Arkansas State press., 1944-11-10
CHRIST IN THE HOME

LESSON TEXT-Matthew 1915; Luke
10: 38-42 II Timothy 1885
| GOLDEN TEXT-These things l com.
mand you. that ye may love one an.
| other.--John i5i7.
The American home faces many
enemies and powerful destructive in.
fiuences In our day. At times one
wonders whether this most impor.
tant of all institutions has not so far
departed from what God intended it
to be that 1t has lost Its place and
power.
In such a time, II Is important
that the Christian church keep be-
fore the people, and especially our
young people. the Scripture teach.
ing about the home. We need to
revive the old-fashioned home, with
its piety, purity and high purpose In
the plan of God. We begin right
when we note:
I. The Plan of God for the Home
Matt. l9:4-6.
When Jesus was challenged by
the Pharisees. who claimed that
man had right to divorce his wife.
He appealed to Scripture. That is
the sure foundation for right think
ing.
He referred them to the story Of
the creation of man and woman in
Genesis 2:l8-2t. There 1t is re-
vealed that in all the animal king.
dom there was no creature suited
for fellowship with man. The one
who finds full satisfaction in the
company Of cat, a dog or horse.
Is just not up to normal.
Adam must have a help meet
for him, that is, one suited by per-
sonality and gifts to be his eompan-
ion. God made woman for that
purpose and gave her to man. Thus
He established the home and or
dained that all through mans his
tory there should be the coming
together Of one man and one woman
In that indissoluble union of love
". g. which makes the home.
We have forgotten Gods law, or
have deliberately violated it, and
have broken down the home in its
very foundation. We had better be-
gin to think seriously about the d.
vorce problem II we are not to 60
the way Of other nations.
II. The Presence Of Christ In the
Home duke l0:38-4O.
Christ repeatedly honored the
home by His blessed presence. He
came to the wedding feast at Cana
Of Galilee, and there He performed
His first miracle John q. He should
be the unseen guest at every Chris
tian marriage. Invite Him, expect
Him, honor Him, and He will bless
you.
One home In particular was a
place Of rest and refuge for our
Lord when He was here on earth,
that Of His friends, Lazarus, Martha
and Mary. in Bethany. He was a
welcome guest, always at home in
that household. Shall we do less In
our households? We see notices in
homes. Christ is the unseen guest
In this home" How appropriate!
But note that His presence in the
home gives Him opportunity to
teach and to direct the life Of the
home, Mary and Martha had both
been busy about the work Of the
household, but Mary knew when it
was time to stop being busy and sit
at Jesus feet to learn and to be
blessed by His presence. She not
only worked. but "also sat at the
Lords feet" ". 3O. Martha went
right on working until she was dis
tracted, and came to censure her
sister.
The answer of Jesus Is signih-
cant. He did not rebuke Martha,
He only told her to get her life into
balance. There must be work In
-, home, but those who make home
only a workshop miss its greatest
blessing. Home should be place of
sweet fellowship between the men,
bers Of the family. and especially
between them and the Lord.
iii. The Power of Faith In the
Home III Tim. 1880.
/ Family religion really pays. The
home with the family altar, where
! Gods Word is read as a natural and
, proper part OF daily living, where
! prayer is made, and Gods good
ness Is remembered in thanksgiving
and praise, that home will send
forth children who know the grace
of God. and are prepared 10 heed
His call for service.
Timothy had a grandmother and
a mother Zone wonders where papa
and grandpa were) with unfeigned
faith. What precious heritagel
That was far more valuable than
silver or gold, or farms or corner
lots. What heritage are you giving
your children'
Ncte the reference to Timothy's
work as a minister Of God in verse Q.
II was by the Holy Spirits call, and
was recognized by the church In
ordination, the laying on OF hands"
But II Is evidently closely connected
with that which is spoken OF In the
verse before--the faith Of his home
There Is power In that faith to sent
boy forth 70 valiant service fol