"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" (Ps. 95:6).
On Sunday in Adult Bible Class I touched on the importance of home devotions and how spending time in God's Word and prayer with your spouse and children will absolutely strengthen those relationships.
But one of the things I want to draw more attention to is the blessing of going to church with your spouse and family. Often when we go to church we see ourselves as individuals and, also, as members of the congregation, that is, a family of faith. But husbands and wives, parents and children can miss that they are there in their marriage and family relationships too. And the Divine Service will strengthen those relationships mightily.
Think of it: Husband and wife kneel to confess their sins and then to hear the Word of forgiveness. They pray together, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" (having each other in mind). They receive the Body and Blood of the Savior and are simultaneously connected to Him and to each other! Wow! That marriage is now prepared to take on anything!
A husband walks away from Sunday morning wanting to love his wife more like Christ loves the church. A mother walks away wanting to love her children more like the church loves us. And children learn to honor their parents as we are all created to honor God.
A woman came to church on Sunday without her husband. He should have been there too. Why? For his own good? Yes. Because he's a member of the congregation? Yes. But also because it will bless and strengthen his marriage and family!
We need to emphasize this more. And I need to go talk with that husband.
