Communion With God

Chapter 32—Family Worship

BIBLE GEM

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”—Joshua 24:15 CWG 78.1

“I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.”—Psalm 101:2 CWG 78.2

QUESTION

Is there any relation between the morning and evening sacrifices in Biblical times and family worship today? How important is family worship? How should it be conducted? CWG 78.3

ANSWER

Relation between sacrifices and family worship: “The hours appointed for the morning and the evening sacrifice were regarded as sacred, and they came to be observed as the set time for worship throughout the Jewish nation. ... In this custom Christians have an example for morning and evening prayer.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 353, 354 CWG 78.4

“Morning and evening the heavenly universe behold every household that prays, and the angel with the incense, representing the blood of the atonement, finds access to God.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:971 CWG 78.5

Protection promised: “In every Christian home God should be honored by the morning and evening sacrifices of prayer and praise.... It is the duty of Christian parents, morning and evening, by earnest prayer and persevering faith, to make a hedge about their children.”—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 110 CWG 78.6

“Will the Lord of heaven pass by such homes, and leave no blessing there? Nay, verily. Ministering angels will guard the children who are thus dedicated to God.”—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 110 CWG 78.7

Tragedy of a prayerless home: “I know of nothing that causes me so great sadness as a prayerless home. I do not feel safe in such a house for a single night; and were it not for the hope of helping the parents to realize their necessity and their sad neglect, I would not remain. The children show the result of neglect, for the fear of God is not before them.”—Child Guidance, 518 CWG 78.8

Family worship should be a daily matter: “Family worship should not be governed by circumstances. You are not to pray occasionally, and when you have a large day's work, neglect it. In thus doing you lead your children to look upon prayer as of no special consequence.... CWG 79.1

“It should be a pleasure to worship the Lord.”—My Life Today, 29 CWG 79.2

How to conduct family worship where there are children: “Let the father select a portion of Scripture that is interesting and easily understood.... Questions may be asked, a few earnest, interesting remarks made, or incidents, short and to the point, may be brought in by way of illustration. At least a few verses of spirited song may be sung, and the prayer offered should be short and pointed.... Let all join in the Bible reading and learn and often repeat God's law. It will add to the interest of the children if they are sometimes permitted to select the reading. Question them upon it, and let them ask questions.”—Child Guidance, 521, 522 CWG 79.3

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

My wife and I remember with fondness the precious memories when our children were little and every morning and evening we would spend time in family worship. They all sat reverently, in order, holding their favorite dolls or teddy bears and loved to listen to Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories and other Bible stories. Sometimes we would discuss the context and then pray. Now they are all in their 30's and they still remember. There was something special and very sweet about the time we spent together as a family in prayer. We praised God for the nearness of His heavenly angels. CWG 79.4

Families that pray together even if it is interrupted by Satan, will at a later time come together. Let us earnestly continue to pray for our children and grandchildren. God has promised, “I will save your children.” Isaiah 49:25. CWG 79.5

Some of our children left the church. God in His mercy gave me a dream: L was in a cemetery and a voice told me that some of my children are buried there. Then I was told to pray for them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I prayed a powerful intercessory prayer and out of their dusty graves came our children, restored from sin and death to their childhood innocence and they came running and hugging our legs just exactly as they did when they were little children. CWG 79.6

God is good! Keep praying, parents! He has promised to save everyone we commit to Him and I believe that. CWG 80.1