blessings of family worship
(Arthur Pink, "Family Worship")
"Pour out Your wrath on the heathen
that do not acknowledge You--
and on the families that do not
call upon Your name!" Jeremiah 10:25
We wonder how many of our
readers have seriously pondered
these awe-inspiring words!
Observe what fearful threatenings
are pronounced against those who
disregard family worship!
How unspeakably solemn to find
that prayerless families
are here coupled with the heathen,
who do not acknowledge the Lord.
How loudly should these
words speak to us!
It is not enough that we pray
as private individuals;
we are required to honor God
in our families as well.
Each day, the whole household
should be gathered together
to bow before the Lord--
to confess their sins,
to give thanks for God's mercies,
to seek His help and blessing.
Nothing must be allowed
to interfere with this duty--
all other domestic arrangements
are to bend to it.
The head of the house
is the one to lead the devotions.
If he is absent--
or seriously ill--
or an unbeliever, then
the wife should take his place.
But under no circumstances,
should family worship be omitted.
If we would enjoy the blessing
of God upon our family--
then let its members gather
together daily for praise
and prayer.
"Those who honor Me--
I will honor"
is His promise.
All our domestic comforts
and temporal mercies, issue
from the loving-kindness
of the Lord. The least
we can do in return,
is to gratefully
acknowledge together,
His goodness to us
as a family.
Excuses against the discharge
of this sacred duty--
are idle and worthless!
Of what avail will it be
when we render an account to God
for the stewardship of our families--
to say that we had no time
available? The more pressing
are our temporal duties--
the greater our need
of seeking divine help.
Nor may any Christian plead
that he is not qualified
for such a work--
gifts and talents are developed
by use--
and not by neglect.
Family worship should be
conducted reverently,
earnestly and simply.
It is then, that the little
ones will receive their first
impressions, and form their
initial conceptions
of the Lord God.
Great care needs to be
taken, lest a false idea
of the Divine Character
be given to them.
The advantages and
blessings of family
worship are incalculable!
First, family worship
will prevent much sin.
Daily prayer in the home,
is a blessed means of grace
for allaying those unhappy
passions to which our common
nature is subject.
It awes the soul, conveys
a sense of God's majesty and
authority, and sets solemn
truths before the mind.
How can those who
neglect the worship
of God in their families--
look for peace and comfort
therein?
Personal piety in the home
is the most influential means,
under God, of conveying piety
to the little ones.
Children are largely
creatures of imitation,
loving to copy what they
see in others.
Finally, family prayer
gains for us the presence
and blessing of the Lord.
There is a promise of His
presence which is peculiarly
applicable to this duty,
"Where two or three
are gathered together
in My name--
I am there among them."
Matthew 18:20.
Many have found in family
worship, that help and
communion with God--
which they sought for
with less effect
in private prayer.
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