By Rikki Beth Poindexter
I had someone ask me to pray that they would be a biblical mother. I first thought, do they even know what they have asked? Then I thought about the attack that will come because the adversary knows the POWER of a biblical mother!!
I began this spiral of thinking: What is a biblical mother?
1. A biblical mother is saved!
She has to have had an encounter with Jesus that changed her life (no matter her age or how religious she was). A lost lady CANNOT be a biblical mother. Trying to be one will be the heaviest yoke of bondage anyone could imagine. Trying to be something you are not is horrible! Luke 6:46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Are you truly born again? Examine yourself.
2. A biblical mother loves her children.
I mean, like duh, right?! Apparently, this doesn’t come naturally because the aged (older, more mature) women are to teach the younger to love their children (Titus 2:4). This is the only time this word love with the meaning of fondness is used in this context. In order to be fond of your kids, you must enjoy being with them and around them. Doing so means you will have to train and teach them.
What does it mean to love your kids? Proverbs 13:24, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Were the young women in Titus 2 struggling with training and disciplining their children? Were they showing signs of not being fond of their own children? The fruit of well-behaved and trained children is some of the sweetest ever tasted!
Do I love my kids? Really love them?
3. A biblical mother looks different.
I can assure you, a biblical mother doesn’t look like the rest! She is different, holy, not worldly, and separate. She stands out. She is a light in this dark day. She is the salt of the earth. Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. I Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Particularly, the Proverbs 31 lady comes to my mind here because when reading about her, she has always stood out. She has always seemed perfect and unattainable. But she wasn’t, and her model is attainable. It is just going to take desire and a lot of work and effort on our part as wives and moms.
Are you fitting in or are you different; salty and bright?
4. A biblical mother is aware of the influences around her kids.
She is oh so careful of who is influencing her babies. She doesn’t leave them in the care of just anyone. She is careful with what they watch and read. Young children, especially, are easily influenced. Psalms 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Galatians 5:7, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”
Do you care who has influence over your children?
5. A biblical mother models the Bible.
She isn’t a hypocrite. Believe me, when those little children start growing, get saved, and begin learning the Bible, they know if we are real or fake. A biblical mother is attempting to be biblical everywhere, with everyone, and in every situation (not perfect).
Is what I have real? Or am I pretending?
6. A biblical mother is stable in the Word of God.
She is not tossed about with every wind of doctrine. She is learning and growing herself. She is striving to be more Christlike. She is teachable and not rebellious. She reads and studies her Bible regularly and consistently. She hides God’s Word in her heart and makes it a priority to teach it to her kids. She teaches them Scripture. She helps the young kids hide God’s Word in their hearts. She encourages the older ones to do the same with her example. She teaches, instructs, and models the correct things to put into her children’s minds and hearts. Deuteronomy 11:19, “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
Moses’ mother (who saved his life) knew that Pharaoh’s daughter would not teach him about the Lord. It is estimated that she only had about 1,000 days (roughly 2 years, 7 months) with little Moses. She knew she had better get all she could into that little heart. No doubt, the seed she planted, aided in his hearing God’s voice.
Hannah vowed that if God would give her a son, she would give him back to the Lord. And after she weaned little Samuel, she took him to stay with pitiful Eli and his wicked sons. No doubt in those few years she had him with her, she was pouring into him the words of God and telling him all about what God had done for her. He, too, was able to listen when God spoke to him.
These biblical moms spent their time wisely. None of us know how many days we will get with our kids. I can promise you, the days go by way too quickly. How am I spiritually, really? Am I even teaching my kids the Scriptures? Do I care if they are learning it or not?
7. A biblical mother loves her children’s father and puts him before the children.
They know when dad is loved, cherished, and reverenced by mom. One of the best things a mother can do for her kids is to love their dad! Her behavior teaches them how to treat their dad. She is a teacher of good things. In this behavior, she is teaching her daughters how to be biblical wives and her sons what kind of wives they can have.
Where does my husband, their father, rank in the home?
***Come Back Next Week for Part II.***