God's Math - M minus L equals Zero
What do I think of when I think of Mother's day? To be honest, it gets to be hard to preach it every year. Yes there are the old standbys of Hannah, Mary and Sarah, but there are just not that many different ladies mentioned in the Bible in detail.
So today, I wan to talk about God's Math. Yes an equation from God's Word. M minus L equals Zero. Before you scratch your head and ponder, let me tell you in this equation, the M stands for Mother and the L stands for Love. You cannot have Mothers without Love. This is how God planned it. This is how God wants it.
When I think of my mother, I know that without a doubt, she truly loves me. Not because of my great personality, not, because of my great wealth, not even my great looks. (you can laugh here). She loves me because she is my mother. As far as my life is concerned, she has always loved me. Guess what, I love her too.
Have you ever felt like no one loves you? No one cares? No one is looking out for you?
Well if you have a mother., there is someone who does love, care and look out for you.
Before I start, let us look at a three things…
First…
God is love - 1 Jn. 4:8
Second…
God made mothers
Third…
God filled/fills mothers with love
When we talk of mothers, we must talk of love.
I want to read from the great love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13…
1 Corinthians 13:1 - 13 1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
From this scripture we can understand that…
A mother's love is more than just words - 1
A mother's love is more than just gifts - 3
A mother's love is lasting - 4a
A mother's love knows the gentlest way - 4b
A mother's love overlooks her own needs - 4c
A mother's love treats kids right - 5a
A mother's love puts kids first - 5b
A mother's love is not easily hurt (by her kids)- 6
A mother's love teaches truth - 6b
A mother's love brings hope to all - 7b
A mother's love wins out - 8a
A mother's love teaches the love of Christ
Words
Deeds
Etc.
How can we describe some things about a mother's love?
A love of…
Sacrifice - give a lot, expecting little in return
Sharing - good times, avg. times, etc. - first step, tooth, words, etc.
Too often a time of…
Sadness - times of hurt
But thanks be to God, a time of
Sweetness - times of great joy
We can all remember times of
Silliness - all the goofy things
Yet a time of…
Sanity
No doubt, we faced…
Scolding
But there was always…
Safety
That safety came because of…
Sheltering in our lives
Sculpting for better lives
There helping us in our…
Selecting of life's choices
Striving to reach Godly Goals
They were also there in our…
Shortcomings
Helping to provide needed…
Strength
And applauding our…
Successes
So what is a mother?
All that God meant her to be reflecting His great love towards us in a way we can understand.
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 050805am