Parents Should Give Children Right Direction. -- With us as parents and as
Christians it rests to give our children right direction. They are to be
carefully, wisely, tenderly guided into paths of Christlike ministry. We are
under sacred covenant with God to rear our children for His service. To surround
them with such influences as shall lead them to choose a life of service, and to
give them the training needed, is our first duty.
Children May Be Daniels and Esthers Today. -- God's purpose for the children
growing up beside our hearths is wider, deeper, higher, than our restricted
vision has comprehended. From the humblest lot those whom He has been faithful
have in time past been called to witness for Him in the world's highest places.
And many a lad of today, growing up as did Daniel in his Judean home, studying
God's word and His works, and learning the lessons of faithful service, will yet
stand in legislative assemblies, in halls of justice, or in royal courts as a
witness for the King of kings. Multitudes will be called to a wider ministry.
The whole world is opening to the gospel. . . . From every quarter of this world
of ours comes the cry of sin-stricken hearts for a knowledge of the God of love.
. . . It rests with us who have received the knowledge, with our children to
whom we may impart it, to answer their cry. To every household and every school,
to every parent, teacher, and child upon whom has shone the light of the gospel,
comes at this crisis the question put to Esther the queen at that momentous crisis in Israel's history, "Who knoweth whether thou art come
to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Successful Ways of Witnessing for Christ. --Not all can go as missionaries to
foreign lands, but all can be home missionaries in their families and
neighbourhoods. There are many ways in which church members may give the message
to those around them. One of the most successful is by living helpful, unselfish
Christian lives. Those who are fighting the battle of life at great odds may be
refreshed and strengthened by little attentions which cost nothing. Kindly words
simply spoken, little attentions simply bestowed, will sweep away the clouds of
temptation and doubt that gather over the soul. The true heart expression of
Christlike sympathy, given in simplicity, has power to open the door of hearts
that need the simple, delicate touch of the spirit of Christ.
There is a wide field of service for women as well as for men. The efficient
cook, the seamstress, the nurse-- the help of all is needed. Let the members of
poor households be taught how to cook, how to make and mend their own clothing,
how to nurse the sick, how to care properly for the home. Even the children
should be taught to do some little errand of love and mercy for those less
fortunate than themselves.
Children and Youth to Join in Service for Others. -- In an effort to excuse
themselves some say: "My home duties, my children, claim my time and my
means." Parents, your children should be your helping hand, increasing your
power and ability to work for the Master. Children are the younger members of
the Lord's family. They should be led to consecrate themselves to God, whose they are by creation and by redemption. They should be taught that all
their powers of body, mind, and soul are His. They should be trained to help in
various lines of unselfish service. Do not allow your children to be hindrances.
With you the children should share spiritual as well as physical burdens. By
helping others they increase their own happiness and usefulness.
If in every church the young men and the young women would solemnly
consecrate themselves to God, if they would practice self-denial in the home
life, relieving their tired, careworn mothers, what a change would take place in
our churches! The mother could find time to make neighbourly visits. When
opportunity offered, the children could give assistance by doing, when quite
young, little errands of mercy and love to bless others. Thus thousands of the
homes of the poor and needy not of our faith could be entered. Books relating to
health and temperance could be placed in many homes. The circulation of these
books is an important work; for they contain precious knowledge in regard to the
treatment of disease--knowledge that would be a great blessing to those who
cannot afford to pay for the physician's visits.
God Wants Children as Little Missionaries. --God wants every child of tender
age to be His child, to be adopted into His family. Young though they may be,
the youth may be members of the household of faith and have a most precious
experience.
In their early years children may be useful in God's work. . . . He will give
them His grace and His Holy Spirit, that they may overcome impatience,
fretfulness, and all sin. Jesus loves the children. He has blessings for them,
and He loves to see them obedient to their parents. He desires them to be His little missionaries, denying their own inclinations
and desires for selfish pleasure to do service for Him; and this service is just
as acceptable to God as is the service of grown-up children.
By precept and example parents are to teach their children to labour for the
unconverted. The children should be so educated that they will sympathize with
the aged and afflicted and will seek to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and
distressed. They should be taught to be diligent in missionary work; and from
their earliest years self-denial and sacrifice for the good of others and the
advancement of Christ's cause should be inculcated, that they may be labourers
together with God.
