Bible in the Home
391
worldly character keep you from doing this work. Do all in your
power to save the souls of your children, whether they are bone of
your bone and flesh of your flesh, or whether they have been received
into your family by adoption
Make It the Home Textbook—Parents, if you would educate
your children to serve God and do good in the world, make the Bible
your textbook. It exposes the wiles of Satan. It is the great elevator of
the race, the reprover and corrector of moral evils, the detector which
enables us to distinguish between the true and the false. Whatever else
is taught in the home or at school, the Bible, as the great educator,
should stand first. If it is given this place, God is honored, and He will
work for you in the conversion of your children. There is a rich mine
of truth and beauty in this holy book, and parents have themselves to
blame if they do not make it intensely interesting to their children
“It is written” was the only weapon that Christ used when the
tempter came with his deceptions. The teaching of Bible truth is
the great and grand work which every parent should undertake. In a
pleasant, happy frame of mind place the truth as spoken by God before
the children. As fathers and mothers, you can be object lessons to the
children in the daily life by practicing patience, kindness, and love,
by attaching them to yourself. Do not let them do as they please, but
show them that your work is to practice the Word of God and to bring
them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord
[511]
Study Diligently, Systematically—Observe system in the study
of the Scriptures in your families. Neglect anything of a temporal
nature, ... but be sure that the soul is fed with the bread of life. It is
impossible to estimate the good results of one hour or even half an
hour each day devoted in a cheerful, social manner to the Word of
God. Make the Bible its own expositor, bringing together all that is
said concerning a given subject at different times and under varied
circumstances. Do not break up your home class for callers or visitors.
If they come in during the exercise, invite them to take part in it. Let it
be seen that you consider it more important to obtain a knowledge of
God’s Word than to secure the gains or pleasures of the world
15
Manuscript 70, 1900
.
16
Testimonies For The Church 5:322
.
17
Manuscript 5, 1896
.
18
The Review and Herald, October 9, 1883
.