world is run by Satan. It’s that evil fallen one who is behind the persecution and hatred. Our blessed hope is that Jesus will call us all Home one day soon.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14).

Whether the Rapture will happen next month or 10 years from now, don’t despair. Every day, be aware of His loving care all around and take every opportunity to spread the Gospel.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing.

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,

None other is so loving, so good and kind.

Rejoice! Sometimes it’s not easy to rejoice as the pressures of life weigh us down. When things look bleak, remember that Christ lives. Nothing can change that fact. Every Christian has much to rejoice about…we have His resurrection.

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

Take a look at Paul’s life and you’ll see a man who was changed by Christ. He faced much persecution because of his faith but still said to rejoice in the Lord always. The hope we have in Jesus isn’t the type of hope where you cross your fingers and really want something to happen. Hope in Christ is an eternal reality. No matter what this life brings, we know beyond a shadow of doubt that we will live eternally with Christ.

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:19-20).

That hope is why we, as Christians, rejoice.

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

Jesus Christ is alive today. No religion, not even Christian religion, offers hope. Religion is full of rites and rituals which cannot bring salvation. True Christianity isn’t a religion. True Christianity is faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That faith guides a Christian’s life. Is He a reality to you every day, or do you just think about Him on special occasions throughout the year?

On the day that the tomb was found to be empty, two men who had followed Jesus were on their way to Emmaus. They were confused about what had happened and discussed it between themselves while they walked. As they spoke, Jesus joined them. The men were so consumed by their confusion that they didn’t recognize Him.

I can truthfully say that if someone I loved died but suddenly began walking and talking with me, I don’t think I would recognize them. Human logic tells me that when someone dies they don’t come and chat. In fact, we aren’t to communicate with the dead.

As they walked along, the men told Him all about what had taken place in Jerusalem. Then He began talking to them and cleared up their confusion.

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

Jesus walks and talks with us today. The question is, do we listen?

The song “He Lives” was written by Alfred H. Ackley and is usually only sung during Easter. Its words proclaim a truth that needs to be sung loudly and with rejoicing throughout the year. Jesus is not dead. He lives today; and because He lives, we can live eternally by placing our faith in Him.

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:6-7a).

The angel directed the women who found the tomb empty to go tell the disciples that Christ had risen. Christ gives us the responsibility to share the Gospel with all the world.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

Jesus Christ is the only hope in this fallen world; and if Christians don’t share the Gospel, then we are not living our faith.

He lives!

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). 

Because of Jesus Christ, the grave holds no victory. Remember that fact throughout the year and share the Good News.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.