Atmosphere of the Home
11
You must not have strife in your household. “But the wisdom
that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without
hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that
make peace.” It is gentleness and peace that we want in our homes
Tender Ties That Bind—The family tie is the closest, the most
tender and sacred, of any on earth. It was designed to be a blessing
to mankind. And it is a blessing wherever the marriage covenant is
entered into intelligently, in the fear of God, and with due consideration
for its responsibilities
Every home should be a place of love, a place where the angels
of God abide, working with softening, subduing influence upon the
[19]
hearts of parents and children
Our homes must be made a Bethel, our hearts a shrine. Wherever
the love of God is cherished in the soul, there will be peace, there will
be light and joy. Spread out the word of God before your families in
love, and ask, “What hath God spoken?
Christ’s Presence Makes a Home Christian—The home that is
beautified by love, sympathy, and tenderness is a place that angels
love to visit, and where God is glorified. The influence of a carefully
guarded Christian home in the years of childhood and youth is the
surest safeguard against the corruptions of the world. In the atmosphere
of such a home the children will learn to love both their earthly parents
and their heavenly Father
From their infancy the youth need to have a firm barrier built up
between them and the world, that its corrupting influence may not
affect them
Every Christian family should illustrate to the world the power
and excellence of Christian influence.... Parents should realize their
accountability to keep their homes free from every taint of moral evil
14
Manuscript 9, 1903
.
15
The Ministry of Healing, 356, 357
.
16
Letter 25, 1904
.
17
Letter 24a, 1896
.
18
Manuscript 126, 1903
.
19
Counsels to Teachers, Parents, and Students, 119
.
20
The Review and Herald, October 9, 1900
.