Bright orange or yellow buses begin their daily circuits this month collecting and delivering their precious, lively cargo to the various schools for learning. Other students arrive on foot, bicycles, skates or even skateboards. Some will say, "Not school again!" and others will say, "Oh, good! At last school is beginning again." A few students really like school, but quite a few do not.
So it is with parents too. Some are relieved that the summer responsibilities with their children all day long are over, and are glad to see them off to school for several hours a day. Many Christian parents, however, are greatly concerned about what their own dear children are taught and exposed to that is erroneous and corrupt. Even violence as well as corruption is an ever-increasing danger in these last days.
Surely it is important to have a godly concern and to do all that responsibility and privilege demand of parents according to their ability while the opportunity exists. Children grow up so quickly and the young and tender years of parental care pass rapidly.
The hours in the home are most important and we, as parents, must diligently use them to instruct, to guide and to bring up those dear children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Eph. 6:44And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4). Much wisdom is needed for both the parents and the children. The source of all is God and if we ask, the answer is, "it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matt. 7:77Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7). James adds the injunction, "let him ask in faith." James 1:66But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (James 1:6).
The book of Proverbs accurately exposes and warns about both corruption and violence. It is so very profitable to learn through reading and believing God's
Word by which we may escape much damage and avoid many sad and painful experiences. If just one chapter is read each day, the whole thirty-one chapters will be completed in a thirty-one day month. It would be good to read Proverbs each July, August, October, December, January, March and May. After a while those wholesome verses will become lodged in our mind to come to our memory just when we need them.
We can learn much that is positive from the Proverbs that will increase our joy and bring blessing with it. For instance, notice chapter 3:13, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." Verses 16 and 17 add, "Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
Young people, as they make more and more decisions on their own in the higher levels of education, will increasingly need to seek wisdom and direction from God. The Word of God can meet every need and obedience to it will assure happiness. By regular and frequent reading of the Scripture, they learn what God's will is for them.
As the new school year begins, let us each with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord (Acts 11:2323Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. (Acts 11:23)). "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto [up to] Christ." "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." "By faith ye stand." "We walk by faith, not by sight." Gal. 3:24, 2624Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)
26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26); 2 Cor. 1:2424Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. (2 Corinthians 1:24); 2 Cor. 5:77(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Whether in school or out, let us continuously trust God and confidently pray for help and guidance. We are always in God's school; for the Christian to be out of His school is to be out of this world. Ed. El
Compromise
Compromise here has ruined the testimony of many. Such Christians once made a fair start, but the fear of man, or the love of ease, or of social standing, or of the approval of kindred or acquaintances has come between them and the Lord. It is a poor exchange, but many a one has made it, and adhered to it to the end. It should break our hearts as we think of it, and make us hate the thought of compromise.
Let us trace the way of departure. Family influence is in opposition. Simplicity and faithfulness to Christ are derided, a name of reproach is given to true Christians, and the soul, because it is not abiding in Christ, is caught in the snare. Fearful of reproach or discomfort, the soul gives way and steers a middle course henceforth. Men call it moderation and wisdom, but the soul has been damaged and is adrift.
God is merciful, but the Word and communion with God and with His people are less and less enjoyed and trials and chastening are too much for the heart. The peaceable fruits of righteousness do not follow. A sad witness for Christ! Such bear witness in their family and in the world that godliness is only a name, not a reality, or if not altogether so, still the course is vacillating, and the heart not at rest, and the testimony correspondingly marred.
The fear of man is, however, closely connected with our love of the world in some form. We are un-weaned in some way when the fear of God is displaced by the fear of man, and Satan has power with us. The pride of life how weak our hearts that it should ever ensnare us. Ought not a glance at the life of the Lord to make us ashamed? What pure joy is lost by love of social standing; how withering to the soul is such a preference and such an atmosphere. Self-love and idolatry are thrusting Christ from the heart.
In such cases there is also this grave danger that of the hardening of the heart by the continuance of religious forms and outward service and utterances. But either way, the soul has made an evil choice, and has turned from the narrow way. Jesus is still knocking at the door, standing there, but He has been left outside abandoned for Herod's feast. Friendship with the world is enmity against God.
Christian, let no one come between your soul and Christ, and let nothing turn you aside from the cross. Christ has redeemed you by His blood, and has given you the Holy Spirit. By this great redemption you are separated to God from all worldly friendships and alliances and purposes. Christ has joined you to Himself forever, and He has joined you to His people, for we are members of His Body and members one of another. His sheep can never perish (John 10:27, 2827My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27‑28)). Let that encourage the heart to rise up and follow Him. He loves His own and loves them to the end (John 13:11Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1)). Hence He washes their feet, cleanses away defilements, for if He washes us not, we have no part with Him. So He restores our souls, never forsaking us.
Let us flee, then, from half-heartedness and world-bordering and compromise, in the family, in business, in the inward exercises of the soul. As Christ has died for us, let us live for Him (2 Cor. 5:1515And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:15)), and we shall realize the word, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Rom. 8:3131What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Rom. 8:35, 3735Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35)
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:37).
“In all these things." In the midst of your fiery trials, Christian, you are "more than conquerors" through Him who loves you.
With such a word, may we forsake all carnal seeking and fleshly shrinking, and go forth upon the water to Him. Go forth to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. Let us boldly take faith's reckoning.
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went... [through faith) not knowing whither he went.... Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable. These all... confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city." Heb. 11:8-168By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:8‑16). Young Christian