Homes are important to God. In fact, a home was the first institution created by the Almighty (Gen. 2:21-25). The Bible says that, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1). Our world desperately needs more souls who are committed to building homes according to God’s pattern! On a day when we honor our mothers, we ought to bestow double honor on those who have shown dedication to the Lord’s will concerning the home.

Mothers and fathers all over the world are charged with a special trust from God Himself. God gives us children for a little while so that we can give them back to Him forever: “Children are a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). All of us need to take that trust — and the home itself — very seriously. What do Godly homes look like?

Godly homes emphasize Jesus Christ — There is a tremendous difference between living in a home where God is merely mentioned and one where He is seen daily. Our kids will, by and large, value the same things that we value in life. If Jesus is not being seen in our homes, then how can we expect that our kids will understand what it means to have a faith of their own? Moses commanded the people of Israel to instruct their children always in the word of God (cf. Deut. 6:4-8). No amount of mere “church attendance” can duplicate the influence of Godly parents who really love the Lord. May more of our homes be Christ-centered, and may we rise up and honor mothers who have made their homes so!

Godly homes are places of refuge — God never intended for the home to be a mere “filling station” as we rush from one activity to the next. In A.D. 2003, I fear that many of our homes have become exactly that: just a place to eat and sleep! Christ-centered homes are places of love, security, and acceptance. They are places where people really talk and enjoy each other’s presence. Godly homes are places where kids are instructed and challenged by their parents to grow into godliness (cf. 2 Tim. 3:15). Perhaps all of us would be well served to turn off the TV, cancel a sporting event or two, slow down the frenzied pace of our lives, and restore the status of our homes to the place God desires. In a world so full of spiritual challenges and dangers for our kids, can we really afford for our homes to be filling stations, and nothing more?

Godly homes are places of commitment — In God’s grand plan for the home, husbands and wives are committed to each other (Eph. 5:22-30) and to their kids (Ps. 127:3). God never intended for people to take their marriage vows lightly (cf. Matt. 19:3-9). How can we expect our children to respect God’s marriage laws if they do not see that kind of commitment from their parents? And concerning our children, how can we expect them to love us if we show ourselves too busy to spend time with them? Godly homes are based on commitment through not just the good times, but the hard times as well! May more mothers and fathers be dedicated to the kind of “stick-to-it-iveness” that builds a home the way God desires.

No doubt all of us love and appreciate our mothers, and it is good to have a day that honors them. We also ought to use days like this to emphasize that God is the one who created the home, and His blueprint is the only realistic way to make a home that pleases Him. Let’s give a special honor to mothers (and fathers) who are dedicated to Christ-centered homes, and let’s encourage those who are struggling to let Him be seen more in their homes. God’s name will be glorified in that! — JB