p. 374 | HOME DUTIES AND CAMP-MEETINGS by M. J. Pierce

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, June 10, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 24

HOME DUTIES AND CAMP-MEETINGS.

By M. J. Pierce

BY M. J. PIERCE.

The camp-meeting season has again come. The majority of our people will attend a camp-meeting this year, and some are now making the preparation. But while we are cutting, fitting, and making clothing that we may present a becoming appearance, how many are preparing their hearts to receive the good influences of these yearly gatherings, where we expect to spend a few days in seeking the Lord and in hearing his word expounded? We shall be pointed to the law of God as a guide to our feet, and the life of our dear Saviour as our example. Are we prayerfully examining our hearts, and seeking to get in a position where the Lord can bless us at the commencement of these good meetings, or even at our homes before we start?

Much has been said about carrying gloom into camp-meetings by neglecting to confess wrongs at home. May we each see our duty in this respect, and be active in performing it, with hearts full of love for God and our fellow-men.

Many parents manifest very little interest for their children while at home, and young people seem almost entirely unconcerned about the future life and the things that are coming upon the earth. As these parents come to meeting year after year, and listen to the earnest and faithful servants of God, their hearts are touched, and with tears they begin to look up their children, and to plead with them to come forward and take their stand with the followers of Christ. Could more love and care be manifested at home, it would take less urging at these good and profitable meetings to move the hearts of the young.

Let us wake out of sleep; let us have a hungering and thirsting after righteousness while at home, and not have to spend the largest part of the camp-meeting in doing a work that we ought to have done before. The neglect of duty at home always has to be regretted, and will sooner or later be deeply repented of. We profess to love the precious truths for our time; let us manifest this love at home, and we shall then have a winning influence over our young friends. Oh, how we want to see our dear ones all saved in the kingdom of God! We hope to see them converted at our camp-meetings. We know the truth will be preached with power; but our influence at home is sometimes more powerful than many of us are aware of. Let us pray that we may get our hearts and minds, as well as our persons, ready for the meeting.