The Christian Home

The old saying "the hands that rock the cradle rules the world" has some important spiritual implications for Christian women of our day. The large number of member's children who are being lost to the church is ample evidence that the guidance of godly mothers and fathers is imperative. Paul, by inspiration, taught men to bring their children up in the "training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). He instructed Titus to "...admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children" (Titus 2:4-5).

"Holiness" signifies: (a) separation to God, and (b) the resultant state, the conduct befitting those separated. Peter, it seems, sets the standard of holiness for wives and mothers when he instructed "wives, likewise, be submissive to you own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without the word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear" (1 Pet. 3:1-2).

Through the years, many women have come to me and requested that I study with their husbands so they would be converted. However, it has been my experience that many of these wives were not faithful in their worship to God and did not set a proper example for their husbands and children. Peter says they could get the job, of converting their husbands, done without saying a word if they would just set the right example.

Peter uses, as an illustration to the younger women, the holy women of old and mentions Sara's example with Abraham (I Pet. 3:5-6). Mary, the wife of Joseph and mother of Jesus, illustrated her holiness in the rearing of her children; sons and daughters. They, from every indication, were trained in the law and were faithful in their service to God (Matthew 13:53-56). It is specifically stated that Jesus "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52).

Jesus followed the natural course of growth and development of the other children and that same guidance and training is evident in the other children in the family.

There is probably no better example of holy women and maternal care in the New Testament than that of Lois and Eunice, the grandmother and mother of Timothy (2 Timothy 1:3-7). Their great faith and holiness passed the Faith down to the next generation. We have heard the old saying, "Like father, like son" but Ezekiel says, "As is the mother, so is her daughter" (Ezekiel 16:44).

Proverbs 31:10-31 notes the characteristics of the virtuous woman and John M. Brown has outlined them as follows: (a) She is priceless (verses 10-12), (b) She is ambitious (verses 13-15), (c) She is diligent (verses 16-19), (d) She is helpful (verse 20), (e) She is fearless and strong (verses 21-25), (f) She is wise (verse 26), and (g) She is rewarded (verses 28-31). The Lord seeks Holy women and men who will serve him faithfully as mothers and fathers.

A.E. Swims
Benecia, Ca