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The Book of Romans in the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul wrote this book as a letter to Christians in Rome in order to encourage them to stand firm in the Christian faith. After presenting a series of Gospel Messages in 15 chapters, the Apostle Paul was to conclude his letter with the words of warm greetings to the members of the Church in Rome.

There are 24 people mentioned in the entire 16^th chapter of Romans. And it is interesting to notice that among those 24, at least 6 were female members. Moreover, in verse 13, a mother was greeted by the Great Apostle.

Verse 13, ------------------------------

Unfortunately, the name of Rufus’ mother was not spelled out. Yet, a brief word of greeting in verse 13, tells us more than we can elaborate in a 20 minute message. This one verse tells us that what a mother can be for her own child, she can be for others as well. If we look at the thirteenth verse closely enough, we can find a very important aspects of motherhood.

Mother’s Influence on her baby.

In today’s Scripture text, in verse 13, the great apostle was talking about the son of a mother,

“Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord.”

Who was Rufus?

Legend tells us that Rufus was one of the sons of the person who carried the cross for Jesus in Mark 15: 21.

It is needless to say much about the background of this person. It is enough for us to know only what we read in verse 13. “Rufus, a chosen man in the Lord.” According to this verse, Rufus was a man who was chosen for the work of the Lord. And he was prominent enough in the Church of Rome to be known to the great Apostle who was far away from the city as a chosen man for the Lord. Then how could Rufus become such a prominent person in the church of Rome? There is no question about it that it must have been his mother’s influence on his life. Otherwise, the great apostle would not greet the son and the mother in the same tone. Of course, there must have been many great things people could say about Rufus’ mother. But most of all, today’s Scripture text makes it very clear that she was the mother who made her son a chosen man for the Lord. Generally speaking, a mother’s influence on her baby is like that of potter on his clay. When a baby is born, the child is like a lump of clay. The lump of clay can be molded into any shape while it is soft. The potter uses the clay while it is soft to shape it as he wants according to his design. Children are like clay when they are young. As a lump of clay is shaped into a new vessel by the touch of the potter, the life of a little baby is shaped and developed by the touch of the mother’s loving and caring hands.

Can you imagine, from the moment of its birth, how many times a baby’s body is touched and caressed by his mother’s hands? Each time the baby is touched and caressed by his mother, his/her body gets stronger and stronger; his heart will get braver and braver;

and his mind will become brighter and brighter and eventually he will become someone whom all others may admire and respect.

Someone said, We, children, are not the by-product of some impersonal biological process. We were not made on an assembly line by the combination of chemicals. We were made as we are through the touch of our mothers. Indeed, we have become as we are by the touch of our mothers. The influence of mothers on their own children is known historically and universally.

Henry J. Heinz, the founder and owner of Heinz Grocery Line, wrote in his will, “I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God through Jesus Christ. This legacy was left me by my consecrated mother, a woman of strong faith, and to it I attribute any success I have attained.”

A study about the kings in France shows that among 69 kings who have worn the crown of France, there were only three who really loved their people. And all three kings were raised by their own mothers without the intervention of pedagogues. (#3631, 7700)

It was neither brilliant scholars nor brave knights, who could make a prince a great king, but only the mother of the prince.

Isidor Isaac Rabi was one of America’s out standing physicists. People would ask him how he became such a famous scientist. To this, Isidor Isaac explained as one overpowering reason for his becoming a well known scientist. He came to America as an infant. He grew up and started his school in Manhatan, New York. When he came home from school, his mother would ask him, “Isidor, did you ask your teacher any good questions today?”

In this way, his mother encouraged him to cultivate his mind in a scientific way and it helped him to reach the pinnacle of the scientific world. Rufus’ mother influenced her son to be the chosen one for the Lord. Then, for what would you, mothers, grand mothers, like to influence your children? For what would you like to use your powerful motherly ability on your children?

Mother’s Devotion to the Lord

Rufus’s mother did not only influenced her son to be a chosen for the Lord, but she devoted herself faithfully to the ministry of the church, that others might feel that she was their mother in a spiritual sense. Physically, she was the mother of her dear son, Rufus.

But spiritually she became the mother of all members in the church, especially to people like Paul, who were away from their own homes for the sake of the Lord.

Verse 13, “ …………………and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.”

I believe God gave a special heart to every woman that she could have and use, that is, a motherly heart. Therefore, if a woman uses and practices her motherly heart correctly not only her own children will be benefited, but also all others as well. Especially as for a Christian woman, please, remember that, whether you have mothered your own children or not, you are called to be mothers not only to/for your own children, but to all members in the Christian community. God created men and woman in His definite purpose and design. When God created you, ladies, He gave you very special and precious gifts which male persons could never appreciate and be capable of using. One of the most powerful and undeniable gifts mothers have is the ability to influence their own children.

Another ability is a spiritual devotion. In a real sense, a mother’s love for her children can be proven by her devotion to the Lord. God is the author of each child. So, it is God who can make a difference in the lives of our children. Therefore, if I want to see any difference happening in the lives of my children, I have to deal with the Lord who is the author and owner of my children’s life.

Women have a far better sensitivity to spiritual matters.

Do you remember how Hannah in 1 Samuel 1: 12, prayed to the Lord?

She prayed in such a way that only the Lord and no one else could hear. While Hannah prayed in a way moving her lips only, Eli, the priest thought she was drunk.

But Hannah said, “I am pouring out my soul to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1: 15

By dealing with God, Hannah who was childless was able to have a child. And by keeping her promise to the Lord, she was able to help her son, Samuel, be the leader of the entire nation.

As for the mother of Rufus, because she loved her children, she devoted herself to the work of the Lord so that the Lord might bless her children in return.

It is said that Susannah Wesley, spent one hour each day praying for her 17 children.

In addition, she took, each child aside for a full hour every week to discuss spiritual matters. No wonder two of her sons, Charles and John, were used of God to bring a blessing to all of England and much of America.

Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, prayed for over 9 years, for her son who was rebellious against his parents and God. Monica’s prayer changed Augustine and he became saved and devoted his life to be an irreplaceable great leader in Christian history.

Abraham Lincoln lost his parents at his age of 11.Yet his mother’s love and influence at his early age made him a great historical figure in the history of America.

His mother used to tell him, “Abe, you should remember that to have a volume of the Bible is more important than having 100 acres of land.”

And she also told him, “Instead of trying to be a millionaire, you should be a person who is clean and pure in heart.”

And Abraham Lincoln later said, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”

See, what a mother can do for her own children, does not stop in their own lives, but reaches the whole of humanity.

I am sure that you mothers can do a marvelous job for your children.

But let me tell you a secret how to magnify your love for your children.

The secret is to devote yourself to the Lord, and let the Lord add His grace and blessing upon what you would do for them.

In my high school days, I was away from home. While I was away from home, I used to take it easy and try to find ways of enjoying myself, instead of concentrating on school work. But one summer when I went back home for the summer holidays, I found that my mother used to get up early in the morning and pray. When she prayed she just talked to God as one would talk to another.

One morning I was awakened by the sound of my mother’s prayer. I heard what she was praying for. At that particular point, she was praying for me, saying, “O Lord, I am so sorry for being a poor mother, I could not help my baby son, so that he may enjoy himself as other do. Since I cannot help him, it is you, O Lord, who must help him and bless him.”

And she cried in prayer so bitterly.

I tell you that that prayer changed my life. Even today, I can still hear my mother’s heart- rending prayer for me.