Mother's Day - Women of Faith

Sending a huge shout-out to all the Mother's of the PFCCI!

Today, Sunday 10 May, we wake to a day of celebrating our Mother's.
​As I was reflecting on what the bible says about Mum's and what joy women bring to God himself, I thought I would share with you. Where is the Gospel in Proverbs 31? That is a powerful question that has an answer that unfolds in this way: God has shown His love to the world by giving us special women in our lives.

Proverbs 31 teaches us that God blesses the world through women: through the gift of that special woman He blesses husbands. Through the gift of that woman He blesses households (and we could even say, entire economies or markets).

Through the gift of woman He blesses the poor and the needy. This is such a blessing. Without women in the Church where would our mercy ministries be? God has used women in the Church to feed the hungry, clothe the naked. Thank God for our women and our Mothers who saw a need and reached out their hand in God’s name to save a soul.

Through the gift woman He blesses the Church. It says that she teaches. Oh, how I have witnessed this first-hand! From my own experience of Sunday School teachers in my life. To seeing the special women who taught my children in their life, growing up. I thank God for the women in the Church, ministry consists of those women who faithfully teach, teach the children, teach other women, teach in the community, teach in schools. We thank God for our women today who have served our churches and our communities through teaching.

Through the gift of woman He blesses Children. The covenant of God’s grace was as important then as it is now. Mothers play a critical part of the continuation of the faith by inculcating the children in faith in God so that the children grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Of course, this is what Mothers’ Day is all about. Children are blessed. Mum’s I encourage you, you are overseeing the training and development of the next generation of leaders of your nation.

Through the gift of that woman He blesses other women. This is a woman among women, a model to others. Through the gift of that special woman He blesses Mankind. Today we as Christians separate from the world’s picture of womankind.In some cultures, a woman is hidden by the burka. In other cultures, she is hidden by shame. In others, she is veiled in false and unrealistic expectations. But, we who read her story in the Bible refuse to see women as anything other than the gift of God, the last created.

She is mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend. She is a child of God. That is her identity.

Today, as you think of your mother, your wife, or another woman in your life who nurtured you, raised you, helped you, taught you, cared for you, or shared the gospel with you, remember that this woman was a gift of God to show you His love. And the greatest way we can honour our mothers today, or any day, is to honour God, by following that One that woman brought forth: Jesus of Nazareth, as Lord and Saviour of our lives.

And ladies, young women, and my daughters in faith: remember that your identity is not in an unrealistic standard made by anything or anyone in this world. Your identity is as a precious daughter of the Father who sent His only begotten Son to fulfill the perfection that you couldn’t fulfill and to suffer and die and rise again from the dead for your sin. He has removed your shame and replaced it with honour.

This is the gospel in this passage and the gospel for this day.

Happy Mother’s Day! Blessings and honour be poured out on you, your house hold and your ministry.

~ Annita Irving - PFCCI Australia