How can one define a mother? She is the strongest of the woman yet the most loving and gentle. She is your most active supporter and at times your harshest critic. Every second Sunday in May we celebrate & honor mothers. Of course, most of us know one day is not enough to thank a person who bought you into this world and love you unconditionally. Mother’s love transcends race, religion, distance, gender, age, and borders. These traits describe all mothers in the world, but I want to talk to you about a mom who knows Jesus and how a Christian mother should raise a child. Turn with me to the book of Exodus and let’s learn from Jochebed, Mose’s mother. I want to share three traits of a Godly mother.
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
1) Potential: Jochebed sees the possibilities for Moses. As most of you know, Pharaoh wanted every Jewish male child to be drowned in the river. He was afraid of how fast the Jewish population was growing and to control that, he wanted every son born to be cast into the river ( Exodus1:22). She hid Moses for 3 months, imagine how difficult that must have been when you are leaving in a tent. I want to encourage the parents who are reading this to see the potential in your child. Yes, parent thinks our kid is the best looking, smartest, kindest, most obedient child ever but that is only when we are talking to others, but in the privacy of home, we have a tendency to be critical of the child. I know I am certainly guilty of that, but mom should always try to see the potential in child. Many famous people who made history had a strong presence of the mother in their life who encouraged their child. Please continue to reaffirm the child no matter what age they are. When we have high expectation for the child, there is always an attempt to live up to that expectation. But if the child is criticized, they will live down to that expectation. Jochebed saw the child and said this is Godly child.
2) Pitfall: Yes, she saw the vision for Moses, but she also recognized the danger. She did not have her head in the sand. She knew he would be killed and she would not be able to hide Moses forever. We too need to recognize the dangers our children face. Like Jochebed, the mothers today need to protect their children from Pharoah of materialism. They need the latest brand name clothing & shoes, new car, the newest phone and gadgets in the market, the world of materialism is ready to drown your child. There is Pharoah of sexuality being pumped at them from everywhere, TV ads, movies, magazines. There is Pharoah of atheism telling them God is just a fairy tale. You don’t need God. Your destiny is in your own hand. You determine your own success. Our children face many dangers which are ready to kill and devour them. We can not just close our eyes and pretend not to notice. Many times mom like to cover up for their kids and look the other way but that ought not to be. As a mother, you must recognize the pitfalls and save your children from Pharoah’s that want to drown them. Which leads me to the third point.
3) Protection: Jochebed was a woman of the word. You see she knew of another “godly” man named Noah who was also saved from DROWNING and destruction. She put Moses in an Ark and lined it with a pitch just like Noah did back in Genesis. I encourage, you mothers ( & fathers) to follow the example of Jochebed, immerse yourself in word and have faith in the promises of God. Look at what she did, she places Moses in the very river Jewish boy were being drowned. She trusted in God and had faith in the protection of God. We would tend to go as far away from the river as possible but not Jochebed. As parents, we recognize the dangers our children encounter and many times our reaction is to isolate them, keep them away from the bad influence. We say don’t watch TV, don’t do that_____-you can fill in the blank and that might be a good strategy, but that does not protect them. Jesus thrusts us into the world. He said you are the light of the world. Detachment is not the solution, but instead, covering is. What is this covering? For that, you will have to read the teaching on father’s day as you see there is a father in scripture who teaches us about insulating our Children.
Jochebed, a Godly woman who saw the potential of Moses, did not let the pitfalls discourage her from her vision from her son and she sought his protection in the Lord. Isn’t this a great story of faith? As we read further, we see she is feeding her own baby and getting paid to do it. Jochebed was one of few women to make it into faith hall fame in Hebrew 11. As you celebrate mother’s day, trust in the promises of God, have faith in Jesus and in doing so you just might end up raising a prophet. Some of you reading this might say, this is all well & good, but my children are grown and I was not the mother I should have been. Maybe, you are a mother who is a new Christian, there is no way to go back and change the past. But, God can restore what is lost. In the book of Joel it says ” God will restore the years locust has Eaten”. It is not too late for you to recognize the Potential of your child, you can still protect him from the pitfalls. The biggest weapon any mother has is PRAYER. I just want to close with quote from D.L. Moody. “The impression that a praying mother leaves upon her children is life-long. Perhaps when you are dead and gone your prayer will be answered.”
I want to wish you all a Happy Mother’s day. Have a blessed time and glorify God in all that you do.
only savior jesus 
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