130
The Adventist Home
Unity, Love, and Peace—Let fathers and mothers make a solemn
promise to God, whom they profess to love and obey, that by His grace
they will not disagree between themselves, but will in their own life
and temper manifest the spirit that they wish their children to cherish
Parents should be careful not to allow the spirit of dissension to
creep into the home; for this is one of Satan’s agents to make his
impression on the character. If parents will strive for unity in the home
by inculcating the principles that governed the life of Christ, dissension
will be driven out, and unity and love will abide there. Parents and
children will partake of the gift of the Holy Spirit
Let the husband and wife remember that they have burdens enough
to carry without making their lives wretched by allowing differences
to come in. Those who give place to little differences invite Satan
into their home. The children catch the spirit of contention over mere
trifles. Evil agencies do their part to make parents and children disloyal
to God
Although trials may arise in the married life, the husband and the
wife are to keep their souls in the love of God. The father should
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look upon the mother of his children as one deserving of all kindness,
tenderness, and sympathy
The Secret of Family Unity—The cause of division and discord
in families and in the church is separation from Christ. To come near
to Christ is to come near to one another. The secret of true unity in
the church and in the family is not diplomacy, not management, not
a superhuman effort to overcome difficulties—though there will be
much of this to do—but union with Christ.
Picture a large circle, from the edge of which are many lines all
running to the center. The nearer these lines approach the center, the
nearer they are to one another.
Thus it is in the Christian life. The closer we come to Christ, the
nearer we shall be to one another. God is glorified as His people unite
in harmonious action
4
Manuscript 38, 1895
.
5
Manuscript 53, 1912
.
6
Letter 133, 1904
.
7
Letter 198, 1901
.
8
Letter 49, 1904
.