Promises Kept
May 10, 2026 – Mother’s Day
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Psalm 66:8-12, 16-20 and John 14:15-21
By Pastor Jane Shelton, CRE
What a glorious day it is to celebrate Mother’s Day on the same day our scripture reminds us of the deep devotion and love that God has for us.
Let me share with you this morning a poem titled:
A Mother’s Love
by Helen Steiner Rice
A Mother’s love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender guiding hand.
What beautiful words these are as a reminder for those of us who had or have such a mother that loves us and is always there for us, even though we might not always agree on every aspect of our lives, the bond is unbreakable.
We don’t need to wait on a day labeled “Mother’s Day” to celebrate her or her memory, for sure, but at least this day has been marked on the calendar as a reminder for us to remember and take note of the devotion and sacrifice that mothers have made in our lives.
For those who may not have had a loving mother or mother figure in your life, there is another mother known as God. In fact, God is an even greater mother for all of us.
From the moment of creation, God made us out of love for us and for a relationship with us.
Although the Genesis creation account doesn’t use the word “love” in every verse, the theological reading consistently identifies love as the underlying motive and character of God’s actions. Creation is portrayed as:
• A provision of a good home and purpose for humanity.
• A call to stewardship and relationship.
• A self-giving act reflecting God’s nature.
In this sense, love is not just mentioned — it is the very essence of the creation story.
When we do a little research to find the first mentioned incidence of love, we find it in Genesis 22:2, when God commands Abraham: “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
This verse highlights both paternal love and the relationship between Abraham and God. Abraham’s love for Isaac is evident in his willingness to obey God despite the emotional and moral challenge, demonstrating faith, trust, and devotion.
The Hebrew word used for love in this passage (‘a-hav’) conveys familial or paternal affection, emphasizing the deep bond between a parent and child.
This early mention sets a foundational theme for the Bible, showing that love is intertwined with obedience, faith, and divine testing. It also reflects God’s love for Abraham, as He provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac, illustrating care and provision.
This passage is not only the first appearance of love in scripture but also establishes a pattern of love as both relational and sacrificial, a theme that recurs throughout the Old and New Testaments. It underscores that love in the biblical sense is often expressed through actions, commitment, and trust, rather than merely emotion.
In the Old Testament, God’s covenant with His people is deeply tied to obedience to His commandments and love for Him. The statement linking love and obedience is found in Exodus 20:6, where God promises:
“But I will show steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
There are similar scriptures in both Deuteronomy and Proverbs.
These passages show that in the Old Testament, keeping God’s commandments is both a sign of love for Him and how He shows His love to us. Obedience is not a burden but a way of life that reflects God’s character and secures His favor.
The Old Testament teaches that love for God and obedience to His commandments are reciprocal: God’s love is shown to those who love and keep His commandments, and in loving Him, we are called to keep His commandments faithfully.
This theme is carried into the New Testament with the new commandment Jesus leaves with his disciples on the night of his arrest, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.”
It is truly remarkable that upon Jesus being betrayed and denied by some of his closest followers, he immediately reminds them of both his love and God’s love for them upon his meeting with them shortly after his resurrection.
Like a mother listens out for the cry of her newborn baby, so too does God listen out for our cries, and out of love by the Son of God for his disciples and us, Jesus asks for an Advocate to listen to our cries and offer comfort through the Holy Spirit.
If there is one on whom we can depend, it is the Triune God, who promised love, provision and protection for us at the very time of our creation and has kept those promises through the ages.
So, on this Mother’s Day, let us not only celebrate the blessings of loving mothers and mother figures in our lives, but also the love of God that continues to listen to our cries.