IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY DEVOTION!
In the run of family necessities and daily demands we skip the very important things behind. When children grow older they need space, time and monetary assistance, we happily assist them in this regard but when it is time for us to train them preparing them for eternity, we lack.
Regular Bible study and devotion are essential to anyone's spiritual devotion and spiritual life. This includes Christians whether or not they have children, and it includes children who are in the embryonic stage of whatever their spirutual life will be. Yes, public worship plays an important part in this; however, public worship is not daily, there are times when a more private setting is necessary, and at times children need to worship and study God's word solely with their families.
Devotion is defined as "an act of prayer or private worship"; or "a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation." The word itself never appears in the common version of the Bible; it does appear once in the American standard version (Job 15:4).;
But the concept certainly shows itself often.
One cannot read the book of Psalms without being struck by its call to private devotion in addition to public worship. "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (Psalm 5:3; see also 1:2; 55:17; 119:97). We have already seen it to be the case with Abraham, Job, and Timothy's mother and grandmother; but righteous men and women of God have always been men and women of devotion (Psalm 90:1; Daniel 6:10; Ephesians 3:13). Christ filled His life with private devotion, shared particularly with those to whom He was closest (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Matt 26:29). Modern day followers of Christ should do the same, filling their own lives and the lives of their families with the blessings of devotion.
Many Christian parents continue to deceive themselves into believing that because they are faithful, and because they regularly bring their children to the assemblies of the Church, that their children are guaranteed to become faithful Christians throughout their lives. However, faith is not automatically inherited. There is no denying the power and necessity of good Christian examples, especially when seen in a child's parents. However what brings faith is the word of God (Rom 10:17). So ought not children to be taught the word of God on a regular basis? Jesus said, "Its is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceed out of the mouth of God" (Mat 4:4; quoting Deuteronomy 8:3).
Let us train our children in the way, God intends us to train them...
Joseph Khati
Regular Bible study and devotion are essential to anyone's spiritual devotion and spiritual life. This includes Christians whether or not they have children, and it includes children who are in the embryonic stage of whatever their spirutual life will be. Yes, public worship plays an important part in this; however, public worship is not daily, there are times when a more private setting is necessary, and at times children need to worship and study God's word solely with their families.
Devotion is defined as "an act of prayer or private worship"; or "a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation." The word itself never appears in the common version of the Bible; it does appear once in the American standard version (Job 15:4).;
But the concept certainly shows itself often.
One cannot read the book of Psalms without being struck by its call to private devotion in addition to public worship. "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (Psalm 5:3; see also 1:2; 55:17; 119:97). We have already seen it to be the case with Abraham, Job, and Timothy's mother and grandmother; but righteous men and women of God have always been men and women of devotion (Psalm 90:1; Daniel 6:10; Ephesians 3:13). Christ filled His life with private devotion, shared particularly with those to whom He was closest (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Matt 26:29). Modern day followers of Christ should do the same, filling their own lives and the lives of their families with the blessings of devotion.
Many Christian parents continue to deceive themselves into believing that because they are faithful, and because they regularly bring their children to the assemblies of the Church, that their children are guaranteed to become faithful Christians throughout their lives. However, faith is not automatically inherited. There is no denying the power and necessity of good Christian examples, especially when seen in a child's parents. However what brings faith is the word of God (Rom 10:17). So ought not children to be taught the word of God on a regular basis? Jesus said, "Its is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceed out of the mouth of God" (Mat 4:4; quoting Deuteronomy 8:3).
Let us train our children in the way, God intends us to train them...
Joseph Khati
Comments