Arkansas State press., 1942-11-20
MOTIVES THAT STRENGTHEN
FAMILY LIFE

LESSON TEXT-Exodus AID; Joshua
24l4 Is. Ephesians 52s.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
tExod. ALA; Josh. 24l4, l5).
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.
!. By Faith in God tExod. 2:l-D :.
The story Of tie 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 Joseph's time. were now being
persecutai. 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 or, a venture Of faith, the
charming story of which follows the
verses of our lesson. God honored
their faith by using their enemies
10 serve them.
2. Service for God (Josh. gaia,
49,. Joshua. who followed Moses
as the God-appointed leader of Is
rael, was giving his last admoniton
TO his people He knew how they
had repeatedly turned from God in
unbehef 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
position Of leadership in this world
is responsible for the use OF that
place OF power, as a 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 high
II. Regard for One Another In the
Home (Eph. 5:28-3l; Clio.
1t il pure hypocrisy for the family
to parade an outward show OF re-
hgion which does not effectively
touch the relationships within the
home. incidentally, it is the kind
Of hypocrisy which is strikingly in
effective-men see through it too
easily.
What then does Christianity do for
the home itself? 1t determines, d.
reefs, sweetens-yes. glorihes the
relation between
/. Husband and Wife tEph. 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
sacred union which calls forth love
In its highest and noblest 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 serene, happy and wholesome
way. II 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. s:
IA. The first and one might al
most say the only. law Of childhood
is obedience. II is Gods way to
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 in the Lord" WHAT father or
mother is competent to direct child
apart from faith in Christ?
Notice too, that the parent has an
obligation 10 deal intelligently a.
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 il 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
- HES greatest opportunity and its
mightiest challenge. How surpris.
ing that fathers land mothers) who
are looking for the greatest measure
OF usefulness 70 their generation fail
to see it in the privilege they have
TO rear intelligent, cody children.