Chapter 26—Spiritual Influence in the Home
We can have the salvation of God in our families; but we must
believe for it, live for it, and have a continual, abiding faith and trust in
God. The restraint which God’s Word imposes upon us is for our own
interest. It increases the happiness of our families, and of all around us.
It refines our taste, sanctifies our judgment, and brings peace of mind,
and in the end, everlasting life. Ministering angels will linger in our
dwellings, and with joy carry heavenward the tidings of our advance
in the divine life, and the recording angel will make a cheerful, happy
record.
The Spirit of Christ will be an abiding influence in the home life.
If men and women will open their hearts to the heavenly influence of
truth and love, these principles will flow forth again like streams in
the desert, refreshing all and causing freshness to appear where now is
barrenness and dearth
The neglect of home religion, the neglect to train your children,
is most displeasing to God. If one of your children were in the river,
battling with the waves and in imminent danger of drowning, what a
stir there would be! What efforts would be made, what prayers offered,
what enthusiasm manifested, to save the human life! But here are your
children out of Christ, their souls unsaved. Perhaps they are even rude
and uncourteous, a reproach to the Adventist name. They are perishing
without hope and without God in the world, and you are careless and
unconcerned.
Satan makes every effort to lead people away from God; and he is
successful in his purpose when the religious life is drowned in business
cares, when he can so absorb their minds in business that they will
not take time to read their Bibles, to pray in secret, and to keep the
offering of praise and thanksgiving burning on the altar of sacrifice
morning and evening. How few realize the wiles of the archdeceiver!
how many are ignorant of his devices
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Child Guidance, 484
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Testimonies for the Church 5:424, 426
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