Thanks, Mom (1 Corinthians 1:4-9)
GIST: Dear Moms Striving To Shine The Light Of Christ: thank you; don’t give up; hold on to hope; and please know it’s worth it!
Preaching Mother’s Day messages are hard for me. I approach them with the same desire as every Sunday—to faithfully share God’s Word. However, there is an added expecation I feel ill equipped to fulfill: speaking specifically to a mom’s heart. That’s why we started today’s message with a series of messages from moms to moms (and it’s also why my sermon is, by design, a bit short this morning because of that ☺️).
And that term, “mom”, encompasses a wide variety of experiences as well. It can speak to both those who have raised ten children and those who have never had any. It reaches out to those doing midnight feedings while newborns snuggle in their arms and those offering midnight prayers for grown children who have lost their way. Motherhood is more than changing diapers and wiping noses; it’s the nurturing compassion which defines so many and impacts even more. It’s a big deal.
That being said, as I prayerfully struggled with what to share with moms on their special day, I kept coming back to 1 Corinthians 1:4-9. These verses were originally written to a church which, honestly, had it’s share of problems. Nonetheless, when Paul first greats them, he focuses in on the blessing of their salvation and all God is doing in their lives despite the struggles they were facing. Therefore, there is undoubtedly a broader application here which reaches to all of us. However, it also expresses what I’d like to say to my mom, the beautiful mother of my four children, and to all those who take time to carry the love of Jesus like they do.
“4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge-- 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you-- 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Ok, so let’s take this as our gist→ Dear Moms Striving To Shine The Light Of Christ: thank you; don’t give up; hold on to hope; and please know it’s worth it! Let’s break that down a bit.
1. Thank You! As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge-- 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you…” Your path isn’t easy, but you’re not alone. Please don’t forget this. Hearts of various sizes look to you for direction and affirmation, but above all else, you are a preciously loved recipient of Jesus’ amazing grace.
Now, this is a mother’s day message, and the passage says you have enriched speech and all knowledge, so we could go crazy with this ☺️. I’m sure you speech is sometimes very enriched, and I definitely learned from a young age that arguing with my mom was a futile as fighting the Borg ☺️. But that’s not what this is talking about, right? Remember, Corinth wasn’t a church that had it all figured out. They were broken people, like us! However, because of His unfailing love, our imperfection can be used to speak life and provide guidance as He displays His grace through us! Moms who love Jesus, even if you feel like you’re stumbling through this process— and,again, this cannot be said enough—thank you!
2. Don’t Give Up! Paul continued by saying, “7 so that you are not lacking in any gift…” Every day probably feels like a Red Panda halftime show. You’re peddling through life on a unicycle, and you’re pretty sure you lack the acrobatic prowess to balance all the plates that keep getting thrown at your head. Come to think of it, you’re probably not too sure about the unicycle either! And if that analogy misses for you completely, please hear this. Regardless of what stage of life you’re in, you’re carrying a lot. However, what God calls you to He also equips you for. If you’re feeling like you’re not enough, remember, He is!
3. Hold On To Hope! Paul follows this up with a little contextualization: “as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Waiting implies a process. Waiting means it’s not over. Waiting points to the possibility of growth! And we’re all meant to be waiting in eager expectation for… Jesus. This points not only to His glorious return but also to His work in our lives. Wherever you are, whatever burden you’re bearing, whatever anoints your prayers with tears; this is not the end. He hears those babies crying. He knows the hearts of your prodigals. He sees those scars. In fact, His understanding of scars is precisely why you can hope!
4. It’s Worth It! You’ve been called to walk through this life with the one “8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Your path might seem long, but the end that is coming is secure because of His grace, and believe me, it’s more than worth it!
TAKEAWAYS
Thank you!
Don’t give up!
Hold on to hope!
And please know it’s worth it! Because moms who love Jesus make all the difference in the world.
