In "Homeward Bound" Edward A. Hartman looks at some of the Puritan writings on family and family worship. One part that struck me was:
"The observance of the Lord's Day provides us with a regular opportunity to join with our families in fixing our attention on eternity. If we are to prepare to die well, and if we are to lead our families to prepare to die well, then we must be diligent to seize every opportunity to remind ourselves of the unseen, eternal realities that surround and await us. 'So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen in eternal' (2 Cor. 4:18) ... Few understand the purpose of the Lord's Day from this perspective. Most assume that if the day is to be observed at all the emphasis belongs on what things are not permissible on that day, that are perfectly acceptable on others. A day, for example, on which I can't mow the lawn or work on the car...The lack of freedom to do these things is not the point of observance of the Lord's Day....This points us to the second purpose for which the Puritans held to the observance of the Lord's Day: to take as much undistracted pleasure in the Creator and Redeemer of God's people as this earthly life allows." (p. 120-121)
What a blessing God has given us in a day that can be used to take pleasure in him through meeting together with other Christians (music, preaching, fellowship)!!! I pray that I will be able to use this day to worship and enjoy God and be "fueled" for the week ahead.
In addition to taking a day to worship God, he also challenges families to have daily family worship time where Bible reading & devotion, prayer and singing are all aspects.
If you want to be challenged to live with an eternal perspective and think about ways to practically do this with your family then I highly recommend reading "Homeward Bound".
I should probably make the note that because of Christ's work on the cross we aren't "legally" bound to worship only on Sundays but that having a day that we are more likely to be able to set aside to formally worship God is a gift from God. We can and should be worshipping God throughout our days and praise God that there are worship services at other times than just Sundays for those who work on Sundays. I hope this makes sense!
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