I was
blessed to hear a clear and challenging sermon yesterday from Craig Willingham
at Berry’s Grove Bapt. Church. Craig is
preaching through Nehemiah and yesterday he brought a message from chapters 9
& 10: Rebuilding the Walls – a Fresh Start. It’s a long passage, but Craig summarized it
well. A fresh start begins with recalling God’s goodness to us. A fresh start also includes recognizing our rebellion and receiving
God’s mercy. Finally a fresh start
must include our renewed commitment to
God (Chpt 10). The people of God
renewed their commitment publicly with a covenant agreement that covered
three areas: First, ‘honoring God in our families (not allowing
their children to intermarry with the pagans of the land). Second, honoring God in our worship (properly
observing the Sabbath). And third,
honoring God in our giving (giving their first and best to God).
Craig did
a great job applying these last points to us who live under the new covenant
and are not bound to the Old Testament law.
As followers of Christ we are still called to honor God in our families
by teaching the Word to our children and grandchildren and helping them see
what it means to walk with Christ in an unbelieving and pagan culture. We are still called to honor God in the way
we set aside a day of worship, rest and refocus. Even though we now worship on Sundays – the
Lord’s Day – we principles of worship and rest still apply. Finally, as followers of Christ, we are
called to honor God with the faithful stewardship of all he has entrusted to
us. Regardless of your views on the
tithe, faithful stewardship includes giving God the first and best. Giving this way declares thankfulness and
trust. It says I am thankful for what
God has provided and I am trusting him to continue to take care of me and my
family.
This
second point – honoring God with my worship – was one that hit home with many
of the young families that heard Craig’s sermon, and caused me to think of many
families in our church. Craig emphasized
how often we all allow anything and everything to take priority over gathering
with our church family for worship on Sundays.
Interestingly enough I read a blog this morning that addressed this very
issue, and I want to pass it on for your thought and consideration.
The
question of organized sports on Sunday is the topic
of an article by Mark
Jones. He writes, “Christian parents are faced with
many dilemmas as they seek to raise their children for the Lord. If they have sporty or athletic children who
play on a sports team, the question of playing on the Lord's Day (Sunday)
becomes a real issue.” He writes that
regardless of our views on the Sabbath, “it
is important, in all things, for our children to learn from their parents that
from the time they come out of the womb to the time they leave the home the
Lord must come first. Following Christ
demands that we even renounce our family if we have to (Lk. 9:57-62; Lk. 14:26); how much more
should we renounce sports for Christ's sake? We are always to seek first the kingdom of God
(Matt. 6:33).”
Jones continues, “Your
children will not likely be converted on the field or on the court or on the
diamond. In God's house, with God's
people, they are in the most important place for their never-dying souls. They are in the place that shapes their living
for the week, week after week, year after year, decade after decade.”
I realize this is not an easy or clear-cut issue
for some. “The pressure can be intense. It comes from coaches and parents; it
sometimes comes from your own children; and, for me, it comes especially from
my own heart where I don't want my children to "miss out".”
You may not agree with all of Jones’
conclusions, but we cannot ignore the truth that we are called to honor God
with our worship, and this includes how we lead (or don’t lead) our children to love God and see Him as the treasure and focus of our lives.
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