as my Saviour.’ Dr. Smith, I thought he would pray with me; I thought he’d put his arm around me and maybe say, ‘Well, son, I’m glad that you’ve come to this decision.’ But he didn’t. He stood up, put his finger out at me aiid angrily said, ‘Now you’re going to do what I tell you. Now you’re going to be obedient. You’ll have to be or you’ll be a hypocrite.’ He’s been badgering me about it for about six months. Now, I’ve given it all up. I don’t even know whether God exists and frankly, I’m not sure I even care. I just want to get away from it all!” I knew his father. He didn’t need to tell me that he was a fine, clean, up standing man in the community and church. He taught a Sunday school class and was a member of the choir. Yet his son felt rejected and wanted to run away. What a tragic situation with which to be confronted. There was a wide gap between the two with a lack of understanding and communication. Some churches are just too busy. They have meetings on Monday, Tues day, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This was not our Lord’s intention. The church is not to be an end in itself. It is sup posed to be an institution where, with prayer and exhortation and the read ing and preaching of the Word, we have fellowship together. It is to be a place where we may grow and mature in Christ. Sometimes we become so enamoured with our own goals that we forget that the prime responsibility of any man or woman who has a child is the child himself. If a mother has to work that is one thing. But if she'is working merely be cause she wants more of the things of society then that is an altogether wrong motive. How many children come home to an empty house. Or they come in the evening and since the mother has been working all day, she is tired and irrit able. Instead of being a lovely, kind gracious mother sharing the common joys, play and fellowship with her child, she is cross and mean. The child grows up in an atmosphere where there is no real love. A preacher friend ’of mine was en
Chapter Seven I n the New Testament there are some very glorious experiences recorded between men who had affection one for another. Perhaps most outstanding is that of the aged Apostle for his son in the Lord, Timothy. The Holy Spirit caused Paul to write, “Unceasingly I remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see thee, remem bering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy.” It was because of this atmosphere Timothy grew to be a strong man in Jesus Christ. The love of a father for his son has kept many a boy steadfast. Conversely, the lack of it has turned many a son away from Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father expects us to love our children. A young man came to me one Satur day morning. He had waited several weeks until he was sure I was home. His first remark was, “You’ll probably think I’m a silly kid. You see, I want to run away from home. I don’t think my father loves me. He’s never ever told me he loves me. I know my moth er loves me and I’m afraid if I’d run away it would break her heart. My father wouldn’t care. He’s always yack ing at me, anyway. Dr. Smith, I’m not a bad boy. Oh, maybe I don’t keep myself as orderly as I should, $ don’t study as much as I should, and some of those other little things, but I’m not a bad boy. I remember the time I went to a youth rally. When they gave the invitation I thought I loved the Lord, but I decided maybe I didn’t because of the way my father talked to me. So I went forward, kneeling, and I found, again the quiet assurance that Jesus Christ loves me. I came home that night.. My father was sitting in the easy chair in the living room. He was reading when I entered. I thought he would thank me now; maybe he would even express appreciation. So I walked up and said, ‘Dad, I did something to night I think will make you happy. I went forward and accepted Christ
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