A Christian Mother’s Mission

What is your mission?

In the secular sense of the word, “mission” usually means a goal to fulfill. It can be serious or joking. “My mission is to teach others about nutrition” or “my mission is to get my friends to like the same band as me.” It may be a military mission. It may be a statement made by a company to express their goals for their customers.

The word “mission” is thrown around a lot in Christian circles. Often times we use it to mean traveling to a particular place in the world to preach the gospel to a particular group of people. There are “missionaries” and “mission trips” and “mission fields.” (Not to be confused with the Mormon/LDS 2-year “mission” they all have to go on. They’re not Christians by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ll cover resources for studying that in another post!)

I believe it is every Christian’s mission to spread the gospel. It is as Jesus commanded:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

As I’ve mentioned in a previous prompt post, I believe it’s the mission of Christian mothers specifically to give their children the gift of hearing the gospel. We never know how that will impact our kids or others that they come into contact with, but we do have the responsibility of planting the seed and following the Great Commission.

In this post, I’d like to compile some Bible verses that talk about our mission as Christian mothers.

1. Proverbs 31:26-30

“She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

‘Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.’

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:26-30

This passage is probably the most popular among Christian women, describing a wife of noble character. While this was obviously written before Jesus’ time on earth and the concept of Christianity was unknown at that point, this Hebrew acrostic poem (more fun facts about that another time) shows a great example of how a godly woman acts and cares for her household.

2. 2 Timothy 1:5

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

2 Timothy 1:5

For some context: this is a letter from the apostle Paul to Timothy. Paul is emphasizing the impact of Timothy’s mother and grandmother’s own faith. When we have a true, sincere faith and exhibit it to our children, instilling those same principles in them through their upbringing, they may (hopefully) develop that same sincere faith as well. Notice how Paul mentioned Timothy’s mother and grandmother, both maternal figures in Timothy’s life. We don’t know about the paternal figures in his life from this particular passage, but we can see the obvious impact a mother has on her children and grandchildren.

3. Ephesians 6:1-4

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and your mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:1-4

While this passage addresses children by telling them to obey their parents, and fathers by telling them not to exasperate their children, it also implicitly speaks to the role of mothers in bringing their children up in the training and instruction of the Lord. It doesn’t just say to honor one’s father, but also one’s mother. As mothers, we must teach our children and support our husbands in teaching them as well.

4. Titus 2:3-5

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

Titus 2:3-5

When we live in a way that honors God and others, we are adequately able to teach women and girls younger than us to act the same. All of these traits are good things and will not give God’s word a bad reputation, because God wants us to serve others. One of the best ways to use these traits is by serving our own homes and families.

5. Deuteronomy 6:4-7

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

This Old Testament passage emphasizes the importance of parents teaching their children about the commands and the sovereignty of God at every chance possible. It should be woven into our daily routines, lessons, conversations–everything! And our children’s environment is almost always dictated by our choices as parents.

My Mission

These verses collectively highlight the vital role of mothers in nurturing their children’s faith, teaching them wisdom, and setting a godly example.

My personal mission is to bring my children up knowing the gospel, showing them how to live a Christian life that is pleasing to God and serves others, and show Jesus’ light to everyone I can in the process. If you are also a Christian mother, I pray that this is your mission as well.

God bless,