Happy Mother’s Day,
The phrase “stop, look, and listen” is commonly associated with road safety and cautionary measures when crossing a street or railway. The overall purpose of the phrase is to instill a sense of caution and mindfulness. It serves as a reminder to be vigilant, particularly in situations where there is great risk.
I want you to stop for a moment and ponder the word “precious.” Sunday is “Mother’s Day” and last night I asked everyone in our community group to share one thing they appreciated about their mother. It was so informative as I listened to 14 different people share something that was “precious” regarding their mother.
In 1 Peter, the term “precious” is used in various contexts. For example, in 1 Peter 1:7, it refers to the genuine faith of believers, which is considered more valuable than gold. In 1 Peter 2:4, it describes Jesus Christ as the “precious cornerstone” upon which the spiritual house of believers is built. In 1 Peter 3:4, Peter states that a “gentle and quiet spirit is ‘precious’ in the sight of God.”
The word “precious” in 1 Peter conveys the idea of something that is highly cherished, esteemed, and valuable in a spiritual or metaphorical sense. It emphasizes the worth and importance of the subjects being referred to in the context of the book.
Stop, look, and listen to what Peter says about the Lord Jesus. “This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, the stone which the builders rejected, this became the very cornerstone.” 1 Peter 2:4
Women, and not just mothers, have changed and are changing our world by building the kingdom of God here on earth even as it is in heaven. How? Because of their love, devotion, and the fact that they do not consider their lives as dear to themselves. Did you know that:
- Women make up 85 percent of Wycliffe’s translation force!
- Since the year 1900, missionary women have outnumbered missionary men, sometimes by a 2:1 ratio—especially in the hardest places in the world!
- Many women were martyred for their love for Jesus in the first three centuries of Christianity.
“But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” Where were the men? Men, our sisters have a love for Jesus that often puts us to shame and so let’s appreciate them as they are “precious.”
Just a reminder that Sunday is a family day at Valley so there will not be any Sunday School classes for our children, but they will be with us in our worship center. Our Children’s Choir will be singing and please do not forget that at 10am we are going to have a special time for all our Valley women.
Because of Jesus,
Glen