Final Suggestion May 18, 2007
Posted by Joe in : Family Worship Series , trackbackErin,
Thanks for finding and linking to that great article yesterday. It covered the recommendation aspect of things quite well. It also gave some great reasons for catechizing. It is sadly a neglected practice today. Somehow we have come to embrace the notion that rote memory does no good in the work of the mind and heart. This is surely way off course–just like a lot of other popular notions today! For the things we memorize seem to sink in deeper to our thoughts and feelings–even if we don’t realize what is going on. This most definitely has a transforming work. We might not be able to get our hands on it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t very powerful and real!
Anyhow, I wanted to end this section (and maybe this series) with a simple word of exhortation: Just do it! Sure, Nike used that slogan for a long time. Sure, those words could be taken out of context to promote some sort of self-sufficient religion. All that is true enough. But in the end, I want to exhort parents (and especially Fathers), to do what you have to do to lead your family in daily worship of the Lord. What is standing in your way? How many things are more vital? What will you continue to place over and waiting upon and worshiping the Lord daily as a family?
Think of the various things that we will so easily give our time to? How hard is it to clear our schedule for some dinner with friends, or some sort of ministry activity, or work, or play? Why then is it so difficult to clear the 15 minutes we need for family worship? The enemy is real, but He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. The temptations are real, but they are also paper thin. Nothing should stand in our way or doing what we know we should do.
So let’s set aside the time to make a plan. Draw it up. Put it on paper. No matter how old your kids are, take leadership, take ownership and start small. You don’t need to preach a sermon and get the microphones out for worship. Just open up the Word and read it. Open up the hymnal and sing it. Open up your heart and pray. Not much else is needed (though it is suggested!). Sure, it will be uncomfortable at first, but every significant change in our lives usually us. It might be unchartered territory, but isn’t that a great place to be? Maybe you have never experienced it before. Well then, cut off that bad habit at the next generation. Let your children experience that which you did not. If done with the right heart, they will remember such times with gladness!
Much more could be said. And maybe I will say more sometime soon, but that is enough for now. May the Lord grant us mercy, men, to lead our homes with diligence for the honor and fame of His great name.
Seeking Him with you,
Joe
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