Religion in 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.

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