63. Tuesday after First Sunday after Epiphany.
Lord, let our young people
take heed according to thy word,
that they cleanse their way.
2 Timothy 3, 14-17. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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We do not doubt that the Spirit of God has through the baptism of our children created a new life in them. All life must, however, be nourished, if it is to grow and not die. The word of God is the nourishment of the spiritual life, for the little ones as well as for those of larger growth. Children do not, themselves, know enough to feed their souls with the bread of the word; hence it is the duty of the parents to care for this matter. Eunice had done this with her son Timothy, and thus Paul can write to him: “I greatly desire to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that it dwelleth in thee also.” This is a grand thing to say to a young man. From a child Timothy had known the holy scriptures, which are able to make one wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. — It should be thus in the case of our children and young people, also. Let this be a burning question in our mind and soul. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and grace in this matter, ye Christian fathers and mothers! It is necessary that your own hearts live in the word of God; for only that which comes from the heart makes its way to the heart. You must not trouble your children with the dead letter of the scriptures, but give them the spiritual and sincere milk of the word. Neither must you seek to cast their manner of life in your moulds, nor measure their experience of sin and grace according to your measure, nor overload them with instruction or admonition. The flesh must be brought into subjection, and in this work you must help your children by exercising Christian discipline; but the growth of the new life itself cannot be forced by a surfeit of spiritual nourishment. How prone we are, alas, to step aside from the path in one direction or in the other! Many neglect to teach their children the word of God, and this is directly contrary to the Lord’s command. They shift their duty over on to the schools, and let the home be a place of heathenism. Others surfeit their children with the word of God at all times and seasons, thereby creating aversion instead of love for the word, and closing the young hearts to the Spirit of God. Again I say: Pray earnestly to God for wisdom to give the children proper instruction, in order that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. For Jesus’ sake, do not neglect this! God will surely give you all the grace necessary to the performance of this duty. Read James 1, 5.
Lord, give to us parents the Spirit of wisdom and understanding and the strength of love, that our children may, by the instruction and discipline of thy word, be regenerated, sanctified, and saved. Amen.*
O blessed house, where little children tender
Are laid upon thy heart, with hands of prayer,
Thou friend of children, who wilt freely render
To them more than a mother’s loving care;
Where round thy feet they gather, to thee clinging,
And hear thy loving voice most willingly,
And in their songs, thy hearty praises ringing,
Rejoice in thee, O blessed Lord, in thee.
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.