Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6.
The educational influences of the home life are a decided power for good or for ill. These influences are in many respects silent and gradual, but, if exerted on the side of right, they are full of preciousness. Christ came to this world to be our pattern, to show by precept and example the characters all must have who compose the family of God. He came to bless and save the human race, and to raise men and women to be sons and daughters of God. To this end He humbled Himself, stepping from the highest to the lowliest position.
In the councils of heaven it was decided that the mother of the Redeemer should be a pure, pious virgin, though poor as far as earthly riches were concerned. The despised village of Nazareth was chosen as His home. Joseph, His earthly father, was a carpenter, and He who had given direction that every youth in Israel should learn a trade, learned Himself the trade of a carpenter. None need be ashamed of honest poverty. For thirty years Christ was subject to His parents, and by the labor of His hands He helped to sustain the family. Thus He would teach that labor is not a degradation, but an honor, and that it is every man’s duty to engage in useful, honorable work….
It is a solemn, serious work to care for those for whom Christ has died, to teach children not to lavish their affections upon the things of this world, not to waste time and labor on that which is worth less than nothing. In order to educate their children aright, mothers must be learners in the school of Christ. The Christian mother will spend much time in prayer, for in the home children are to be taught to be true to the government of God. With patience and forbearance they are to be trained. Scolding and passionate reproof will never work reforms. Fathers and mothers commit a grievous sin when they educate their children to give way to a temper by giving way [to temper] themselves and by training them according to wrong methods. Children are to be disciplined in a way that will enable them to take their place in the family of heaven….
A true mother’s heart of sympathy goes out for all with whom she comes in contact. With a determined effort she seeks to turn wayward souls to Christ. In His strength she is enabled to do much. And those who have no children have responsibilities to bear. In most cases they may receive to their homes children who are orphaned and homeless. These they may train for Christ’s sake to practice those virtues so much needed in our world.—Manuscript 34, March 21, 1899, “The Home Life.”
The Upward Look p. 94
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for someone I know who has gone through some very hard things and is discouraged because they don’t feel that God cares or listen to them. Please pray that God will in some way give them courage and faith. May they have hope in Him once again. Roberta
—-Please pray for us as we consider the topic of heaven’s immunotherapy. Pastor Rich
—-I need prayers for an interment service we’re having this morning for a Lady’s mother. It’s a private service but I had accidentally posted the service info on our website but have since taken it down when she brought it to my attention and I feel really bad. Please pray for the service to go well and that no one uninvited shows up and ease any anxieties she may have or that I may have as a result of her worrying about the service. David
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Dear Friends,
In the 1950’s, each classroom had about thirty students. School was a lot different then. The teacher allowed no talking, so the classroom was quiet and children learned rapidly. During recess time, our teacher would take us to the playground, so we could get the “wiggles” out. On rainy days, however, we had to stay in our classroom.
Mrs. Dodson, my third grade teacher, must have hated that as much as we did, but, with a smile on her face, she would conduct a spelling bee or play a game she called “telephone.” Telephone was a favorite. She would start the game by whispering a sentence in the ear of the student who sat in the first seat by the door. That student would turn around in his seat and whisper the message to the child who sat behind him. Around the room it would go. Finally, the last student to receive the message would stand and repeat the message out loud. The sentence would always be completely different than the one that the teacher had whispered into the first student’s ear. We would burst out laughing.
That simple game taught us a lesson that would save us from embarrassment or heartache as adults. Many times adults circulate stories that only vaguely resemble the facts. For example, In one church we attended when living in Washington state, we had a prayer chain that worked on the same principle as the game “telephone.” The first member on the “chain” would call the second, who would call the third, etc. Most of the time this worked very well, but if one of the “links” in the chain became distracted and didn’t hear the message exactly, the results could be quite funny. One day, I received a call asking for prayer for Mrs. Gray’s daughter who was having surgery for a brain tumor. I passed along the message. When I saw Mrs. Gray at church that Sabbath, I asked her how her daughter’s brain surgery had gone. Mrs. Gray looked at me with a very shocked look up on her face. “Brain surgery! Where did you get that idea? She had a hysterectomy!”
How often this same principle happens spiritually. Our Dear Saviour cautions us, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt 24:24 Often we hear or read some teaching that simply is not true but sounds plausible. Even if we have perfect trust in the source or we have heard some unbiblical teaching all of our life, it is just as untrue as the message I got that Mrs. Gray’s daughter had brain surgery.
How vital to our present and future it is to know what the Bible really teaches. The consequences are too important to take anyone’s word for it. In these last days, our “adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith” 1 Peter 5:8,9 The evil one mixes truth with error in such a way that only those who pray diligently for the guidance of the Holy Spirit “are kept by the power of God through faith” and will be able to discern the genuine from the false. David declares, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps 119:105 Paul tells us, “The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb 4:12
We must study God’s Holy Word for ourselves. Paul admonishes us, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” 2Tim 2:15 Only as we compare what each of the Bible writers wrote about a certain subject, (Isa 28:13) can we understand God’s message to us. As we study, we are thrilled by the perfect harmony of the Scriptures. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21
Only as we are filled with His Spirit and His words abide in our heart will we be able to keep from being deceived by the wiles of the devil. Only as we fortify our mind with God’s Holy Word, obeying it from the heart, will we have the discernment that we so much need. We must not trust to what we see or hear, but stick strictly to the Word of the Great King of the Universe, Who promises, ” If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17
May we “put on the whole armour of God, that [we] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph 6:11 May we “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in [us] both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12,13 May we hide God’s Word deep within our heart, that we might not sin against the One Who loves us so. (Ps 119:11)
Rose