Today, our campus pastors continued our series There's More with a message about finding more joy in our families—whatever they might look like. Our pastors encouraged us to lean into three values and three venues when it comes to more joy in our families.
Value #1: Love His Words
In today's scripture passage, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, we see just how important the Word of God was. The culture in which God's people lived had many gods that required all sorts of rituals to appease them. But the God of Isreal was completely different and longed for relationship with His people. So these commands—to know the scriptures and impress them on your children—were intended to keep God's people from drifting away from their first love in the midst of a culture that would strongly suggest they should.
The same can be true for us today—the pull of cultural beliefs that seem appealing but lead us far from God. And yet, when we center our lives around God and His Word, we center our lives around His hesed love. When we do so, everything flows from this place and enables us to live the life God has called us to. This brings us to the second value.
Value #2: Live on Mission
Deuteronomy 6:3 says, "Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you." God promised Isreal a land where they would thrive and live out His commands for generations. When Jesus came He enlarged the Kingdom of God to include all people, and now, thriving and flourishing was tied to His presence as His people lived out His purposes. For us, this means living life with purpose and being open to living for others and not just ourselves. This is where we continue to flourish.
Value #3: Leave a Legacy
Deuteronomy 6:20-21 says, "In the future, when your son asks you, 'What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?' tell him: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.'" When we love God's Word and live on mission, the younger generation will notice. The cost of not preparing the next generation for what's ahead is much bigger than the cost of actually preparing them. But the question is, how do we do this? This brings us to the three venues for experiencing more joy in our families.
Venue #1: Meal Time
Meal time is an invitation to a greater goal: relationship. Here are a few ways we can do that:
- Be consistent in sharing meals as a family.
- Try going device-less at dinner.
- Ask open-ended questions.
- Try to establish a rhythm of having a guest at your table for a meal.
Venue #2: Road Time
Driving from one thing to the next often gives us space to reflect on the occurrences of the day. When there are only a couple of you in the car consider a few of these:
- On the drive to school in the morning with the kids or a phone call on the way home from work, use the time to connect with someone.
- Try listening to an audiobook or podcast together and then discuss it.
- Consider unpacking whatever happened at school or work that day.
- Consider carpooling with your kids' friends. You never know what you'll learn in those conversations!
Venue #3: Bed Time
This one is directed at parents. Bedtime is a moment for a parent and child to acknowledge that at the end of the day, God loves us—no matter what might have happened.
- If you don't know where to start, Google simple prayer to pray for your children.
- As they get older, bedtime is an opportunity to put your hand on their back, look them in the eye, and pray for them.
No matter the age of your children—young kids, young adults, or full-grown adults—intentional words and prayers still matter.
