What is family worship? (Click the arrow to the left)
As Christians, particularly Christian men, we are responsible to lead our households with strength and resolve in the ways of Christ. Leading our families in devotions and family worship is one way to lead our families, raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Jesus Christ (cf. Deuteronomy 6:7; Ephesians 6:4).
In my house, we do morning and evenings. In the morning after we eat breakfast together, we all have our quiet times. We read our Bibles seperately and journal what we see. In the evenings before bed, we talk about what we saw in our morning Bible reading, I share my insight from my own devotional time, we ask questions from the New City Catechism, we sing a couple worship songs together, and then we pray as a family. Family worship doesn’t have to look like this. It may look different for every household, but I want to invite you to join me in leading our families well. Every weekday on this blog, I want to provide a guide for fathers to lead their families in some form of family worship. If your household doesn’t have a father, I believe the responsibility falls to the mother. Design a routine that works for your family, but be intentional about leading in the only way that matters instead of getting too caught up with the affairs of this world. Every Christian man is the pastor of his home. I believe the most important thing we can do for our children is (1) lead them in the home and (2) be faithful to the church as a family. As the family goes, so goes the nation. Our job as pastors to our family matters.
John 4:46-54
46 Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see asigns and wonders, you simply will not believe.”
49 The royal official *said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
50 Jesus *said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.
51 As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.
52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.
54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
The nobleman might not have believed in Jesus, but He did believe Jesus at His word. He was desperate. People who are desperate reach out to Jesus all the time. They don’t necessarily believe, but they will try anything. Jesus, before healing the nobleman’s son, points out his disbelief, hardness of heart, and selfishness. You people won’t believe by any means.
This isn’t only the way of Galileans in the First Century. It is the way of worldly people. Before I knew Christ, I demanded God prove Himself before I would believe. We don’t only act this way toward God. We demand that people prove themselves over and over—which doesn’t really work well for healthy relationships. Do you like always having to prove yourself? No? Why are we so hypocritical to demand that of God? Of one another? Coming from someone who always demanded proof, always demanding proof and not having faith is a negative characteristic, not a positive one—because it is selfish. In living that way, we consider ourselves to be the highest authority. I think reason and critical thought are good. But, most things worth believing can’t be proven empirically. Everyone has faith in something that can’t be proven.
Jesus points this out but also heals the Nobleman’s son. Because of the sign, the man and his household believed. I think Jesus understands our depravity and tendency toward selfish religion. Yet, though we are in unbelief and demand signs in unhealthy ways, Jesus meets us where we are. Many people come to Christ not because they want to know Him but because they want to escape Hell, be delivered from desperate circumstances, feel something religious, want their children to learn good moral values, desire community, want programs for their children, or because their friend or family came to Jesus. Despite our selfishness in coming, Jesus graciously meets each one. He then raises us, starting in our selfishness of belief and bringing us to maturity in His faith. He is good. He doesn’t reject people because of their bad religion or misunderstanding of Him and His work. Praise God for that because people believe all sorts of things and practice all sorts of man-made religion. Jesus is king, not us. He doesn’t depend on our doctrine or practice whatsoever.
Today’s question from the New City Catechism:
Q- Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God’s favor?
A- Yes, God reconciles us to himself by a Redeemer.
Isaiah 53:10-11 says,
10 But the Lord was pleased
To crush Him, bputting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.
11 As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
Have a question about today’s devotional?
Alex Southern Baptist Chapel 
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