this is as it should be and it is surely not too great a sacrifice if it promotes a time that is con venient for the family’s most im portant activity. F u l l P a r t i c i p a t i o n Family devotions are for every member of the family. They should be geared toward the level of the younger members so that all may receive the most benefit from them. In some families one adult, usually the father, calls the family together, reads the Bible to them and then prays. Actually this is not a family devotion. This is merely father having his own devotions with all o f the family watching him! Needless to say there are much better ways of conducting devotions. We gain the most when we are personally involved in them. There should be participation by every mem ber. Even very young children can have some part in family de votions. Although the father may wish to assume general responsibility for family devotions, it is sug gested that leadership rotate among the adults, teenagers and any other members who are cap able of leading. Parents can as sume the responsibility for re-
A mong all Christian activities, none is more important than family devotions. Attendance at church and prayer meeting, as important as they are, can never take the place of the family altar. Here is where Christians develop Christian character, receive god ly instruction and learn to walk intimately with the Lord. The very heart of Christian training is centered in family de votions. For dynamic Christian living, this daily experience is in- d ispensab le . An outstanding Christian leader once said, “ I have observed that a child o f 12 or 14 who has taken part in fam ily devotions all his life, usually knows more about the Scriptures and more about godly living than others who have not had family devotions even though they may be seminary graduates!” God’s Word is very plain con cerning the family’s responsibili ties — “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut.
6:6, 7). One can imagine that as God looks down upon us each day, nothing rejoices His heart more than seeing a family gath ered around His precious Word, worshipping, praying and learn ing of Him. In the Scriptures we read, “All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace o f thy chil dren.” The Right Time In days past, the selection of a time for family devotions may not have been a great problem. However, our present, complex, industrial society demands vari ous schedules of travel and work, and some families experience con siderable difficulty finding an ap propriate time when the entire family can be together. No doubt the morning offers one of the best times inasmuch as it helps to set a pattern for the day. However, some families meet after the eve ning meal or just before bed time. But the most important consid eration is the establishment of a regular time when all can attend. In some families this may require an adjustment in family routine. Parents may have to retire for bed at the same time and arise the next morning together. But
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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