Let parents teach their little ones the truth as it is in Jesus. The children
in their simplicity will repeat to their associates that which they have
learned.
The Church Has Work for the Youth. --Let the overseers of the church devise
plans whereby young men and women may be trained to put to use their entrusted
talents. Let the older members of the church seek to do earnest, compassionate
work for the children and youth. Let ministers put to use all their ingenuity in
devising plans whereby the younger members of the church may be led to
co-operate with them in missionary work. But do not imagine that you can arouse
their interest merely by preaching a long sermon at the missionary meeting. Plan
ways whereby a live interest may be kindled. Let all have a part to act. Train
the young to do what is appointed them, and from week to week let them bring
their reports to the missionary meeting, telling what they have experienced and
through the grace of Christ what success has been theirs. If such reports were
brought in by consecrated workers, the missionary meetings would not be dull and tedious. They would be full of interest, and there would be no
lack in attendance.
Seek Opportunities in the Neighbourhood. -- Opportunities are within the
reach of everyone. Take up the work that should be done in your neighbourhood,
for which you are held responsible.[* NOTE: FOR DETAILED COUNSEL ON THE METHODS
AND EFFECTIVENESS OF NEIGHBOURHOOD MINISTRY OF KINDNESS, SEE WELFARE
MINISTRY.--COMPILERS .] Wait not for others to urge you to take advance steps.
Move without delay, bearing in mind your individual responsibility to Him who
gave His life for you. Move as if you heard Christ calling upon you personally
to awake out of sleep and to exert every God-given faculty in doing the utmost
in His service. Look not to see who else is ready to catch inspiration from the
word of the living God. If you are thoroughly consecrated, through your
instrumentality He will bring into the truth others whom He can use as channels
to convey light to many souls in darkness.
Let Christian Families Enter Dark Counties.--God calls for Christian families
to go into communities that are in darkness and error, and work wisely and
perseveringly for the Master. To answer this call requires self-sacrifice. While
many are waiting to have every obstacle removed, souls are dying without hope
and without God in the world. Many, very many, for the sake of worldly
advantage, for the sake of acquiring scientific knowledge, will venture into
pestilential regions and endure hardship and privation. Where are those who are
willing to do this for the sake of telling others of the Saviour? Where are the
men and women who will move into regions that are in need of the gospel, that they may point those in
darkness to the Redeemer?
If families would locate in the dark places of the earth, places where the
people are enshrouded in spiritual gloom, and let the light of Christ's life
shine out through them, a great work might be accomplished. Let them begin their
work in a quiet, unobtrusive way, not drawing on the funds of the conference
until the interest becomes so extensive that they cannot manage it without
ministerial help.
Children Will Work When Others Cannot. --When heavenly intelligences see that
men are no longer permitted to present the truth, the Spirit of God will come
upon the children, and they will do a work in the proclamation of the truth
which the older workers cannot do because their way will be hedged up.
In the closing scenes of this earth's history many of these children and
youth will astonish people by their witness to the truth, which will be borne in
simplicity, yet with spirit and power. They have been taught the fear of the
Lord, and their hearts have been softened by a careful and prayerful study of
the Bible. In the near future many children will be endued with the Spirit of
God and will do a work in proclaiming the truth to the world that at that time
cannot well be done by the older members of the church.
Our church schools are ordained by God to prepare the children for this great
work. Here children are to be instructed in the special truths for this time and
in practical missionary work. They are to enlist in the army of workers to help
the sick and the suffering. Children can take part in the medical missionary
work and by their jots and tittles can help to carry it forward. . . .
By them God's message will be made known and His saving health to all
nations. Then let the church carry a burden for the lambs of the flock. Let the
children be educated and trained to do service for God.
Learn to Do by Doing. --Love and loyalty to Christ are the spring of all true
service. In the heart touched by His love there is begotten a desire to work for
Him. Let this desire be encouraged and rightly guided. Whether in the home, the
neighbourhood, or the school, the presence of the poor, the afflicted, the
ignorant, or the unfortunate should be regarded, not as a misfortune, but as
affording precious opportunity for service.
In this work, as in every other, skill is gained in the work itself. It is by
training in the common duties of life and in ministry to the needy and suffering
that efficiency is assured. Without this the best-meant efforts are often
useless and even harmful. It is in the water, not on the land, that men learn to
swim.