John Paton became the great missionary that he was, at least in part, due to the godly influence of his earthly father. He alludes to this in his autobiography in several places, a few of which, I want to emphasize here today. Below are Paton’s quotes.
“Never in temple or cathedral, on mountain or in glen, can I hope to feel that the Lord God is more near, more visibly walking and talking with men, than under that humble cottage roof of thatch and oaken wattles. Though everything else in religion were by some unthinkable catastrophe to be swept out of memory, or blotted from my understanding, my mind would wander back to those early scenes, and shut itself up once again in that Sanctuary Closet, and, hearing still the echoes of those cries to God, would hurl back all doubt with the victorious appeal, ‘He walked with God, why may not I?’” (Page 8).
How many of our children will be able to look back upon their childhoods and remember their homes and parents in this way? Would they describe our homes as “sanctuary closets?” Would they hear the echoes of our cries to God? Would they recall our lives and be able to say “He walked with God, why may not I?” I fear that my children, at this point, would not be able to give the same testimony of their home life that Paton gave of his. He gives more insight into his father’s faith and life.
“And so began in his seventeenth year that blessed custom of Family Prayer, morning and evening, which my father practiced probably without one single avoidable omission till he lay on his deathbed, seventy-seven years of age; when, even to the last day of his life, a portion of Scripture was read, and his voice was heard softly joining in the Psalm, and his lips breathed the morning and evening Prayer, falling in sweet benediction on the heads of all his children, far away many of them over all the earth, but all meeting him there at the Throne of Grace. None of us can remember that any day ever passed unhallowed thus; no hurry for market, nor rush to business, no arrival of friend or guests, no trouble or sorrow, no joy or excitement ever prevented at least our kneeling around the family altar while the High Priest led our prayers to God and offered himself and his children there. And blessed to others, as well as to ourselves, was the light of such example!” (Page 14)
John Paton’s father was a disciplined, godly, consistent example for his children. Sixty straight years of morning and evening prayer, worship, and Scripture reading with and over his children. This is such an indicting testimony of my own parenting. This morning and evening worship was priority! There was no rush to market, no rush to business, or arrival of friend or guests, no sorrow or joy or excitement ever prevented at least prayer! In our day we could say no television program, ball game, or video game ever prevented morning and evening family worship.
These two simple quotes are quite convicting of my own lax parenting. They are not meant however to bring condemnation, but repentance. May we all repent of our neglect. May we reorder our lives and schedules to correct. And may we see God honor our efforts, in spite of us, and give us godly, bold, missionary children.
Until next time...
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