Preliminary Notes:

• God is never called our Mother (like He is called Father).

• Both male and female are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This means that the roles of men and women (including mothers) are created in the image or likeness of God. Each role reflects the very nature of God in a partial way. (see Romans 1:20 – God’s attributes in what He made)

• God is sparingly compared to a mother in the Bible (Duet. 34:11; Psa. 131:2; Isa. 49:13-15; 66:13; Matt. 23:37).

• When we look at what is unique to motherhood (bearing and nurturing their own children), we see a reflection of the character of God (His image) in motherhood.

• Pondering how motherhood is a reflection of God is helpful to joyful obedience and worship.

• Motherhood is a glorious vocation in which mothers are called to uniquely glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31).

 3 Ways in Which Motherhood Reflects the Glory of God

1. Bearing

Unique to motherhood is child-bearing (Gen. 3:16).

All human life comes through a mother (1 Cor. 11:12).

God is the giver of all life (Acts 17:25; 1 Tim. 6:13).

All people come from mothers and “all things come from God” (1 Cor. 11:12).

God “brings forth” spiritual life through the Word of God (James 1:18).

Jesus labored (suffered) to bear forth children of God.

Bareness in the Bible was a great source of grief to women (1 Sam. 1:4-11; Psa. 113:9).

We must always see fruitfulness as a gift.

Mothers have the privilege of reflecting the glory of God by bringing life into this world.

How can you as a mother glorify God in your actions and attitudes as a child-bearer?

2. Sharing

Mothers share of themselves to “nurture” their children. (Nurture = to feed, protect, develop, support, bring up, train)

Paul uses motherhood as an example of how he nurtured and shared himself with the church (1 Thess. 2:7-9).

Through the Bible God is the One who nurtures his people (feeds -Exod. 16:32; clothed – Gen. 3:21; motherly protection – Exod. 19:14; Deut. 32:11; teaching – Prov. 6:20).

We see Jesus doing this in the NT (Matt.23:37).

Mothers have the privilege of reflecting the glory of God by nurturing their children.

How can you as a mother glorify God in your actions and attitudes as you share of yourself to nurture your children?

3. Caring

God refers to mothers in the Scriptures when He speaks of His loving care and compassion.

Isaiah 49:13-15 – “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”

Isaiah 66:13 – “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Jer. 31:15 – No one grieves over the bareness or bereavement like a mother.

Psalm 131:2 – Dave compares the comfort of a mother’s presence to the comfort of God’s presence.

Mothers have the privilege of reflecting the glory of God by their loving care towards their children.

How can you as a mother glorify God in your actions and attitudes through caring for your children?

Recommended Resources:

The Bible: Genesis 1-3; 1 Sam 1; Isaiah 49-50; 66; Prov 31; 1 Peter 3; Luke 1-2; Heb 11

Praise Her in the Gates: The Calling of Christian Motherhood – by Nancy Wilson (Canon Press)

2 Great Blogs:  

- Nancy Wilson’s blog – “Femina” at http://femina.reformedblogs.com/

- C. J. Mahaney’s wife and daughter’s blog – “Girl Talk” at http://girltalk.blogs.com/