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Counsels for the Church
In all that pertains to the success of God’s work, the very first
victories are to be won in the home life. Here the preparation for the
Sabbath must begin. Throughout the week let parents remember that
their home is to be a school in which their children shall be prepared
for the courts above. Let their words be right words. No words which
their children should not hear are to escape their lips. Let the spirit be
kept free from irritation. Parents, during the week live as in the sight
of a holy God, who has given you children to train for Him. Train
for Him the little church in your home, that on the Sabbath all may
be prepared to worship in the Lord’s sanctuary. Each morning and
evening present your children to God as His blood-bought heritage.
Teach them that it is their highest duty and privilege to love and serve
God.
When the Sabbath is thus remembered, the temporal will not be
allowed to encroach upon the spiritual. No duty pertaining to the six
working days will be left for the Sabbath. During the week our energies
will not be so exhausted in temporal labor that on the day when the
Lord rested and was refreshed we shall be too weary to engage in His
service. While preparation for the Sabbath is to be made all through
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the week, Friday is to be the special preparation day. Through Moses
the Lord said to the children of Israel: “Tomorrow is the rest of the
holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake today, and
seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for
you to be kept until the morning.” “And the people went about, and
gathered it [the manna], and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar,
and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it.”
Exodus 16:23
;
Numbers
11:8
. There was something to be done in preparing the heaven-sent
bread for the children of Israel. The Lord told them that this work
must be done on Friday, the preparation day.
On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See
that all the clothing is in readiness and that all the cooking is done. Let
the boots be blacked and the baths be taken. It is possible to do this. If
you make it a rule you can do it. The Sabbath is not to be given to the
repairing of garments, to the cooking of food, to pleasure seeking, or
to any other worldly employment. Before the setting of the sun let all
secular work be laid aside and all secular papers be put out of sight.
Parents, explain your work and its purpose to your children, and let