February 2 – Christ in the Home

"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage." (John 2:1-2, KJV)

At the wedding feast, Christ desired to express His sympathy and approval for the sacred institution of marriage. He did not come to this world to forbid marriage or to diminish the significance of the home. Rather, He came to restore, uplift, purify, and ennoble every pure affection, that the earthly family might become a symbol of the family in Heaven.

Mothers are under the tender care of heavenly angels. How earnestly does the Lord Jesus knock at the door of homes where little children are to be nurtured and prepared! He tenderly watches over mothers and is grieved when children are neglected. The home is the place where character is formed, shaping individuals to become a blessing or a curse. God has entrusted mothers with the youngest members of the family as they enter the world, weak and helpless. Infinite wisdom and love have not placed this delicate responsibility, filled with eternal consequences, solely upon fathers, who are often absorbed in the cares of labor and business. The heart of a devoted mother, filled with patience and love when surrendered to God, is entrusted with the sacred duty of raising children to grow in Christ. She must work in cooperation with God and her husband, training these precious lives for His kingdom. The father, depending on God's grace, must also assume his solemn responsibility as the head of the household, leading with love and devotion.

In the early years of childhood, when the heart is tender and receptive, God desires that deep impressions for righteousness be made. A continuous battle is waged between the Prince of Life and the prince of this world. The question to be settled is: Whom will the mother choose as her helper in shaping the character of her children? If she learns that love is the key to their hearts, Christ will reign in the home, filling it with heavenly light. This is His promise to every household that welcomes Him.