For some time, we’ve longed to get more consistent in “family devotionals”: the regular and frequent time of reading and reflecting on the Bible as a family. One obstacle has been a simple lack of predictability in our daily calendar. However, we’ve recently sought to remedy this problem by implementing a daily schedule, down to the half-hour, and for each child. The original impetus for the calendar was actually putting some sanity into Lois’ hectic days with four little ones. The byproduct has been more predictability for the rest of the day, since we’ve actually thought through our priorities and what we’d like to do each day.

Built into that schedule each day is a morning Bible reading time and an evening family devotional (some call this “family worship”). In the morning, shortly after breakfast and I leave for the office, Lois reads a chapter or two from the Bible to the children. In addition, she currently reads a chapter from Susan Hunt’s Big Truths for Little Kids. The latter is written, as the title suggests, with a target audience for younger children; and seeks to encapsulate many of the truths from the Shorter Catechism in story form. It bears many similarities to another of her books which we like, titled My ABC Bible Verses.

For our evening family time, I’ve chosen to start reading through the gospels, primarily keyed to J.C. Ryle’s seven book series titled Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, which is available in paperback. When I first discovered this series I was so blessed I gathered together a hardcover set, printed over 40 years ago, from various online used book stores. In these readings, we typically read a short passage (we’ve just begun in Matthew’s gospel) and then I proceed to read Ryle’s thoughts on that passage. Each reading takes about 10-15 minutes. I really enjoy Ryle’s thoughts, which he himself had hoped would “be found suitable for use at family prayers.” Here is an excerpt from tonight’s reading that blessed me personally, reflecting on the name “Jesus”:

The name Jesus means “Saviour.” It is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. It is given to our Lord because “He saves His people from their sins.” This is His special office. He saves them from the guilt of sin, by washing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin, by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day. Blessed and holy are Christ’s people! From sorrow, cross, and conflict they are not saved; but they are “saved from sin” for evermore. They are cleansed from guilt by Christ’s blood. They are made meet for heaven by Christ’s Spirit. This is salvation! He who cleaves to sin is not yet saved. [emphasis mine]

Naturally, some of the material is beyond the children’s comprehension abilities — especially ones younger than three (that’s three out of four!) — but I’ve been pleased that our oldest (almost five yo) has been trying to understand, interrupting me several times during a reading to ask for a definition of a given word. Now, don’t get images in your mind of docile children, hands folded, listening carefully and attentively. It’s still work at this point to get them not to make noise or not to be wholly distracted. Nevertheless, we are thankful that we are able to finally implement family times in God’s Word after many false starts, and pray that God would grant us grace to continue with consistency. Our hope is that these times would instill in our children a sense of reverence for God’s Word as well as a respect for the faith of their parents (that we someday hope they will lay hold of themselves).