Tomorrow marks the first day of my third trimester. I can't believe how fast this last trimester has flown by. This pregnancy has had its ups and downs and has been such a tool to sanctify me. I wish I could say that I have responded rightly in every test, but the truth is, I have found myself self-focused, complaining, anxious...sinning. As I was reflecting on the last two trimesters I can see more clearly what God was teaching me, and for that I am thankful. And it has motivated me to start this last trimester differently, to change my perspective so to speak. I want to see these last 12 weeks or so of pregnancy as the very gift that they are, and I am confident that the grace of God will enable me in that pursuit. But how?!
The Lord, in His graciousness, led me to two passages in Scripture that have radically changed my perspective already.
Genesis 3:16a "To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children."
1 Timothy 2:15 "Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control."
Both of these passages hold so much weight. In Genesis, we see the consequences of the fall for ALL women, pain in childbearing. When He says, "I will greatly multiply your pain," it's an interesting Hebraic phrase. The construction literally says this, "Causing to be great, I shall cause to be great your sorrow." It's redundant. He says it twice. "I will cause to be great, I will cause to be great your sorrow." The idea is intensification. "I'm going to bring upon you a great sorrow and that sorrow is going to come in the area of your children." I suppose I always thought that had to do specifically with the labor process, but there is so much more; it has to do with all the pain and sorrow that comes with raising children form conception forward. John MacArthur describes this well, "Conception will be multiplied much more frequent. Birth will be painful. Children will consume a woman's life. And whatever joy she gains from them will be mingled with fears and pain and suffering and sorrow. Even Simeon said to Mary, "Some day because of how you loved this baby Jesus, a sword will pierce your heart. So woman is punished in the most intimate way. Nothing is more purely the distinctive of a woman than to give birth to a baby. Nothing provides for her greater fulfillment, greater joy, greater satisfaction than that. But even that is not unmixed, it is with pain. Pain which will come to her will threaten her life. She will go down to the very gate of death before her children come into the world. And throughout the remainder of her life she will be reminded by disappointments, failures, and sorrows that she will find her deepest pain in the lives of her children." Sounds pretty discouraging if you ask me. But that is the Truth, and that is what sin does. HOWEVER, there is hope for those mommies who are IN CHRIST. That is where 1 Timothy 2 comes in.
"She can be saved through childbearing. She can actually be saved, delivered from this curse, delivered from this pain, delivered from this sorrow at the very point of childbearing, the very point of the curse. The pain of childbearing is the punishment of sin, but in that very childbearing she can find deliverance from that pain. How does she do that? Here it is. "If they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint." "They" means the women. If a woman will live a godly life and continue in faith and love and holiness and self-control, if she will be what verse 10 says, a godly woman, then you know what? She'll raise a godly generation and her children will continue in the same thing." (John MacArthur) Childbearing was not the curse from sin, the consequences that came along with it were. And salvation unto eternal life is not what Paul is talking about here, but rather a deliverance. Although sin enters the world every time a mother has a child, a Godly mother has the PRIVILEGE and the ABILITY (in Christ) to raise a GODLY seed. God has given us the privilege of leading the the race (our children) out of sin to godliness. What an incredible thought!
So what's the take away? "The pain she goes through reminds her of her sin, the result reminds her of God's restoring grace and puts her back in the place where she makes a positive contribution to the godliness of the next generation. She may have caused a generation to plunge into sin, but she can by being a mother who raises godly children bring a generation to God." (John MacArthur)
Wow! What an amazing calling, what an incredibly profound reality. God's redemption beautifies everything and has purpose in all things. My perspective is changed by His Words, and I am more grateful than ever to be an instrument in the Redeemer's hands in the life of the little one growing inside of me.
The Lord, in His graciousness, led me to two passages in Scripture that have radically changed my perspective already.
Genesis 3:16a "To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children."
1 Timothy 2:15 "Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control."
Both of these passages hold so much weight. In Genesis, we see the consequences of the fall for ALL women, pain in childbearing. When He says, "I will greatly multiply your pain," it's an interesting Hebraic phrase. The construction literally says this, "Causing to be great, I shall cause to be great your sorrow." It's redundant. He says it twice. "I will cause to be great, I will cause to be great your sorrow." The idea is intensification. "I'm going to bring upon you a great sorrow and that sorrow is going to come in the area of your children." I suppose I always thought that had to do specifically with the labor process, but there is so much more; it has to do with all the pain and sorrow that comes with raising children form conception forward. John MacArthur describes this well, "Conception will be multiplied much more frequent. Birth will be painful. Children will consume a woman's life. And whatever joy she gains from them will be mingled with fears and pain and suffering and sorrow. Even Simeon said to Mary, "Some day because of how you loved this baby Jesus, a sword will pierce your heart. So woman is punished in the most intimate way. Nothing is more purely the distinctive of a woman than to give birth to a baby. Nothing provides for her greater fulfillment, greater joy, greater satisfaction than that. But even that is not unmixed, it is with pain. Pain which will come to her will threaten her life. She will go down to the very gate of death before her children come into the world. And throughout the remainder of her life she will be reminded by disappointments, failures, and sorrows that she will find her deepest pain in the lives of her children." Sounds pretty discouraging if you ask me. But that is the Truth, and that is what sin does. HOWEVER, there is hope for those mommies who are IN CHRIST. That is where 1 Timothy 2 comes in.
"She can be saved through childbearing. She can actually be saved, delivered from this curse, delivered from this pain, delivered from this sorrow at the very point of childbearing, the very point of the curse. The pain of childbearing is the punishment of sin, but in that very childbearing she can find deliverance from that pain. How does she do that? Here it is. "If they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint." "They" means the women. If a woman will live a godly life and continue in faith and love and holiness and self-control, if she will be what verse 10 says, a godly woman, then you know what? She'll raise a godly generation and her children will continue in the same thing." (John MacArthur) Childbearing was not the curse from sin, the consequences that came along with it were. And salvation unto eternal life is not what Paul is talking about here, but rather a deliverance. Although sin enters the world every time a mother has a child, a Godly mother has the PRIVILEGE and the ABILITY (in Christ) to raise a GODLY seed. God has given us the privilege of leading the the race (our children) out of sin to godliness. What an incredible thought!
So what's the take away? "The pain she goes through reminds her of her sin, the result reminds her of God's restoring grace and puts her back in the place where she makes a positive contribution to the godliness of the next generation. She may have caused a generation to plunge into sin, but she can by being a mother who raises godly children bring a generation to God." (John MacArthur)
Wow! What an amazing calling, what an incredibly profound reality. God's redemption beautifies everything and has purpose in all things. My perspective is changed by His Words, and I am more grateful than ever to be an instrument in the Redeemer's hands in the life of the little one growing inside of me.
Thanks for this post best friend! So thankful to be walking through this time of pregnancy with you.I can't wait to see you as a mommy, your baby is so blessed to have a momma who loves the Lord with her WHOLE heart! You are an encouragement to me!
ReplyDeleteHUGS!
Kels