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XVI.
The Home
Chapter 178
:
Religion in the Home
1. HOW well acquainted
is God with each individual's life?
"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine
uprising. Thou understandest my thought afar
off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down,
and art acquainted with all my ways. For there
is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord,
Thou knowest it altogether." Ps. 139:2-4.
2. What is the
beginning of wisdom?
"The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have
all they that do His commandments." Ps. 111:10.
3. Upon whom is God's
fury to be poured?
"Pour out Thy fury upon the
heathen that know Thee not, and upon the
families that call not on Thy name." Jer.
10:25.
4. How are parents
instructed to bring up their children?
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your
children to wrath: but bring them up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord." Eph.
6:4.
NOTE.-"Religion is love, and a religious
home is one in which love reigns. There must
be love in action, love that flows out in
all the home intercourse, showing itself in
a thousand little expressions of
thoughtfulness, kindness, unselfishness, and
gentle courtesy ."-
"Week-Day
Religion," by J. R. Miller, D. D., page 83.
5. How faithfully
should parents teach their children the Word of
God?
"And these words, which I command
thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and
thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy
children, and shalt talk of them when thou
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by
the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou
risest up." Deut. 6:6,7.
6. What is the value of
proper early instruction?
"Train up a child in the way he
should go: and when he is old, he will not
depart from it." Prov. 22:6.
NOTE.-No man ever said that he began the
service of God too young. No parent ever
regretted bringing up his children to love,
fear, honor, and obey God;
7. How early were the
Scriptures taught to Timothy?
"And that from a child thou hast
known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. 3:15.
NOTE.-Timothy's father was a Greek, and his
mother a Jewess. From a child he had been
taught the Scriptures. The faith of his
mother and of his grandmother in the Word of
God had early been implanted in him through
their faithful instruction. 2 Tim. 1:5. The
piety which he saw in his home life had a
molding influence upon his own life. This,
with his knowledge of the Scriptures,
qualified him to bear responsibilities and
to render faithful service later in the
cause of Christ. His home instructors had
cooperated with God in preparing him for a
life of usefulness. Thus it should be in
every home.
8. Why did God confide
in Abraham, and commit sacred trusts to him?
"For I know him, that he will
command his children and his household after
him, and they shall keep the way of the
Lord, to do justice and judgment." Gen. 18:19.
9. Wherever Abraham
went, what was his practice?
"And there he builded an altar unto
the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord."
Gen. 12:8. See also Gen. 13:4; 21:33.
NOTE.-"The manner in which the family
worship is conducted is very important. It
should be made so pleasant as to be looked
forward to with gladness even by the
youngest children. Too often it is made
tedious, monotonous, or burdensome. . . . To
make it dull and irksome is treason to true
religion. . . . A few minutes given every
day to preparation for family worship will
serve to make it, as it should be, the most
pleasant and attractive incident of the
day."-
"Week-Day Religion," by J. R. Miller, D. D.,
pages 81-83.
10. What instruction
suggests the giving of thanks for daily food?
"In everything give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you." 1 Thess. 5:18.
NOTE.-As a rule, children will reflect the
life and principles manifested in their
parents. The reason why so many children are
irreverent, irreligious, and disobedient
today is because their parents are so. Like
parent like child. If parents would see a
different state of things, they must
themselves reform. They must bring God into
their homes, and make His Word their
counselor and guide. They must teach their
children the fear of God, and that His Word
is the voice of God addressed to them, and
that it is to be implicitly obeyed. "In too
many households prayer is neglected. . . .
If ever there was a time when every house
should be a house of prayer, it is now.
Fathers and mothers should often lift up
their hearts to God in humble supplication
for themselves and their children. Let the
father, as priest of the household, lay upon
the altar of God the morning and evening
sacrifice, while the wife and children unite
in prayer and praise. In such a household
Jesus will love to tarry."-
"Christian
Education," page 221.
ARE
ALL the children in? The night is falling,
And storm-clouds gather in the threatening west;
The lowing cattle seek a friendly shelter;
The bird lilies to her nest;
The thunder crashes; wilder grows the tempest,
And darkness settles o'er the fearful din;
Come, shut the door, and gather round the
hearthstone:
Are all the children in?
Are
all the children in? The night is falling,
When gilded sin doth walk about the streets.
O, "at the last it biteth like a serpent"!
Poisoned are stolen sweets.
O mothers, guard the feet of inexperience,
Too prone to wander in the paths of sin!
O, shut the door of love against temptation!
Are all the children in?
Are
all the children in? The night is falling,
The night of death is hastening on apace;
The Lord is calling, "Enter thou thy chamber,
And tarry there a space."
And when He comes, the King in all His glory,
Who died the shameful death our hearts to win,
O, may the gates of heaven shut about us,
With all the children in!
ELIZABETH ROBBER. |
