Let Jesus into Your Home (why you need a family altar and home devotion time)

 


 (Imagine this post is your Pastor talking to you.)

“Take to heart my Word that I give you today. 

Repeat them to your children. 

Talk about them when you’re at home or away or on the road, when you lie down or get up. 

Write them down, and tie them around your wrist, and wear them as headbands as a reminder. 

Write them on the doorframes of your houses.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)


Hello, this is your pastor. I’m here to talk to you about the importance of living as a Christian. 

 

God tells us the life of a Christian is: 


“Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19), 


Taking His Word to heart (listen to it! Memorize it! Think about it! Chew it over with your family!),

 

Repeating it over and over to your kids, so that “when they are old they will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6), because they will depart from it if you do not talk about and repeat God’s Word with them over and over,


Write them down, put them in your pocket, and when you’ve got a few minutes here or there, at home or away or first thing in the morning or before you go to bed, you look at that Scripture and think about it, pray about it, connect to your life, your family’s life, your past, your future, your present. 


Your life becomes more and more meaningless the more that you try your best to keep Jesus Christ and His Word out of it. 


Jesus is above all things, he existed before anything else in your life existed, he created everything that you know and love and have. Jesus holds each beat, each moment in your life together. . .  despite everything you’re doing to keep him out.


Jesus wants to come into your home. Are you letting him in?


Will you let him be sung about as you do chores? 

Will you let the chants from the liturgy be hummed in the shower that announce his forgiveness and presence? 

Will you allow him to hold your marriage together in daily prayer with one another? 

Will you let him keep your children in the faith, by praying the Lord’s Prayer with them once a day? (And adding prayers as you feel drawn.)


Do you think this is only for people with children or living spouses? No! Pick up the bible or open that Bible app. Read Matthew Chapter One. Then read the next one. Read another tomorrow until it’s done.


Open up the bible and pray Psalm 1 out loud. How did it feel? Do it again tomorrow. Do it again the next day. Get it? Pray it again.


“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)


“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them!” (Matthew 19:14)


Allow Jesus in your home. In his Words are your only hope for life, for healing, for security in a world gone to hell. (Pastor’s gonna give you some info on establishing home worship practices the next time he sees you).


I am here as your pastor to help you teach yourself and your family about Jesus. 


Ask me for help! I don’t bite.


Finally, “Write them on the doorframes of your houses.” Hang up a crucifix on your wall. Find a bible verse on a sign at Hobby Lobby, or whatever. Paint something, or ask a family member to make something, anything, that will put you all to Jesus and him crucified on the cross for your sins.


Jesus on the cross, even just his name, is the most beautiful thing in the world.


God loves beautiful things. Satan hates beautiful things.


Fill your home with beautiful things.


Fill your home with Jesus.

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