His Mother Made Him a Little Coat
The sermon emphasizes the importance of habits in our lives, highlighting how they are formed in early childhood and shaped by our behavior and actions.
F.B. Meyer reflects on the profound impact of parental influence through the metaphor of a mother making a little coat for her child, emphasizing that the love and care put into such acts shape the character and habits of children. He highlights that habits, akin to garments, are formed in early childhood and are influenced by daily interactions and home life rather than significant life events. Meyer urges parents to be mindful of their behavior, as it creates lasting impressions that children carry into adulthood and potentially pass on to future generations. The sermon calls for a conscious effort to embody Christ's righteousness in everyday life, ensuring that the 'coats' we make for our children are ones of mercy, humility, and true holiness.
Text
His mother made him a little coat.1 Sam. ii. 19.
WHAT happy work it was! Those nimble fingers flew along the seams, because love inspired them. All her woman's art and wit were put into the garment, her one idea and ambition being to make something which should be not only useful, but becoming. Not mothers only, but fathers, are always making little coats for their children, which they wear Iong years after a material fabric would have become worn out. How many men and women are wearing today the coats which their parents cut out and made for them long years ago!
Habits are the vesture of the soul. The Apostle bade his converts put off the old man, "which is corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts," and to put on the new man, "which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness"; to put off anger, wrath, and malice, whilst they put on mercy, humility, and meekness. What words could better establish the fact that habits are (as the name indicates) the clothing of the inner life! Where and how are habits formed? Not in the mid‑passage of life, but at its dawn; not in great crises, but in daily circumstances; not in life's arena, but in the home, amid the surroundings of earliest childhood. Oh that the spotless robe of Christ's righteousness may ever be exhibited before those with whom we daily come in contact!
By their behaviour to each other and to their children; by the ordering of the home‑life; by their actions, more than by their words; by the way in which they speak, and spend their leisure hours, and pray ‑‑ men and women are making the little coats which, for better or worse, their children wear ever after, and perhaps pass down to after generations.
Sermon Outline
- Habits are the Vesture of the Soul
- The Influence of Parents on Children
- Parents create habits through behavior and actions
- Home life and surroundings play a significant role in shaping habits
Key Quotes
“Habits are the vesture of the soul.” — F.B. Meyer
“Not mothers only, but fathers, are always making little coats for their children, which they wear Iong years after a material fabric would have become worn out.” — F.B. Meyer
“By their behaviour to each other and to their children; by the ordering of the home-life; by their actions, more than by their words; by the way in which they speak, and spend their leisure hours, and pray -- men and women are making the little coats which, for better or worse, their children wear ever after, and perhaps pass down to after generations.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We should be mindful of our actions and words, as they can shape our children's habits and influence their inner lives.
- Prayer and ordering our home life are essential in creating a positive and supportive environment for our children to develop good habits.
- By being intentional about our behavior and actions, we can create a lasting impact on our children's lives and help them develop a strong spiritual foundation.