Mother’s Day
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12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Instructions for Christian Households
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers,[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
On this Mothering Sunday if I were to ask you to write a job description for a mum -
What are the qualities you would look for [cook, cleaner, Driver, Encyclopedia, troubleshooter (accidents) shoulder to cry on, comfort in the dark] -What a list! Any wonder why mums feel stressed out, this is a tall order.
[Move 1]Now let us look at the description given (this is not just for mums, though they may sound like ideal qualities of a mum) in Colossians 3:12
God chose you for his own so clothe yourselves with - compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness & patience.
2 parts - First is that you are chosen. Second is what God can do through us potential).
Compassion (think of a nurse in uniform [pic on slide]) on duty, not watching TV and feeling sad, but moved to action
Kindness(prop: an apron) God wants us to think of ways we can be kind to others like baking and making.
Humility (prop: Gloves) swallowing pride, grotty jobs. [Ask people to suggest examples]
Gentleness & patience (prop: a coach’s baseball hat) coach encourager. Believing in others, not in it for self, patient, watching, giving time, when you’re doing things and someone needs you [Ask people to suggest examples]
[Move 2] Look again at Colossians 3:12, the first part of v12 ‘you are chosen’ [has anyone been chosen for a big part in a school play? a sports team – [Ask people to suggest examples] – hands up if you’re not into sport? If you hated games. The time of picking sides and calling out names for teams (I can sytill remember the names you wanted on your side and the ones you didn’t want - Peplow, Hutchinson, Carson, Farnham, Williams – Not Acheson!) It is a terrible feeling, last to be picked, not worth much to the team, worth less!]
In this verse we read God is saying to you and me, you’re the first to be picked, chosen, not because of the jobs to be done or because of the good you’ve done in the past (or bad) but because you matter to God. Chosen means you are unique, chosen means God wants me on his side, chosen means I have something to offer, chosen means someone wants me, I am not on my own I belong. You are chosen because you matter, God’s message to you through Jesus Christ, is that you are worth dying for.
I believe as you begin to grasp this truth that God wants you in his team, then you begin to be changed. Love changes you. You can’t be loved without being changed (it either hardens you – as you reject the love, or it melts you) – when you hear the words “I have chosen you”, “you are mine”, you begin to be changed – that is God drawing you to himself – you are worth dying for.
[Move 3] Refer to a drama with the word F.E.A.R. on the wall? - [Ask people what are they afraid of].
When you’re afraid you think you’re alone, no one sees, no one cares. [e.g. a child cries out in the night, a dream, the dark, silence broken only by her scream – then mum enters the room – it’s OK Mummy’s here and the child is convinced once again of the mother’s attention, of mothers availability. Even when mum leaves the room the child rests assured, she is not abandoned, she may be alone but she is alone in the presence and availability of mum. A picture of how we can (through prayer and faith) be alone and still in the presence and availability of God.]
Fear is the stuff which makes you feel like you’re on your own, hard, angry, aggressive, isolated(lonely) No one there for you, worthless. I wonder what were the fears we thought of when we saw F.E.A.R. on the wall? [Spiders, the dark, growing old, dying and the end of this life, not remaining as a happy family, accidents, ill health, not being loved, not being secure (other money and family issues)] – God’s answer to these fears is, I have chosen you, love you (I have called you by name, you are mine). That doesn’t mean all our problems are solved, but perfect love wipes out fear.
[Conclude] Bible Stats: The bible is known to have the phrase ‘fear not’ [ask how many times]. [Answer, 365 times, one for every day - say it to yourself]
We can sing Fear Not I have redeemed you (Jesus paid the price for you). God says I have called you by name, he picked you, He knows what and who you can become as you invite God to live in you. He sees the potential in you, you are worth dying for, how are you going to respond to his call, will you allow yourself to be changed.
Could you hand your life over to God this Mother’s day, what a day that would be!
