The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-11-19
MOTIVES THAT STRENGTHEN
FAMILY LIFE

h ANIL LIT
LESSON TEXT-Exodus 2:1-4; Joshua ga
IA, Is; Ephcsians 5:23-3l: G:l-4
GOLDEN TEXT-Love never faileth.-I
Corinthians 1873.
Last week we saw the things
which mar the life of the family, now
we turn to those things which give
strength to the home and to daily
life. This is a lesson much needed
just now when so much of our nor
NAL home life is thrown out of joint
We begin at the right place when
we say that there must be
|. Recognition of God in the Home
(EXod. 2:1-4; Josh. 24:14, 15).
Failure at this point is without
question the great mistake of our
day, Christianity touches every
phase of life, but nowhere is its
blessed influence of greater impor-
lance than in the home
Our lesson suggests that this is
to be done in two ways in our homes.
l. By Faith in God (Exod. 2:1-4).
The story of the birth of the babe
who was to be Moses, possibly the
greatest civic, social and religious
leader of all time, reminds us that
the Jewish people. who had found
favor in the eyes of the Pharaohs
in Joscph's time, were now being
prosecuted. A decree had gone out
that all boys were to be destroyed
at birth.
Here were two parents faced with
the awful fact that their baby boy
was condemned to death. Did they
weep in fear and despair? No, they
trusted God and sent the little one
forth on a venture of faith, the
charming story of which follows the
verses Of our lesson. God honorcd
their faith by using their enemies
to serve them.
2. Service for God Gosh. 24:14,
49, joshua who followed Moses
as the God-appointed leader of Is
rael, was giving his last admonition
to his people. He knew how they
had repeatedly turned from God in
unbelief and sin; yes, that even now
some were Worshiping false gods.
He pleads with them to turn to the
one true God, but notice that his
plea is made effective by the fact
that he and his house were serving
the Lord. Every man who has a
position of leadership in this world
&c r,l-,,-.,c;l1y C,,. tl,1 AGO ~ +I,o4
place of power, as testimony for
God. Now and then we hear of a
high public official in our own land
who loves and serves Christ in SIN
certify, and our hearts rejoice. The
faith of whole nation may thus
be strengthened.
Every one of us has a sphere of
influence, and our family life counts
for or against God in our own COM
munity and among our own friends.
The members of a family that
recognize God have a high
ii. Regard for One Another in the
Home (Eph. 5:28-31; GID.
1t is pure hypocrisy for the family
to parade an outward show of re-
lgion which docs not effectively
touch the relationships within the
home. incidentally, it is the kind
of hypocrisy which is strikingly III
effective-mcn see through it too
easily.
What then docs Christianity do for
the home itself? 1t determines, di-
reefs, swcetens-yes, glorifes the
relation between
/ Husband and Wife (Eph. S:
28-3D. This passage puts marriage
on the highest plane, comparing it
to the relationship between Christ
and the church. Thus marriage is
the joining of man and wife in a
sacred union which calls forth love
in its highest and noblcst sense.
This means that the husband
cherishes his wife as his own body,
against which no man would do any
harm. and for which he makes every
possible provision for its comfort,
health, usefulness and attractive
ness. Such love between parents
will lead the entire home life along
in a serene, happy and wholesome
way 1t will not only double the
Joy, but will give strength in the
hour of sorrow, dividing the griefs
and burdens of life.
1t will set the pattern for the right
relation between
2. Parents and Children Eph g.:
4 irl, al
most say the only, law of childhood
is obedience. 1t is God way 10
Joy and satisfying life experience
for the child in the Christian home.
The command to obey carries with
it the understanding that the parents
are Gin the Lord" What father or
mother is competent TO direct child
apart from faith in Christ?
Notice too, that the parent has an
obligation to deal intelligently aid
kindly with the child. We need a
great deal of Improvement, and per-
haps instruction, at that point. Au-
thority asking obedience is neces-
sary, but it can be wise and kind.
Above all there is to be a divine
nurture, a guiding of the tender
child life in the ways of God Here
is LIES greatest opportunity and its
mightiest challenge. How surpris-
ing that fathers (and mothers) who
are looking for the greatest measure
of usefulness to their generation fail
to see it in the privilege they have
to rear intelligent, cody children.
The tccn-age draft bill was APP