Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Obedience to the Truth 505greatest advantage. You are a man whom a spare diet will benefit. Youwere in danger of being stricken down in a moment by paralysis, onehalf of you becoming dead. A denial of appetite is salvation to you,yet you view it as a great privation.The reason why the youth of the present age are not more religiouslyinclined is because of the defect in their education. It is not truelove exercised toward children which permits in them the indulgenceof passion, or allows disobedience of parental laws to go unpunished.“Just as the twig is bent the tree is inclined.” The mother should ever [547]have the co-operation of the father in her efforts to lay the foundationof a good Christian character in her children. A doting father shouldnot close his eyes to the faults of his children because it is not pleasantto administer correction. You both need to arouse and with firmness,not in a harsh manner, but with determined purpose, let your childrenknow they must obey you.A father must not be as a child, moved merely by impulse. He isbound to his family by sacred, holy ties. Every member of the familycenters in the father. His name, “house-band,” is the true definition ofhusband. He is the lawmaker, illustrating in his own manly bearing thesterner virtues, energy, integrity, honesty, and practical usefulness. Thefather is in one sense the priest of the household, laying upon the altarof God the morning and evening sacrifice, while the wife and childrenunite in prayer and praise. With such a household Jesus will tarry,and through His quickening influence the parents’ joyful exclamationsshall yet be heard amid more exalted scenes, saying: “Behold, I andthe children whom the Lord hath given me.” Saved, saved, eternallysaved! freed from the corruption that is in the world through lust, andthrough the merits of Christ made heirs of immortality! I saw thatbut few fathers realize their responsibility. They have not learned tocontrol themselves, and until this lesson is learned they will make poorwork in governing their children. Perfect self-control will act as acharm upon the family. When this is attained, a great victory is gained.Then they can educate their children to self-control.My heart yearns over the church at-----, for there is a work to beaccomplished there. It is God’s design to have a people in that place.There is material there for a good church, but there is considerablework to be done to remove the rough edges and prepare them forworking order, that all may labor unitedly and draw in even cords.