The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-11-05

The religious life of the home is q
determining factor in the life of the
:hild, for it is in the home that the
.hild's whole existence centers and
rom which he receives the repeated
Impressions, day by day, which de-
ermine character and destiny. Then
90, it is in the home that the par
mt has the opportunity to demon
itrate the reality of the faith pro-
essed in the church and to show
he child that Christianity really
counts in the ordinary experiences
If life.
/. BY Recognizing Gods Word
Deut. 6;4-9).
Twice a day the orthodox Jew re-
ieated the words of verses 4 and 5,
the Shema," in his time of prayer,
morning and night. 1t was the
oundation of his faith, declaring the
meness of God in world of many
leather gods, and calling for COM
llete and absolute devotion to Him.
But it was not enough that these
words should be repeated in the
ervice, they were to be taught with
ii diligence to the children and to
,e a normal and natural part of their
laily conversation.
Here is a matter of great signifi-
ance to us. The faith which we
rofess in the church must be effec-
lively brought into the home. 1t is
lot enough to carry Bible on Sun
lay, it should be in use in the
lome throughout the week; not only
n family worship, but in the Incl
lentals of daily life.
The family altar has gradually
disappeared, and it is regrettable
hat it has, for the testimony of gen.
Tations indicates that in family
Worship some Of the most useful
nen and women of all ages have re-
eived the direction of life which
made them great for God
Let us not readily assume that it
s not possible for US to have a fam
ly altar simply because of the diff
iculties of time, place, etc. But if
We cannot have such worship regu-
arly, let us show our children that
We have a real interest by reading
,ur Bibles, by sharing some bless
ng found therein with them, and by
making prayer the natural thing in
he home at all times, not just in
hours of trial or adversely. Let us
recognize Gods Word in our family
ife.
IL. BY Remembering Gods Bless
ng (Deut. 6:20-25).
The nation that forgets its past
Will have no future worth remem-
oering. The Israelites were to re-
,all that the glorious history of
Gods loving kindness toward them
pore testimony to the truth of His
Word and to the faithfulness with
which He had kept them. Their
young people would thus be encour-
aged to trust God for the future.
Hitherto the Lord hath helped," "
means that henceforth we may
count on Him.
In every nation there are those
occasions of history where only God
could deliver-and He did. The rec
ollection of such events in a way
which will give the glory to God
rather than to man will strengthen
faith and cause men to look to God
in the hour of need, and to thank
Him in the day of victory.
In the family too, we should cult
vate the sacred memories of God S
deliverance, of His blessing, of the
joy of His fellowship in bright as
well as threatening moments. Chill
dren who hear such matters CRATE
fully rehearsed in the home have
an effective anchor in a time of
storm.
III. By Continuing in Gods Grace
QI Tim. 3;14, 15).
That which we learn of Christ and
of Gods Word is to be translated
into living for Christ The expert
ences of grace and the remem-
brance of Gods blessing of child
hood are not for that period of life
alone but for a continuing in God S
grace. This carries our thought a
bit beyond the responsibility of the
parent to provide the proper sur
roundings and training, and stresses
the duty of the child to apply, per,
feet, and continue that experience
of Christian truth and testimony.
Too many careless individuals,
who because of the desires of their
own wicked hearts have abandoned
the church and the Book, blame il
on the parents. "They were toe
strict. We had to go to church toe
much. They made me go to Sunday
school are their excuses. OF
course, we know that they are only
excuses, not reasons. They are the
refuge of the hypocrite who is not
willing to face his own terrible re-
sponsibility.
The obligation is on each one of us
to continue in the things we have
learned, and if we do not, the judg-
ment must come upon us. If we
do, salvation and blessing will come
to US, and we in turn will pass il
on to others.
May this lesson turn many an
American home back to Gods way.