Home Is the Heart of All Activity. --Society is composed of families, and is
what the heads of families make it. Out of the heart are "the issues of
life"; and the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is
the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the
prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences.
The elevation or deterioration of the future of society will be determined by
the manners and morals of the youth growing up around us. As the youth are
educated, and as their characters are moulded in their childhood to virtuous
habits, self-control, and temperance, so will their influence be upon society.
If they are left unenlightened and uncontrolled, and as the result become
self-willed, intemperate in appetite and passion, so will be their future
influence in moulding society. The company which the young now keep, the habits
they now form, and the principles they now adopt are the index to the state of
society for years to come.
The Sweetest Type of Heaven. --Home should be made all that the word implies.
It should be a little heaven upon earth, a place where the affections are
cultivated instead of being studiously repressed. Our happiness depends upon
this cultivation of love, sympathy, and true courtesy to one another.
The sweetest type of heaven is a home where the Spirit of the Lord presides.
If the will of God is fulfilled, the husband and wife will respect each other
and cultivate love and confidence.
Importance of the Home Atmosphere. --The atmosphere surrounding the souls of
fathers and mothers fills the whole house, and is felt in every department of
the home.
To a large extent parents create the atmosphere of the home circle, and when
there is disagreement between father and mother, the children partake of the
same spirit. Make your home atmosphere fragrant with tender thoughtfulness. If
you have become estranged and have failed to be Bible Christians, be converted;
for the character you bear in probationary time will be the character you will
have at the coming of Christ. If you would be a saint in heaven, you must first
be a saint on earth. The traits of character you cherish in life will not be
changed by death or by the resurrection. You will come up from the grave with
the same disposition you manifested in your home and in society. Jesus does not
change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now.
Our daily lives are determining our destiny.
Creating a Pure Atmosphere. --Every Christian home should have rules; and
parents should, in their words and deportment toward each other, give to the
children a precious, living example of what they desire them to be. Purity in
speech and true Christian courtesy should be constantly practised. Teach the
children and youth to respect themselves, to be true to God, true to principle;
teach them to respect and obey the law of God. These principles will control
their lives and will be carried out in their associations with others. They will
create a pure atmosphere--one that will have an influence that will encourage
weak souls in the upward path that leads to holiness and heaven. Let every
lesson be of an elevating and ennobling character, and the records made in the books of
heaven will be such as you will not be ashamed to meet in the judgement.
Children who receive this kind of instruction will . . . be prepared to fill
places of responsibility and, by precept and example, will be constantly aiding
others to do right. Those whose moral sensibilities have not been blunted will
appreciate right principles; they will put a just estimate upon their natural
endowments and will make the best use of their physical, mental, and moral
powers. Such souls are strongly fortified against temptation; they are
surrounded by a wall not easily broken down.
God would have our families symbols of the family in heaven. Let parents and
children bear this in mind every day, relating themselves to one another as
members of the family of God. Then their lives will be of such a character as to
give to the world an object lesson of what families who love God and keep His
commandments may be. Christ will be glorified; His peace and grace and love will
pervade the family circle like a precious perfume.
Much depends on the father and mother. They are to be firm and kind in their
discipline, and they are to work most earnestly to have an orderly, correct
household, that the heavenly angels may be attracted to it to impart peace and a
fragrant influence.
Make Home Bright and Happy. --Never forget that you are to make the home
bright and happy for yourselves and your children by cherishing the Saviour's
attributes. If you bring Christ into the home, you will know good from evil. You
will be able to help your children to be trees of righteousness, bearing the
fruit of the Spirit. Troubles may invade, but these are the lot of humanity. Let patience,
gratitude, and love keep sunshine in the heart though the day may be ever so
cloudy.
The home may be plain, but it can always be a place where cheerful words are
spoken and kindly deeds are done, where courtesy and love are abiding guests.
Administer the rules of the home in wisdom and love, not with a rod of iron.
Children will respond with willing obedience to the rule of love. Commend your
children whenever you can. Make their lives as happy as possible. . . . Keep the
soil of the heart mellow by the manifestation of love and affection, thus
preparing it for the seed of truth. Remember that the Lord gives the earth not
only clouds and rain, but the beautiful, smiling sunshine, causing the seed to
germinate and the blossom to appear. Remember that children need not only
reproof and correction, but encouragement and commendation, the pleasant
sunshine of kind words.
You must not have strife in your household. "But the wisdom that is from
above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of
mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit
of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." It is
gentleness and peace that we want in our homes.
Tender Ties That Bind. --The family tie is the closest, the most tender and
sacred, of any on earth. It was designed to be a blessing to mankind. And it is
a blessing wherever the marriage covenant is entered into intelligently, in the
fear of God, and with due consideration for its responsibilities.
Every home should be a place of love, a place where the angels of God abide,
working with softening, subduing influence upon the hearts of parents and children.
Our homes must be made a Bethel, our hearts a shrine. Wherever the love of
God is cherished in the soul, there will be peace, there will be light and joy.
Spread out the word of God before your families in love, and ask, "What
hath God spoken?"
Christ's Presence Makes a Home Christian. --The home that is beautified by
love, sympathy, and tenderness is a place that angels love to visit, and where
God is glorified. The influence of a carefully guarded Christian home in the
years of childhood and youth is the surest safeguard against the corruptions of
the world. In the atmosphere of such a home the children will learn to love both
their earthly parents and their heavenly Father.
From their infancy the youth need to have a firm barrier built up between
them and the world, that its corrupting influence may not affect them.
Every Christian family should illustrate to the world the power and
excellence of Christian influence. . . . Parents should realise their
accountability to keep their homes free from every taint of moral evil.
Holiness to God is to pervade the home. . . . Parents and children are to
educate themselves to co-operate with God. They are to bring their habits and
practices into harmony with God's plans.
The family relationship should be sanctifying in its influence. Christian
homes, established and conducted in accordance with God's plan, are a wonderful
help in forming Christian character. . . . Parents and children should unite in
offering loving service to Him who alone can keep human love pure and noble.
The first work to be done in a Christian home is to see that the Spirit of
Christ abides there, that every member of the household may be able to take his
cross and follow where Jesus leads the way.