Shortly after I had my second son there came a time when I approached my husband and asked him, "What is my role in bringing up the boys? I realise that fathers have a part to play in teaching them how to be masculine and so forth but what contribution should the mother have?" He replied that he didn't know and thought that maybe the mother was to tend to their "sookiness" and give them lots of kisses and cuddles.
I have only just now discovered my actual, real, God-given role in bringing up these two precious bundles of testosterone...and that is to raise them up as godly men.
It was well-known Christian writer and minister John MacArthur who led me to this passage in the Bible as I listened to his sermon "God's high calling for women" on CD. 1 Timothy 2:15 says "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety" (King James Version).
I could never understand what this verse meant until the preacher explained it. In John MacArthur's commentary of the Bible his notes say:
"she. That Paul does not have Eve in mind here is clear because the verb translated 'will be saved' is future, and he also uses the plural pronoun 'they'. He is talking about women after Eve. will be saved. Better translated in the context 'will be preserved'. The greek word can also mean 'to rescue', 'to preserve safe and unharmed', 'to heal' or 'to deliver from'. It appears several times in the NT without reference to spiritual salvation. Paul is not advocating that women are eternally saved from sin through childbearing or that they maintain their salvation by having babies, both of which would be clear contraindications of the NT teaching of salvation by grace alone through faith alone sustained forever. Paul is teaching that even though a woman bears the stigma of being the initial instrument who led the race into sin, it is women through childbearing who may be preseved or freed from that stigma by raising a generation of godly children. in childbearing. Because mothers have a unique bond and intimacy with their children, and spend far more time with them than do fathers, they have far greater influence on their lives and thus a unique responsibility and opportunity for rearing godly children. While a woman may have led the human race into sin, women have the privilege of leading many out of sin to godliness. Paul is speaking in general terms; God does not want all women to be married, let alone bear children. if they continue in faith, love and holiness, with self-control. The godly appearance, demeanour,and behaviour commanded of believing women in the church is motivated by the promise of deliverance from any inferior status and the joy of raising godly children."
Wow! So many hidden truths in there! Think about it...Even though woman has led the entire human race into sin...she also has the special privelge to lead the human race out of sin. I'll say it one more time...Even though woman has led the entire human race into sin...she also has the special privelge to lead the human race out of sin. God has given us the chance to be delivered from the shame of a defiled Eden by enabling us to do our best with our children. This is what I want to do with my boys...to be as faithful and holy a mother as I can be and to preach the gospel to them all the days of their lives. Yes, doing that is definitely going to be a joy for me.
And on another note this makes me also aware of the curse of childbirth pains. Why is a woman so empowered when she can birth her babies naturally...feeling all the intensity and rawness of the contractions? Maybe enduring this curse will also help her to feel redeemed from her guilt.
So now, I am greeting each new day with my boys with a new awareness. Everything I do, I am doing for the Lord. I now know the importance of living my life in front of my boys as an example to them. I will also plan on homeschooling them so that I will be able to keep them from the lies of the devil that are likely to occur in a school environment. I may receive critisism for doing this but their careers and social life are of miniscule importance compared to their salvation. If I do go back to work it will only be once a fortnight so that I can spend the rest of those days teaching them and being their companion during the day.
Thank you God that I have discovered your calling for me. I pray that You shall give me energy and patience to raise my children so that they will one day see you face to face.
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