Best Missionaries Come From Christian Homes. -- Missionaries for the Master
are best prepared for work abroad in the Christian household, where God is
feared, where God is loved, where God is worshipped, where faithfulness has
become second nature, where haphazard, careless inattention to home duties is
not permitted, where quiet communion with God is looked upon as essential to the
faithful performance of daily duties.
Home duties should be performed with the consciousness that if they are done
in the right spirit, they give an experience that will enable us to work for
Christ in the most permanent and thorough manner. Oh, what might not a living
Christian do in missionary lines by performing faithfully the daily duties,
cheerfully lifting the cross, not neglecting any work, however disagreeable to
the natural feelings!
Our work for Christ is to begin with the family, in the home. . . . There is
no missionary field more important than this. . . .
By many this home field has been shamefully neglected, and it is time that
divine resources and remedies were presented, that this state of evil may be
corrected.
The highest duty that devolves upon youth is in their own homes, blessing
father and mother, brothers and sisters, by affection and true interest. Here
they can show self-denial and self-forgetfulness in caring and doing for others.
. . . What an influence a sister may have over brothers! If she is right, she
may determine the character of her brothers. Her prayers, her gentleness, and
her affection may do much in a household.
In the home those who have received Christ are to show what grace has done
for them. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." A conscious authority
pervades the true believer in Christ, that makes its influence felt throughout
the home. This is favourable for the perfection of the characters of all in the
home.
An Argument That the Infidel Cannot Gainsay. -- A well-ordered Christian
household is a powerful argument in favour of the reality of the Christian
religion--an argument that the infidel cannot gainsay. All can see that there is
an influence at work in the family that affects the children, and that the God
of Abraham is with them. If the homes of professed Christians had a right
religious mould, they would exert a mighty influence for good. They would indeed
be the "light of the world."
Children to Extend Knowledge of Bible Principles. -- Children who have been
properly educated, who love to be useful, to help father and mother, will extend
a knowledge of correct ideas and Bible principles to all with whom they
associate.
When our own homes are what they should be, our children will not allowed to
grow up in idleness and indifference to the claims of God in behalf of the needy
all about them. As the Lord's heritage, they will be qualified to take up the
work where they are. A light will shine from such homes which will reveal itself
in behalf of the ignorant, leading them to the source of all knowledge. An
influence will be exerted that will be a power for God and for His truth.
Parents who can be approached in no other way are frequently reached through
their children.
Cheerful Homes Will Be a Light to Neighbours. -- We need more sunshiny
parents and more sunshiny Christians. We are too much shut up within ourselves.
Too often the kindly, encouraging word, the cheery smile, are withheld from our
children and from the oppressed and discouraged.
Parents, upon you rests the responsibility of being light-bearers and
light-givers. Shine as lights in the home, brightening the path that your
children must travel. As you do this, your light will shine to those without.
From every Christian home a holy light should shine forth. Love should be
revealed in action. It should flow out in all home intercourse, showing itself
in thoughtful kindness, in gentle, unselfish courtesy. There are homes where
this principle is carried out--homes where God is worshipped and truest love
reigns. From these homes morning and evening prayer ascends to God as sweet
incense, and His mercies and blessings descend upon the suppliants like the
morning dew.
Results of Family Unity. --The first work of Christians is to be united in
the family. Then the work is to extend to their neighbours nigh and afar off.
Those who have received light are to let the light shine forth in clear rays.
Their words, fragrant with the love of Christ, are to be a savour of life unto
life.
The more closely the members of a family are united in their work in the
home, the more uplifting and helpful will be the influence that father and
mother and sons and daughters will exert outside the home.
Good Men Needed More Than Great Minds. --The happiness of families and
churches depends upon home influences. Eternal interests depend upon the proper discharge of the duties
of this life. The world is not so much in need of great minds as of good men who
will be a blessing in their homes.
Avoid Mistakes That May Close Doors. --When religion is manifested in the
home, its influence will be felt in the church and in the neighbourhood. But
some who profess to be Christians talk with their neighbours concerning their
home difficulties. They relate their grievances in such a way as to call forth
sympathy for themselves; but it is a great mistake to pour our trouble into the
ears of others, especially when many of our grievances are manufactured and
exist because of our irreligious life and defective character. Those who go
forth to lay their private grievances before others might better remain at home
to pray, to surrender their perverse will to God, to fall on the Rock and be
broken, to die to self that Jesus may make them vessels unto honour.
A lack of courtesy, a moment of petulance, a single rough, thoughtless word,
will mar your reputation, and may close the door to hearts so that you can never
reach them.
Christianity in the Home Shines Abroad. --The effort to make the home what it
should be--a symbol of the home in heaven--prepares us for work in a larger
sphere. The education received by showing a tender regard for each other enables
us to know how to reach hearts that need to be taught the principles of true
religion. The church needs all the cultivated spiritual force which can be
obtained, that all, and especially the younger members of the Lord's family, may
be carefully guarded. The truth lived at home makes itself felt in disinterested labour abroad. He who lives Christianity in the home will be a
bright and shining light everywhere.