The Mother Who God Applauds by Adam Brewer
It may seem strange to think about God applauding us. We applaud and praise God, but there are also occasions in Scripture where God applauds his people. Obviously, God’s applause is not his worship of us. It is his delight in seeing his people reflect his glory and grace in our lives. One such instance is found in Proverbs 31:30, “A woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” This woman is celebrated and commended.
Contrary to much of the cultural rhetoric, God elevates and celebrates the role of women throughout his Word. He has strategically placed mothers throughout his creation as sources of Godly care, compassion, and correction. Ladies, whether you are a biological, foster, adoptive, or spiritual mother, strive to be a mother who God applauds to his glory and the world’s good. Though not exhaustive, here are four traits of the mother God applauds.
1) The mother who God applauds fears the Lord (Proverbs 31:30).
This mother regularly bows in awe of her heavenly Father, growing increasingly aware of his glory and goodness. She appreciates the power of humble prayer to a sovereign God who is constantly working in her life and the lives of others. Poverty of spirit and mourning over personal sin are the soil from which God’s power sprouts and grows in her soul. She craves to know her loving Lord more intimately and walk with him more faithfully, even if the time to be alone with him is minuscule amidst crying babies and daily demands. There is a reverent fear of Christ that causes her to carefully examine her words, social media posts, and dress so that she would not bring shame on the Gospel of Christ, her household of faith, or her family. She seeks the wisdom of Christ because she knows she cannot honor her Lord or lead her kids without it. She is praised because she fears the LORD.
2) The mother who God applauds has a house where the Gospel feels at home (2 Timothy 1:5).
Based on Acts 16:1, it seems that Timothy’s father wasn’t a follower of Christ. Therefore, Timothy’s mother and grandmother were the sole disciple-makers in his home during childhood. Though the father’s lack of Christian leadership may have hindered their efforts, it didn’t kill their commitment to be missionaries in the home. The Apostle Paul celebrates their sincere faith and devotion to teach the Scriptures (2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-15). The Gospel found a welcome mat at the entrance of their hearts and home, and it had a lasting impact on Timothy and the churches he pastored. They verbally and visually taught Timothy the doctrines of Christian faith day after day. The seeds they sowed during Timothy’s youth produced abundant fruit throughout future generations.
3) The mother who God applauds doesn’t seek the applause of others (Matthew 6:1).
We all need encouragement. No one has ever felt over-encouraged. But being encouraged and seeking the applause/approval of our peers is like comparing apples and oranges. While other moms seek to find their identity from the “likes” of selfies or through the accomplishments of their kids, the mother who God applauds lives for the “well-done” of her Lord. She probably isn’t the coolest mom in town, yet “her children rise up and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28). She strives to please her heavenly Husband and finds her image secure in the One who loves her and laid down his life for her.
4) The mother who God applauds loves and serves steadfastly (1 Timothy 4:9-16 and Proverbs 31).
The faithful woman of Proverbs 31 is a working servant. She abhors laziness, detests stinginess, despises slander, and hates foolishness. She lives generously and doesn’t need to tell others about it. In difficult times, she steadfastly limps forward in the strength of Christ. Her husband trusts her fully because she isn’t flirtatious or flamboyant in her public dealings. Regardless of how physically gorgeous she is, her focus concerns purity of heart. Her external beauty pales in comparison to her inner beauty, and she wants it that way. The mother who God applauds seeks to bless her husband, kids, church family, and community, often in the shadows.
I thank God for the impact mothers who have grown in these four areas have made in my life and in the lives of others. I thank Christ for my mom and grandmothers. I celebrate Lindsay and her motherly care for our two boys. I thank all the ladies who continue to teach the Scriptures visually and verbally with a motherly conviction and compassion. May God raise up a generation of mothers who God applauds.
Just One More,
Adam Brewer
Contrary to much of the cultural rhetoric, God elevates and celebrates the role of women throughout his Word. He has strategically placed mothers throughout his creation as sources of Godly care, compassion, and correction. Ladies, whether you are a biological, foster, adoptive, or spiritual mother, strive to be a mother who God applauds to his glory and the world’s good. Though not exhaustive, here are four traits of the mother God applauds.
1) The mother who God applauds fears the Lord (Proverbs 31:30).
This mother regularly bows in awe of her heavenly Father, growing increasingly aware of his glory and goodness. She appreciates the power of humble prayer to a sovereign God who is constantly working in her life and the lives of others. Poverty of spirit and mourning over personal sin are the soil from which God’s power sprouts and grows in her soul. She craves to know her loving Lord more intimately and walk with him more faithfully, even if the time to be alone with him is minuscule amidst crying babies and daily demands. There is a reverent fear of Christ that causes her to carefully examine her words, social media posts, and dress so that she would not bring shame on the Gospel of Christ, her household of faith, or her family. She seeks the wisdom of Christ because she knows she cannot honor her Lord or lead her kids without it. She is praised because she fears the LORD.
2) The mother who God applauds has a house where the Gospel feels at home (2 Timothy 1:5).
Based on Acts 16:1, it seems that Timothy’s father wasn’t a follower of Christ. Therefore, Timothy’s mother and grandmother were the sole disciple-makers in his home during childhood. Though the father’s lack of Christian leadership may have hindered their efforts, it didn’t kill their commitment to be missionaries in the home. The Apostle Paul celebrates their sincere faith and devotion to teach the Scriptures (2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-15). The Gospel found a welcome mat at the entrance of their hearts and home, and it had a lasting impact on Timothy and the churches he pastored. They verbally and visually taught Timothy the doctrines of Christian faith day after day. The seeds they sowed during Timothy’s youth produced abundant fruit throughout future generations.
3) The mother who God applauds doesn’t seek the applause of others (Matthew 6:1).
We all need encouragement. No one has ever felt over-encouraged. But being encouraged and seeking the applause/approval of our peers is like comparing apples and oranges. While other moms seek to find their identity from the “likes” of selfies or through the accomplishments of their kids, the mother who God applauds lives for the “well-done” of her Lord. She probably isn’t the coolest mom in town, yet “her children rise up and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28). She strives to please her heavenly Husband and finds her image secure in the One who loves her and laid down his life for her.
4) The mother who God applauds loves and serves steadfastly (1 Timothy 4:9-16 and Proverbs 31).
The faithful woman of Proverbs 31 is a working servant. She abhors laziness, detests stinginess, despises slander, and hates foolishness. She lives generously and doesn’t need to tell others about it. In difficult times, she steadfastly limps forward in the strength of Christ. Her husband trusts her fully because she isn’t flirtatious or flamboyant in her public dealings. Regardless of how physically gorgeous she is, her focus concerns purity of heart. Her external beauty pales in comparison to her inner beauty, and she wants it that way. The mother who God applauds seeks to bless her husband, kids, church family, and community, often in the shadows.
I thank God for the impact mothers who have grown in these four areas have made in my life and in the lives of others. I thank Christ for my mom and grandmothers. I celebrate Lindsay and her motherly care for our two boys. I thank all the ladies who continue to teach the Scriptures visually and verbally with a motherly conviction and compassion. May God raise up a generation of mothers who God applauds.
Just One More,
Adam Brewer
Posted in From the Pastor\\\\\\\'s Heart
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