Sunday
February 26
1. A SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY
a. To whom do our children belong? Psalm 127:3.
b. In the day of judgment, what will be asked of all who have brought children into this world? Jeremiah 13:20. What should this cause us to consider?
Most of men and women have acted in entering the marriage relation as though the only question for them to settle was whether they loved each other. But they should realize that a responsibility rests upon them in the marriage relation farther than this. They should consider whether their offspring will possess physical health and mental and moral strength.-A Solemn Appeal, p. 104.
The question to be settled by you is: 'Am I raising a family of children to strengthen the influence and swell the ranks of the powers of darkness, or am I bringing up children for Christ?' If you do not govern your children and mold their characters to meet the requirements of God, then the fewer children there are to suffer from your defective training the better it will be for you, their parents, and the better it will be for society.-Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 323.
Monday
February 27
2. PADDLING AGAINST THE CURRENT
a. What challenge do all parents face in this generation? Proverbs 30:11; 2 Timothy 3:1, 2.
We are living in an unfortunate age for children. A heavy current is setting downward to perdition, and it needs more than childhood's experience and strength to press against this current and not be borne down by it. Satan and his angels are leading the youth generally to certain destruction. They seem to be his captives.-Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4b, p. 139.
b. What promise should we remember as we seek to suppress the rushing tide of evil? Isaiah 59:19.
Parents, help your children. Arouse from the lethargy which has been upon you. Watch continually to cut off the current and roll back the weight of evil Satan is pressing in upon your children. The children cannot do this of themselves. Parents can do much. By earnest prayer and living faith great victories will be gained. Some parents have not realized the responsibilities resting upon them and have neglected the religious education of their children. In the morning the Christian's first thoughts should be upon God. Worldly labor and self-interest should be secondary. Before leaving the house for labor, all the family should be collected together and taught that they must respect and reverence the hour of prayer. The father, or mother in the father's absence, should with humility and a heart full of tenderness, with a sense of the temptations and dangers before themselves and their children, plead fervently before God that He would keep the children through the day. By faith bind your children upon the altar, entreating for them the care of the Lord. Ministering angels will guard children who are thus dedicated to God. It is the duty of Christian parents, morning and evening, by earnest prayer and persevering faith, to make a hedge about their children. They should patiently instruct them-kindly and untiringly teach them how to live in order to please God.-Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4b, pp. 139, 140.
Build a fortification of prayer and faith about your children, and exercise diligent watching thereunto. You are not secure a moment against the attacks of Satan. You have no time to rest from watchful, earnest labor. You should not sleep a moment at your post. This is a most important warfare. Eternal consequences are involved. It is life or death with you and your family.-Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 398.
Tuesday
February 28
3. DEEPENING OUR UNDERSTANDING
a. How is the fate of Eli, the high priest, a warning to parents? 1 Samuel 3:11-14.
The curse of God will surely rest upon unfaithful parents. Not only are they planting thorns which will wound them here, but they must meet their own unfaithfulness when the judgment shall sit. Many children will rise up in judgment and condemn their parents for not restraining them, and charge upon them their destruction. The false sympathy and blind love of parents causes them to excuse the faults of their children and pass them by without correction, and their children are lost in consequence, and the blood of their souls will rest upon the unfaithful parents.-Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 219.
b. Describe the balanced picture God gives of His special combination of parental justice and mercy. Hebrews 12:7-9; Ephesians 6:4.
Parents should better qualify themselves to more fully discharge their duty to their children. Some parents do not understand their children and are not really acquainted with them. There is often a great distance between parents and children. If parents would enter more fully into the feelings of their children and draw out what is in their hearts, it would have a beneficial influence upon them.
Parents should deal faithfully with the souls committed to their trust. They should not encourage in them pride, extravagance, or love of show. They should not teach them, or suffer them to learn, little pranks which appear cunning in small children, which they have to unlearn and correct them for, when they are older. Habits formed when very young are not easily forgotten. Parents should commence to discipline the minds of their children while very young, to the end that they may be Christians. Let all your efforts be for their salvation. Act as though they were placed in your care to be fitted as precious jewels to shine in the kingdom of God. Beware how you lull your children to sleep over the pit of destruction with the mistaken thought that they are not old enough to be accountable, and are not old enough to repent of their sins and profess Christ."-Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4b, pp. 138, 139.
Wednesday
March 1
4. THE TRAINING OF YOUNG JESUS
a. Where did Jesus obtain His education? Matthew 2:12-15, 19-23.
Jesus secured His education in the home. His mother was His first human teacher. From her lip, and from the scrolls of the prophets, He learned of heavenly things. He lived in a peasant's home and faithfully and cheerfully acted His part in bearing the household burdens. He who had been the commander of heaven was a willing servant, a loving, obedient son. He learned a trade and with His own hands worked in the carpenter's shop with Joseph. In the garb of a common laborer He walked the streets of the little town, going to and returning from His humble work.-The Ministry of Healing, pp. 399, 400.
b. How can the boy Jesus' mature understanding and initiative regarding His own education inspire us in prioritizing goals for our children? Proverbs 20:11.
Though Jesus was subject to His parents, He began at a very early age to act for Himself in the formation of His character. While His mother was His first human teacher, He was constantly receiving an education from His Father in heaven. Instead of poring over the learned lore handed down by the rabbis from century to century, Jesus, under the Divine Teacher, studied the words of God, pure and uncorrupted, and studied also the great lesson-book of nature. The words, 'Thus saith the Lord,' were ever upon his lips, and 'It is written,' was His reason for every act that varied from the family customs. He brought a purer atmosphere into the home life. Though He did not place Himself under the instruction of the rabbis by becoming a student in their schools, yet He was often brought in contact with them, and the questions He asked, as if He were a learner, puzzled the wise men; for their practices did not harmonize with the Scriptures, and they had not the wisdom that comes from God. Even to those who were displeased at His noncompliance with popular customs, His education seemed of a higher type than their own.-Special Testimonies on Education, p. 162.
Thursday
March 2
5. THE POWER OF EXAMPLE
a. What must parents be showing their children? Luke 21:19; 1 Corinthians 11:1.
If parents desire their children to be pleasant, they should never speak to them in a scolding manner. The mother often allows herself to become irritable and nervous. Often she snatches at the child and speaks in a harsh manner. If a child is treated in a quiet, kind manner, it will do much to preserve in him a pleasant temper. The grandest and noblest work that parents have to do for their Master is to bring Bible discipline into their government. Mothers, teachers, and guardians of the youth, be careful. If things arise to irritate, you are not at liberty to act out your feelings. Educate yourselves to carry a pleasant countenance and to bring sweetness and melody into the voice.-The Review and Herald, May 17, 1898.
With your heart subdued and full of pity and sorrow for your erring children, pray with them before correcting them. Then your correction will not cause your children to hate you. They will love you. They will see that you do not punish them because they have put you to inconvenience or because you wish to vent your displeasure upon them, but from a sense of duty for their good, that they may not be left to grow up in sin and wickedness. . . .
Parents, the recording angel writes every impatient, fretful word you utter to your children. Every failure on your part to give your children proper instruction, and show them the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the final result of a sinful course is marked against your name. Every unguarded word spoken before your children carelessly, or in jest, not chaste and elevated, the recording angel marks as a spot against your Christian character. All your acts are recorded, whether they are good or bad."-Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4b, pp. 140, 141.
Friday
March 3
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What should every individual consider carefully before becoming a parent?
2. In what ways does the sin of Eli creep into the experience of today's parents?
3. How can our homes become more like the home of Jesus as a boy?