Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-11-05


termine character and destiny The
too, it is in the home that the pa
ent has the opportunity to demonsi
strate the reality of the faith pro-
fessed in the church and to show |
the child that Christianity really
counts in the ordinary experiences
of life.
1. BY Recognizing Gods Word
(Deut. 6:4-9).
Twice day the orthodox Jew ree.
peated the words of verses 4 and S.
''the Shema," in his time of prayer.
morning and night. 1t was the
foundation of his faith, declaring the
oneness of God in a world of many
heather gods, and calling for COM
plete and absolute devotion to Him.
But it was not enough that these
words should be repeated in the
service, they were to be taught with
all diligence to the children and to
be normal and natural part of their
daily conversation
Here is matter of great signifial
canoe to US. The faith which we
profess in the church must be effec1
lively brought into the home. It i
not enough to carry Bible on Sur
day, it should be in use in tn
home throughout the week; not only +
in family worship, but in the Incl
dentals Of daily life.
The family altar has gradually
disappeared, and it is regrettable
that it has, for the testimony Of gen.
erations indicates that in fanI>G
worship some of the most rs
men and women of all ages han
ceived the direction of lifs Whia
made them great for God. M
Let US not readily assume that it
is not possible for US to have a FAM
lily altar simply becaase of the diff
ficulties of time, place. ETC. But If
we cannot have such worship reg.-
larly, let us show our children that
we have real interest by reading
our Bibles, by sharing some bless
ing found therein with them, and by
making prayer the natural thing in
the home at all times, not just in
hours of trial or adversely. Let us
recognize Gods Word in our family
life.
II. By Remembering Gods Bless
ing Deut. 6:2O-25).
The nation that forgets lis past
will have no future worth remem-
bering. The Israelites were to re-
call that the glorious history Of !
Gods loving kindness toward thep<
bore testimony to the truth of H
Word and to the faithfulness wi
which He had kept them. Tho
young people would thus be eneN
aged to trust God for the -
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
objection 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 Gods
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
(II 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 continuing in Gods
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 too
strict. We had to go to church too
much. They made me go to Sunday
schooP-such are their excuses. or
course, we know that they are d
excuses. not reasons. Ting Uo
refuge Of the hypocrite
willing to face his own
sponsibility.
The obligation is
to continue in th(
learned, and If we
ment must come
do, salvation and
to US, and we in
on to others.
May this lesso
American home b