Family Devotion | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 31, 1871

Family Devotion.

The cheerfu’ supper done, wi’ serious face, They round the ingle form a circle wide; The sire turns o’er, wi’ patriarchal grace, The big ha’ Bible ance his father’s pride: Then, kneeling down, to Heaven’s eternal King The saint, the father, and the husband prays; Hope “springs exultant on triumphant wing,” That thus they all shall meet in future days. —Burns.

There is no more beautiful scene in the Christian’s pilgrimage on earth than the one which the poet Burns has so tenderly described in the “Cotter’s Saturday Night.” The gathering together, morning and evening, of the family circle to read the holy precepts and precious promises of the gospel, to sing the praises of the Most High in the sweet songs of Zion, to bow down in humble adoration of his majesty, and pour out with one accord their heartfelt thanks for his many blessings, and seek the consolations of his infinite grace, presents a spectacle which, in beauty and simplicity, surpasses all other forms of worship, and before which all the pomp and pageantry of the false religions of earth sink into insignificance. These daily seasons of devotion have a softening influence upon the hearts of the children, which renders them peculiarly susceptible to religious impressions; and the lessons of piety thus inculcated by the parents will sink deep into their hearts, and like seed sown in good soil, will spring up in after years into fruits of righteousness, crowning their lives with heavenly graces and Christian virtues.

Prayer is a necessary element in the Christian character; and that parent who does not at stated times bring his family under its hallowing influences, is recreant to the high trusts which God has committed to his care. By an observance of this truly Christian duty, he familiarizes his children with the precepts and requirements of the gospel, imbues them with a love of righteousness and virtue, and a veneration for himself on account of his Christian character, which will make them strong to resist temptation when they leave the parental roof to go forth into the world to battle for themselves.

As Daniel in his captivity, in a land of idolaters, when he was beset with the snares of his enemies, kneeled down in his chamber with his windows open toward Jerusalem, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, so will they when dangers surround and temptations assail, with a vivid recollection of home and the family altar, and the gray-haired father that still follows them with his prayers, raise their hearts to God, and be strengthened by his might, and consoled by his Spirit. A pious, devout family, however obscure their lot in this life, possess a certain dignity of mind and equanimity of temper founded on their hope of a blissful immortality beyond the grave, that commands the esteem and admiration of those that are far superior to them in the honors and riches of this world, and yet have not the courage to “turn from these vanities unto the living God.”

And why should they not have the respect even of the princes of earth? Although poor in temporal possessions, yet they are rich in faith, and have great expectations—no less than a crown of glory in the kingdom of the Redeemer, and a participation with Jesus Christ, in “an inheritance that is incorruptible, and fadeth not away.” Family prayer as a means of grace draws us near to Heaven and the inexhaustible fountain of purity and love. It shuts out for the time all worldly affections and earthly interests, and opens up to our delighted vision the glories of the New Jerusalem, and of the numerous assembly of the redeemed from earth, that sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. It ascends to Heaven, as gracious incense, securing God’s loving-kindness and pardoning mercy. It refines and elevates the affections by directing them to things above, imparting a spirit of humility, a dependence and trust in Christ as the rock of our salvation, causing us to grow in grace, and rejoice in a knowledge of the Lord, whom to know aright is life eternal, making the family circle the dwelling-place of unity, and “the peace of God, that passeth all understanding,” inclining their hearts to virtue, righteousness, and self-denial, and clothing their whole lives with the beauty of holiness.