THE REAL MOTHER
Read it
1 Kings 3:22
The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.” But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.
Discover It
The scripture for today looks at an unnamed hero in the Bible. A mother who would do anything to see that her child was loved and protected. Now this mother in the Bible was not perfect. In fact, she was a prostitute. Back then women had no rights. They were considered property. So, possibly, she was involved in this lifestyle through no choice of her own. And in 1 Kings we read about a day that she and another woman came before Solomon, King of Israel with a tragic situation. She lived in a house with another prostitute and they both had babies. During the night, the other woman laid upon her child, killing him. Before daylight, she came and stole the woman’s living child and put her dead child in his place. In the morning when the woman got up to nurse her son, he was dead. But as the morning light broke through, she recognized that this was not her son. Going before the king she begged to get her son back. And the women both argued before the king. What would Solomon do? Who was the real mother?
Ask It
1. Explain some of the reasons why the treacherous woman switched babies, stealing the living son of the other woman.
2. How did Solomon determine who the real mother was? (Hint: Read the rest of the story in 1 Kings 3:23-28)
3. How does the sacrificial attitude of the real mother remind us of Jesus? How is this faithful mother an example of how we should be today?
Live It
1. Appreciate Real Mothers. Their love, sacrifice and fierce protection of their children serve as examples for all of us today.
2. Thank Real Mothers. When is the last time you said “thank you” to your mother, your grandmother, or a mother you know who gives all for her children? A small expression of gratitude goes a long way!
3. Emulate Real Mothers. As you observe real mothers in action, try to emulate the faithful qualities they exhibit.
4. Pray for Real Mothers. We need more real mothers in the world. Pray that God would raise more of them up and pray for those already working so hard on behalf of the Lord and their families.
Pray It
Lord, thank you for the selflessness, love, and unwavering strength that You have instilled in the faithful mothers in our church and around the world. Grant them wisdom in their daily decisions, patience in times of trial, and joy in moments of celebration. May they find strength in You as they navigate the challenges and joys of motherhood. And for those mothers who are weary or facing difficult circumstances, we ask for Your comfort and provision to surround them. Help them to know that their love and sacrifices do not go unnoticed by You. And help our church family honor and uplift them in every way we can. Thank You, Lord, for the gift of mothers—beacons of Your love in our lives. May Your blessings be upon them abundantly today and always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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