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Family Worship Not To Be Neglected, November 14
Trust...in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.
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Timothy 6:17
.
We should be much happier and more useful, if our homelife and social inter-
course were governed by the principles of the Christian religion, and illustrated
the meekness and simplicity of Christ.... Let visitors see that we try to make all
around us happy by our cheerfulness, sympathy, and love.
While we endeavor to secure the comfort and happiness of our guests, let us
not overlook our obligation to God. The hour of prayer should not be neglected
for any consideration.... At an early hour of the evening, when you can pray
unhurriedly and understandingly, present your supplication, and raise your voices
in happy, grateful praise. Let all who visit Christians see that the hour of prayer
is the most sacred, the most precious, and the happiest hour of the day. Such an
example will not be without effect.
These seasons of devotion exert a refining, elevating influence upon all who
participate in them. Right thoughts and new and better desires will be awakened in
the hearts of the most careless. The hour of prayer brings a peace and rest grateful
to the weary spirit; for the very atmosphere of a Christian home is that of peace
and restfulness.
In every act the Christian should seek to represent his Master, to make His
service appear attractive....
Nine tenths of the trials and perplexities that so many worry over are either
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imaginary, or brought upon themselves by their own wrong course. They should
cease to talk of these trials, and [cease] to magnify them. The Christian may
commit every worriment, every disturbing thing to God. Nothing is too small for
our compassionate Saviour to notice; nothing is too great for Him to carry.
Then let us set our hearts and homes in order; let us teach our children that
the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and let us, by a cheerful, happy,
well-ordered life, express our gratitude and love to Him “who giveth us richly all
things to enjoy.” But above all things, let us fix our thoughts and the affections
of our hearts on the dear Saviour who suffered for guilty man, and thus opened
heaven for us.
Love to Jesus cannot be hidden, but will make itself seen and felt. It exerts a
wondrous power. It makes the timid bold, the slothful diligent, the ignorant wise.
It makes the stammering tongue eloquent, and rouses the dormant intellect into
new life and vigor. It makes the desponding hopeful, the gloomy joyous. Love to
Christ will lead its possessor to accept responsibilities and cares for His sake, and
to bear them in His strength.
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