The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-11-19
Sunday School
Lesson In Brief
By REV. B. A. MEEKS

By REV. B. A. MEEKS
Subject: motives that Strength
ten Family Life.
Bible Passage: Exodus 2:1-4
Joshua "a: IA, Is; Ephesians 5:28-
81; Ola.
Golden Text: Love never fail
eth" II Corinthians 1873. "a. S
w.
We come now to the fourth and
last lesson in a series of studies
on the home. The preent series
of studies on the family is merely
a beginning in a study of the
problems which beset the home
life of America. 1t is hoped, how
ever, that they will serve tc
greatly strengthen family ties and
lead parents to a clearer under
standing of their duties and re-
Sponsibilities.
There are many things which
tend to strengthen family life,
but it is my purpose to consider
only four.
1. Foundation or being we'll
born. It is never too early to. be-
gin to lay the foundation for a
happy home. Little thought is
given by many to the long years
between the promise of the Saw
Jour and His appearance in the
home of Joseph and Mary. The
promise of His coming was made
to the first parents just after be-
ing driven from the Garden of
Eden. A definite step in making
this promise come true was made
in the calling out of Abraham.
The golden thread of Gods prep
aration for the coming of His Son
was more and more clearly seen
as the day approached. The i'm
portance of the family back
ground and heritage in the birth
of Jesus is readily seen by The.
Genealogical tables given in the
gospels of Matthew and Luke as
we'll as in the Old Testament.
The Importance Of the family
background and heritage cannot
be minimized in the birth of any
child. Environment cannot en-
tirely erase the i'll effect of a bad
and unwholesome heritage. Ev-
cry child should be given the
right to be wellborn. Young
people should be so guided that
they will come to the marriage
altar unhindered by physical,
mental or spiritual unfitness.
They should be taught to keep
their bodies and minds clean,
pure and wholesome not only be-
cause it is right, but that they
may come to the responsibilities
and privileges of welded life with
clean moral lives thereby making
better life companions and better
fitted to become the fathers and
mothers of their children. Youth
should be given physical. mental
and spiritual culture by the home
and the church preparing them
for parenthood.
2. Religion. The religion of the
Lord Jesus Christ should have a
prominent place in every home.
One of the first tasks of parents
is to assist their children in COM
ing to know Christ as their Saw
Jour and to yield themselves to
Him as Lord. parents must see
that the child has confidence in
them as parents, in himself as an
individual and in God as the d.
vine Father over all. Through
the growing years it is the re-
sponsibility Of parents to lead the
child into life of self-mastery
and self-control with Christ as the
Head. There should be a close
tie between the home and the
church. Parents are to set the
example of public worship in
church and Bible school atten-
dance.
8. Love. Without love, welded
life is but dust and ashes. It is
the only basis for happines. Love
ought to be the charmed word of
every household. The vows of
wedlock call for a love that leads
to self-giving and self-surrender
one to the other. The sacrifices
and hardships of parenthood are
turned into joy and privilege by