Twenty years ago it was the universal custom among the Lord’s people we moved among to have reading of the Scripture and prayer either in the morning or evening or both. The household was thus brought into God’s presence daily, God’s protection and guidance and support claimed, and His Word, as a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, honoured.
Things, however, have changed alarmingly, and these are days of disintegration, lukewarmness, and looseness. The apostasy is fast ripening. The tide of evil gathers force, and threatens to sweep every vestige of godliness before it. In connection with this, one of the most significant signs of the times is the decay of this custom of family reading and prayer. It seems now to be the exception to have it, where once it was the rule.
Our fathers were converted out of the world, and took their position for the Lord at the cost of much personal sacrifice. The second generation often come into things easily. They are born in a godly home, shielded and protected in every way, and their piety often lacks the force and virility of their fathers’.
We plead for a revival of this old and honoured custom. We believe it means much for our children. We believe it is impossible to exaggerate its importance.
There is enough of warning in Scripture against the neglect of what is due to God in the home—Eli was rebuked by a man of God for putting his private interests before the Lord’s. His very sons—whom he honoured before God—became his dishonour and shame. Israel defeated, the ark captured, his sons slain in one day, his own neck broken, is commentary enough on the folly of putting anyone but the Lord first. “Them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Sam. 2:30), was the mingled encouragement and warning given to Eli.
See how family reading was enjoined in the Old Testament:
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shall 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).
How plain and encouraging this is! And if we want a concrete illustration of this and the blessing attending on it, do we not find it in Timothy? We are told of his godly grandmother, Lois, and his godly mother, Eunice, and that from a child he had known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make “wise to salvation.”
But it may be urged this is a day of tremendous rush and pressure. Granted—but cannot five or ten minutes be found for this godly exercise?
However rushed, we find time for breakfast; and however rushed, time is often found for the news of the day, and for many other things. Why should it just be the Lord’s claims that are sacrificed?
Do you have daily reading and prayer in your home? If not, let me entreat you to begin today. Do it heartily. Read a chapter, or part of a chapter, reverently, comment on it briefly or not as you feel led, then put yourself and your household earnestly into God’s hands, seek His glory and blessing in regard to your home, and you will never regret giving the Lord His place. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”