The underlying aims of family worship include bringing our child(ren) up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Eph.6:4).  Teaching through a Catechism, or helping children learn and understand the Bible aren’t ends in themselves.  These spiritual disciplines – and others like them – are tools that the Spirit can use to re-forge the image of Christ in us and them. 

What does that mean?  It means that we are like Jesus.  We do the same sorts of things He did...  like resist temptation by having our minds saturated by and shaped by the Word of God.  When we say we are disciples of Jesus, but don’t aspire to actually emulate what we see of Him in the Gospels, we risk sounding disingenuous.  Jesus’ relationship with the Scriptures is profound.  We have already seen that Jesus’ life before His public ministry is defined by His engagement with the Bible.  And here at the outset, it is equally clear that His awareness of who He is, and what He is to do, is likewise defined by His engagement with the Bible.  This has to be one of our greatest ambition for our child(ren): that they are like Jesus...  that, like Him, their self-understanding is demonstrably shaped by what they read and understand from Scripture.

It’s one of the reasons we are encouraging families to build into the structures of their life together the opportunity to engage with the Bible in a context of worship and prayer.

It’s also why we put such a premium on memorising the Bible.  Again, that isn’t an end in itself – but the reason Jesus is able to hold on to His Father’s vision and call on His life in the face of such severe temptation, is at least in part because He had internalised it. 

Few other things will equip us or our child(ren) as effectively for godly thinking, living and decision making more effectively than memorising and internalising the Bible.. 

Chuck Swindoll wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified”.  There is absolutely no reason to assume those benefits are exclusive to those over the age of 21. 

In our reading this week we see Jesus using Scripture He has memorised to specifically resist temptation.  It is the enacting of: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11, though see also Rom.8:13; Eph.6:17 etc.).  As we face temptation, we call to mind a word of Scripture that recalls us to the superior worth of Christ and our imitation of Him.  When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to flight (Matthew 4:1-11).

So this week, let’s simply put this into practise.  Here is a section from Ps.119 that speaks very directly to what we are thinking about.  It’ll be introduced in our Sunday Groups too.  Why not memorise it as a family?  It is 4 verses long (Ps.119:9-12), but can be shortened for younger children.

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.

There’ll be a chance to show the Church Family how well you’ve memorised the passage!  So we look forward to hearing it...