School for Bible Study
15
a flame of love and holy fervor in the hearts of those who would be
like them in character.
Neglect Not the Sabbath School Lesson
The student of the Sabbath school should feel as thoroughly in
earnest to become intelligent in the knowledge of the Scriptures as to
excel in the study of the sciences. If either is neglected, it should be
the lessons of the six days. The injunction of our Saviour should be
religiously regarded by every man, woman, and child who professes
His name.
Teachers in the Sabbath school have a missionary field given them
to teach the Scriptures, not, parrot-like, to repeat over that which
they have taken no pains to understand. “They are they which testify
[19]
of Me”—the Redeemer, Him in whom our hopes of eternal life are
centered. If teachers are not imbued with the spirit of truth, and care
not for the knowledge of what is revealed in the word of God, how can
they present the truth in an attractive light to those under their charge?
The prayer of Christ for His disciples was, “Sanctify them through
Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” If we are to be sanctified through a
knowledge of the truth found in the word of God, we must have an
intelligent knowledge of His will therein revealed. We must search the
Scriptures, not merely rush through a chapter and repeat it, taking no
pains to understand it, but we must dig for the jewel of truth which will
enrich the mind, and fortify the soul against the wiles and temptations
of the archdeceiver.
Trifling Excuses for Neglect
Parents plead trifling excuses for not interesting themselves in the
lessons with their children, and they fail to become conversant with
the Scriptures. Fathers as well as mothers excuse themselves from
disciplining their own minds. They do not seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness, but exalt the temporal above the spiritual
and eternal. This forgetfulness of God and neglect of His word is the
example they give their children, which molds their minds after the
worldly standard and not after the exalted standard erected by Christ.
[20]
Some fathers will while away hours in their own amusement, in
conversation upon worldly things, and put God out of their thoughts