Sunday 05/09/21

God as seen in Mothers

There is a harmony and symmetry to scripture and the way in which God has chosen to be revealed in women and mothers is one of it’s greatest examples.

Creation, on at least one level, is the result of the Godhead celebrating Each Other through what was made. The greatest mutual honor was by investing in mankind clear depictions of Their nature.

That the Father is revealed and glorified in the person of men and fathers has long been understood from scripture, but what of women and mothers?

I believe it’s pretty clear that women and mothers intimately reveal the person, work and heart of the precious Holy Spirit.

In a day where everything gender related is under assault, we as Christians need to realize the assault is against God and image we bear as Their representatives.

One of the strongest illustrations of the persons and relationships within the Godhead as mirrored in human relationships is found in the words Jesus once spoke about the Spirit. He said that all manner of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven mankind – even words spoken against the Son of God Himself – but if anyone speaks against the Spirit of God it will not be forgiven them.

This reminds me very much of the protection and honor earthly fathers and sons naturally feel and express regarding their wives and mothers.

Consider with me the following attributes which scripture reveals regarding the Spirit of God and how the same attributes and tendencies are so clearly seen in women and mothers who have not been conditioned by the world to force themselves to exhibit manly traits…

Comforter – though children indeed need the safety, love and support of their fathers, it isn’t a hard argument to make that the loving care and tender compassions of a mother are usually the first sought after in times of trouble, wounding and distress.
Nurturer – Jesus Himself told the disciples not to lose heart or be troubled, because He was not leaving them comfortless orphans, but going to send them the Spirit of God.
Educator – The Holy Spirit is the One in the Godhead Who leads and guides us as children in God’s house into all truth.
Representor and reminder – The Spirit of God does not speak from personal authority, but represents the Father and reminds us of HIS words. How many children have heard the words, “You know what your father said.” or “Wait until your father gets home.”
Yearning and jealous – though these may not seem like good attributes- in the right context they are healthy and right. No one yearns, expresses loving possessiveness of and is as jealous over their children quite like a mother.
Encouraging – The Holy Spirit is also the spirit of prophecy and all prophecy points to Jesus and is given to edify, exhort and comfort…all of which works to our encouragement.

There are numerous ways in which we see God the Spirit represented in women and mothers and it is my prayer today that mothers become more aware of the image they bear – not only as God’s children, but as special representatives of the Spirit of God.

God has truly honored both men and women with the privilege of being Their image bearers! It is the mistake of this fallen world to seek for an identity outside of our Creator and the role He has given us to live out.

Only when we turn our focus back upon ourselves and attempt to compare ourselves among ourselves (which Paul said was unwise) do we begin to question the wisdom of God in our maleness and femaleness and desire to take on a blending of roles.

God alone made us and while we have many aspects of our lives in which gender does not play a part – especially in regard to our relationship with God and our inheritnace in the kingdom – there ARE MANY places were gender not only plays a part, it is the VERY area in which we are called and graced by God to reveal Him to the world.

It is imperative to find the beauty in what God created you to be as male or female.

Let us NOT seek to break free from what we were called to, either as men or women, but rather determine to honor God where He in His sovereignty has placed us!

May we ALL do so with honor and integrity, seeking never to mar or taint the beauty of the image we bear or the presence we carry.

Happy Mother’s Day!

For more considerations of motherhood along this like please see – The Mothering Heart of the Holy Spirit

For more on what the scriptures say about the roles of men and women see:

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!