pilgrim people

VII. The Lord's Day is to be a Delight, not a Burden

Finally, we must always keep in mind that the Lord's Day is a weekly holiday. It is not to be a weekly bummer. It is not to be observed with rigor and sweat, but with joy and gladness. We want our children to see the goodness and graciousness of God in giving us a day of worship, rest, and freedom from the normal craziness and cares of this age.

That does not mean we are to turn into the "Sabbath Police," always checking to make sure that no one in the family is having too much fun! Instead, parents need to be creative in making this day a genuine delight for their family. Consider making something special for breakfast on that day, or perhaps a special dessert in the evening. Try creating special traditions that your family can enjoy on the Lord's Day. Use wisdom and love in how you go about this. But whatever you do, emphasize for your family the importance of corporate worship, the Divine Service.

Of course, this will also mean educating our children about worship and about the six-and-one pattern that God has given us in creation. This is not always an easy task. But it is part of the command given to Christian parents to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6.4).

We want our children and young people to know that they were created and redeemed for something better than the pointless, plotless rattle and hum of this age. There is something greater! We were made for the goal of the glory of the age to come, symbolized in the Tree of Life. Because Christ has secured this for us in his finished work, we can, therefore, press forward as pilgrims in this life, with hope and expectancy. We can run our race, as the writer to the Hebrews says, “looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Heb 12.2) The Lord's Day helps us to do this. It reminds us that "here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." (Heb 13.14)