The Lord compares Himself to a potter and His people to clay. He seeks to mold and fashion His people according to His likeness. The lesson they are to learn is the lesson of submission. If they give heed to the Lord's instruction, surrendering self to the divine will, the hand of the Potter will produce a shapely vessel.
(ST December 11, 1901, 1)
Again, the Lord compares Himself to a gardener, and His people to trees and plants. As a gardener straightens the trees which are growing crooked, so the Lord corrects His people. And they are to co-operate with the masterly, efficient hand which seeks to remedy that which is wrong in them. It is His desire that we shall serve Him with heart and soul and strength, not only for a hope of heaven, but that in unselfishness, purity, and holiness we may be a blessing to our fellow-men. We are not merely to be trees of righteousness. Christ said,“It is My Father's good pleasure that ye bear much fruit.”
(ST December 11, 1901, 2)
But how common it is for defects to be looked upon as virtues. The clay refuses to be molded; the tree refuses to be made straight. Thus deformity is brought into the growth. Tendencies to wrong mar the character. There is not seen the perfection which God desires every human being to reveal.
(ST December 11, 1901, 3)
How natural it is for man to feel that it is his duty to correct others, when his own character-building reveals marked defects. Christ has warned us of this. He says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” God desires us to criticize ourselves. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.” Make the examination of self thorough and critical. Those who refuse to see themselves in the mirror of God's Word can not enter the kingdom of heaven. The gates of paradise will close against those who do not work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
(ST December 11, 1901, 4)
This world is a school in which human beings are receiving an education that will decide their eternal destiny. The youth should be carefully and judiciously trained; for the wrong habits formed in childhood and youth often cling to the entire life-experience. May God help us to see the necessity of beginning right. Parents have a most important part to act in this matter. On them rests the responsibility of training their children for God, of helping their little ones to form characters which will gain for them entrance to the courts above. And in school, children are to be educated to obey the requirements of God's Word. Parents and teachers are to be laborers together with God, working unitedly to help the youth to fit themselves for membership in the royal family.
(ST December 11, 1901, 5)
Children are not to be left to grow as they will. As the gardener straightens the young trees in an orchard, so they are to be straightened. Their perversity is to be checked; for if this is not done, they will carry it with them into the religious life, and it will make them crooked church members. Parents who think there is no need of restraining their children, who allow them to shape their own character, will see in the future the sad result of this neglect. They will see that their failure to point out and correct defects has made it impossible for their children to enter heaven.
(ST December 11, 1901, 6)
From generation to generation the neglect of parents is perpetuated. The evils uncorrected in a child are seen in the children and in the children's children. Parents, the sin you permit your child to cherish may result in the ruin of families to the third and fourth generation. To allow a child to grow up with evil tendencies uncorrected is a wrong which can never be undone. But to bring children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is to do a work that will yield fruit unto eternal righteousness.
(ST December 11, 1901, 7)
Children should be taught to obey the command, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” From their earliest years they should be trained to carry their share of the home burdens. They should be taught that obligations are mutual. They should also be taught to work quickly and neatly. This education will be of the greatest value to them in after-years.
(ST December 11, 1901, 8)
Parents and children should become acquainted with one another. Together they should learn to fulfill their duty to God and to one another. The mother should not accept burdens in the church which compel her to neglect her children. The best church work in which a mother can engage is the training of her children. Let her be sure that in this work there are no dropped stitches. In no other way can a mother help the church more than by devoting her time to those who are dependent upon her for instruction. A well-disciplined, well-ordered family exerts a more powerful influence in favor of Christianity than all the sermons that can be preached.
(ST December 11, 1901, 9)
Fathers and mothers, prize your privileges and improve your opportunities. Seek a character so consistent that sin will find no place in word or action. Walk wisely before your children, that when you bow in prayer, the Lord can hear you and answer you. Let your words be seasoned with the grace of heaven. Let the Christlikeness of your words and actions be a sign to your children that you walk with the Saviour. By holding fast to the promises of God and obeying His requirements, you may be evangelists in the home, ministers of grace to your children.
(ST December 11, 1901, 10)