God gives mothers a precious mission that flows from our call to Christ. From the moment children come into our arms and hearts, they need their mother’s help to discover the ways of God’s world. God designed motherhood as a means of grace, and to find God-honoring joy in motherhood, we focus on His end goal: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4).
We are called to Christ. When Jesus alone is our aim, He gives us a missional, soul-focused mindset and empowers us to accomplish it (Matthew 10:37; 12:48-50; 28:18-20). When life feels full and busy, remembering that Christ’s ultimate calling is to Himself will transform how we view our mission as mothers. Consider several important ways this focus on Christ plays out in our lives.
God Calls Us to Depend on His Word
Called to Christ, we depend on His Word to renew our minds so that we can know His will and teach it to our children. Paul, after outlining foundational truths of the gospel in Romans, appealed to Christians to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Peter wrote of God’s transforming and empowering grace in Christ to live righteous lives: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence . . . be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1:3, 10).
What is a Mother’s Responsibility Rooted In?
A mother’s primary responsibilities, helping her husband in managing the household and nurturing the next generation, are rooted in her call to Christ. His calling is not to our children. It is not to motherhood, husbands, homes, jobs, or responsibilities. He calls us to Himself.
A renewed mind leads to deeper knowledge of Christ through His Word, which overflows into actions. It will be evident in what we teach our children and the influences we welcome into our homes. Love the Word. Sing it over your babies. Pray it aloud, and in your heart, as you complete daily tasks. Keep kindness and gratitude on your tongue.
Prayerfully ask God to help you draw out your children’s thoughts and motives through wise and loving questions, and open up His Word together. Only the Word can lead our children to Christ.
What It Looks Like to “Bear His Fruit”
Called to Christ, we bear His fruit so our children can benefit from it. Everyone bears fruit. Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17).
Jesus said, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The Holy Spirit’s fruit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Imagine yourself as a tree sprouting fruit that your children eat on a regular basis. Just as food physically impacts the body, the spiritual fruit we bear in word, attitude, and action spiritually affects our children.
Jesus, nearing the time He would be crucified, told His disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). Children desperately need good fruit produced by the Spirit. We can only bear lasting, godly fruit when we’ve died to self and surrendered to Him.
Serving Your Family
Called to Christ, we serve our family’s needs sacrificially. In the New Testament, Christ’s call begins with repentance and sacrificing our own selfish desires: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand . . . If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me . . . For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve . . .” (Matthew 4:17; 16:24; Mark 10:45).
A mother’s life is full of varied responsibilities for service: cooking, cleaning, shopping, managing, organizing, planning—and the list continues. But when a mother is surrendered to Jesus, these sacrificial services are rendered to Him. He perfectly modeled sacrificial service that was rooted in a desire to do His Father’s will.
Our call to Christ infuses how we view children as we realize that Jesus is also calling our children to Himself. Believing parents are openly repentant and sacrificially align their lives for the sake of leading their children to know and follow Jesus. We model obedience and teach children to obey for the greater purpose of obeying our Heavenly Father. The way we humbly serve one another as their visible, earthly authority affects how they view God’s invisible, ultimate authority.
Equipping the Next Generation
Called to Christ, we equip the next generation of the church. Jesus dearly loves His church. Every member has a purpose for the building up of the whole (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:1–16). Because of the high demands on young mothers, the way Jesus leads us to serve His church might not be what they were before we had children—at least for a season. If your ability to serve at church diminishes, prayerfully surrender this season to God. Love your church well by praying, giving, encouraging, and committing to corporate and small-group gatherings. Seek opportunities for older women to speak into your life and love your family (Titus 2:1–5). Never neglect the church (Hebrews 10:25).
Because we are called to Christ, we follow Him, by the power of His Spirit, teaching His Word, bearing His fruit, and sharing the gospel with people in our paths. As we do, God is using us to raise up future church members.
We make disciples at home who will then make disciples who, in turn, make disciples. We invest in our children, because we want to see God’s kingdom come, and His will be done.
So, moms, in Christ and by His grace, give yourselves fully to His mission.
