Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Out text for today is taken from the 31^st chapter of the book of Proverbs where we

will read selected verses.

and lacks nothing of value.

but you surpass them all."

In Christ Jesus my dear Christian friends:

In 1914 Woodrow Wilson made the official announcement proclaiming the second Sunday in May to be Mother’s Day. Since then, Americans have taken the time on that day to honor our mothers. And rightly so! For most of us there is not another person who has affected our lives more than our mothers. Most of the important lessons we learn in life, we have learned from our mothers. A few years ago Robert Fulghum wrote a book entitled All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten . I think if Mr. Fulghum had a chance to reflect he would be forced to admit that the most important lessons he learned were taught to him by his mother. After all, it is our mothers who teach us to feed ourselves, dress ourselves, and many of the other important lessons we need to learn to grow into responsible adults. Therefore it is fitting that on this Mother’s Day we take time to look at what God says about these wonderful people we call wives and mothers. First they are faithful, wise teachers. Secondly, they are worthy of honor and respect.

The writer of the 31^st chapter of Proverbs, King Lemuel, observed that the wife or mother of noble character "speaks with wisdom." What a statement this is! Wisdom. Man has sought after wisdom for years. Yet Lemuel says that the wife of noble character speaks with wisdom. But what is this wisdom that Lemuel speaks of? The Scriptures tell us that true wisdom comes from God. Leumel goes on to explain what this wisdom is when he says, "faithful instruction is on her tongue." The wife or mother of noble character speaks and acts in accordance with God’s Word because of her faith in her Savior.

Paul speaking to Timothy said, "from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation." But who taught Timothy?

He spoke about this earlier in his letter when he said "I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." It was a faithful mother and grandmother that taught Timothy. They taught him the Scriptures. From the time he was born Timothy’s mother and grandmother exposed him to God’s Holy Word. About the Scriptures God tells parents, " Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." The Word is the means through which the Lord works faith in the hearts of all who believe. Paul tells us in Romans, "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Or again Paul says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."

The noble wife or mother can also teach by living a life that is exemplary of her faith. Peter advised the wives of unbelieving husbands to, "be submissive to your husbands that if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives. Hannah provided an example for her young son, Samuel, by giving him over to the Lord’s service at a young age. No doubt Samuel, who knew how much his mother loved him, thought about how much his mother must have trusted in the Lord to hand him over to Eli so that he could learn to serve God. Jesus himself told us all to live our lives as examples to others. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." The example we set does affect our children. When they see mothers and fathers who are actively living their faith, it is bound to affect them. Certainly Lois’ and Eunice’s example affected young Timothy. His father was a Greek and a pagan. So the example he learned must have been that displayed by his mother and grandmother.

Wives and mothers, learn from these examples. Teach your children the Word of God. Teach them at home. Insist on family devotions. Pray with your children when they go to bed and when they get up. Sit your children on your lap and read to them from the Scriptures. Begin early, while they are still infants. Daily teach them about their Savior. If possible see to it that their education includes a daily study of God’s Word. Take them to Sunday School and church every Sunday. Make the most of every opportunity to help them learn and grow in their faith. Teach them at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Teach them also by your example. Show them, that learning and growing in faith is important to you as well. Show them that this is a lifetime commitment. Make time each day for your own personal study of God’s Word. When you take your children to Sunday School, attend Adult Bible Study yourself. As you prepare for church do so with joy and anticipation over the opportunity to once again worship your Savior and have your faith strengthened through the gospel in Word and Sacrament.

King Lemuel said, "a wife of noble character is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things but you surpass them all." Paul tells husbands "Love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." The word Paul uses for love here is avgapa'te. It is the word used for the way Christ loves us. This word means to love unconditionally. God loves us even when we are unlovable. In the depths of our sin God still loves us. It is the kind of love that does not seek something lovable in the object of the love. It is a self-sacrificing love. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." Christ loved us so much that he was willing to die on the cross to save us from our sin. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Paul encourages Christian husbands to love their wives so much that they do not think about their own needs and desires. Rather, the husband’s first consideration should always be the needs of his wife.

Husbands should also praise their wives and respect their opinions. King Lemuel says that the wife of noble character is worthy of her husbands praise. Peter tells husbands to treat their wives with respect. Solomon encourages husbands to rejoice in the wife of their youth. A Christian wife is indeed deserving of honor, praise, and respect from her husband.

Her children arise and call her blessed. They will honor her with praise for all she has done raising them and taking care of the household. Solomon calls the man that despises his mother foolish. Dueteronomy 27:16 says the man who dishonors his mother is to be cursed. Indeed the Christian mother who cares for her family and instructs her children in the ways of the Lord should be honored by her children. She is to be honored not only in words but in deeds. The fourth commandment tells us to honor our our fathers and our mothers. Luther explains, "We should fear and love God that we do not dishonor or anger our parents or others in authority, but honor, serve, and obey them, and give them love and respect. We should so love and respect our mothers that we would do nothing to bring dishonor to them or in any way show a lack of respect.

Men, do we love our wives as Christ loved the Church. Or do we put our desires to watch the Packers or the Brewers ahead of the needs and feelings of our wives. Are we ready to give up that fishing trip or hunting trip in order to spend time with our wives or do we just get angry when she interrupts our plans. How often do we whip out our Bibles and point out Ephesians 5:22, "Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord" and forget to read verse 25 which tells us to love our wives as Christ loved the Church. It is so easy for us use our headship as a whip to enslave our wives instead of accepting the responsibility of headship and lead our wives and families. We need to look to our Savior for the example and the ability to truly love and lead. We need to make conscious efforts to treat our wives with respect. Ask for and listen to their opinions. Truly, try to understand their viewpoints. Take the time to talk to them and more importantly really listen to them and understand them. As Christ is our rock and our support we need to be the solid support our wives can trust in here on earth. As we are constantly led back to the Savior for the forgiveness of sin and the strengthening of faith we need to be leading our wives and children back as well. Lead them back to the Word.

Children, how often do we break the forth commandment. How many times does our actions reflect dishonor upon our parents. All those things we do that we know our parents would not approve of, how often do we stop to consider what others think. Remember someone is always watching our actions. Do those actions cause people to say, "Now there is a child whose mother has taught them properly." Or do they say, "that childs mother needs to learn how control her children." Yes, our parents may never know some the things we do and get by with. But someone knows and our disobedience will always bring dishonor to our mothers and fathers. Children, look to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive your sins and to strengthen you faith so that you can resist those temptations to do things that would anger or disappoint our mother. Show your mother you love by obeying her and accepting discipline from her everyday. Then the cards, and the gifts, and the taking her out for dinner on Mother’s Day will be even more meaningful to her.

Ladies, continue to trust in your Savior. Look to God’s Word for the wisdom and the strength you need to fulfill that vital role of wife and mother. Continue to renew your faith through regular Bible study; personally, with your family, and with fellow believers.

Men, let us keep our eyes on our Savior and look to him as an example of the way we are to love our wives. And let us return also to the Word with our wives for the strength that we need to follow that example. Children, keep your eyes focused squarely on Jesus. Join in the family devotions. Ask questions. Learn more about your Savior. Get mom and dad up for Sunday School. Make the study of God’s Word a regular part of your day and week. Then as you grow in your faith Jesus will also help you resist those things that tempt us to do things that are displeasing to our moms. And don’t forget to thank mom once in awhile for all she does. And on this Mother’s Day let us all take time to thank God for giving us wives and mothers who are wise and faithful teachers and are truly deserving of honor and respect.

Amen.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep our hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

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