When I first heard the expression “closing the table” I had no idea what that meant – except maybe folding up the table ex­tension? However, I have come to ap­preciate “closing the table” at meal time with a Bible reading and prayer. This gives a sense of completeness, and the additional time spent together binds those around the table closer.

Family Devotions or “closing the table” isn’t just for families with children. If you are a couple who don’t have chil­dren, or a widow, or if you are single, I encourage you to have a practice of reading the Bible and praying after a meal each day. As you do this, not only will you be blessed with a closer walk with the Lord but also, when you have friends and family over, Christian and non-Christian, or you have flat-mates or boarders, you will be able to quite comfortably “close the table” as is your normal custom.

Many of us carry the burden of family members who are estranged from the Lord. Closing the table with a Bible reading, devotion and prayer can be a time (however short, but often poign­ant) when they hear the Word of God spoken.

Family traditions and habits are what make up the fabric of family life and a regular family devotion time can become a very strong pattern and custom that is passed down through generations.

However, sometimes, we do what we do, and do it for years and years regard­less of how our circumstances change. Sometimes, habits become ruts and it may be good to revamp the way we do things to revitalise them and inject new life into our devotional time. Fourteen year-old boys do not still need to be read to from a children’s Bible. On the other hand a 4 year-old will probably not un­derstand the Table Talk¹ devotions. The reason we “close the table” with devo­tions is to learn about God; but also to really know the Gospel, God’s Word and Christ himself. Not just as ‘head knowl­edge’ but passing on God’s amazing re­demption plan and holding fast to His wonderful grace and the love that He has for us. We are called to pass on the faith from generation to generation, so let’s do this in a way that is not by rote, or something to get through before we can dash off to “real life” but in a way that will help everyone grow and love Jesus Christ.

One of the hidden benefits of family devotions is that children are also being trained for the worship services on Sundays. They learn to sit still. They learn to listen attentively. They learn about prayer and how to read the Bible.

So, let us look at the table we are going to close.

Set the Table⤒🔗

“Setting the table” is scheduling a time and place to close the table and having the Bibles (and hymnbooks) ready. This may mean that you gather together for breakfast before everyone is off to work, school or wherever. Breakfast together, around God’s Word, is a lovely way to start the day afresh. However, this may not work for everyone in your household. Or it may work on Sundays but not the rest of the week. Dinner or even lunch might be the time that suits you best. The aim is to set aside at least one meal a day, for family devotions, so make the schedule work for you and your family.

Encourage each person around the table to have a Bible in front of them and to be prepared to read or follow along (even young children can sit on a parent’s knee and be helped to “read” the Bible). Doing this also helps everyone become familiar with the Bible, chapter and verse. We bought 10 small and very inexpensive Bibles and 10 hymnbooks for devotion time. They are stored close to the table so no-one has to dash off and find a Bible (or remember where they left it) and everyone has the same version so we are all on the same page, as it were.

Eat the Bread and Drink the Water←⤒🔗

God’s son, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” and “I am the living water.” He is also described in John 1:1 as The Word. The reading of God’s Word is spiritual nourishment for the whole family.

Bible reading should form the foun­dation of your devotion time. If you are using a devotional book, be sure to read the Bible verses related to it. Reading through the Bible, using some sort of plan,² means the family gets to hear the whole counsel of God, without falling into the traps of avoiding what may seem awkward³ boring,⁴ picking favourite passages or the danger of taking verses out of context. Rather, we can come to understand God’s Word in all its fullness. We have used Murray Robert McCheyne’s Bible Reading Plan over the years.⁵ Sometimes there is a break from the normal reading pattern which makes Proverbs, with its 31 chapters, ideal to read by the day of the month e.g. Read the seventh chapter on the seventh day of the month. This book is full of wisdom, which we are always in need of, as nat­urally foolish human beings.

You may like to have different people take turns at reading. This is particularly great for young learning-to-readers, who with some help (we all struggle with those Hebrew and Greek names too!) will gain a real sense of belonging and maturity as they participate actively. Use a good version. Even a young child can under­stand most modern versions.

Many families use devotional books to ground their devotion time. These can range from the very helpful to the theologically suspect. Ask others in your church or Bible study group what they use. Ask to see the book. Is it age-ap­propriate? Is it doctrinally sound? Don’t dumb down your children but always read to the eldest’s age group and, if there is a big age range, briefly retell or explain for younger ones.

Chew on the Meat←⤒🔗

To really get the most out of reading the Bible we need get to the meat of the passage either with the help of a devo­tional book or by asking and/or receiv­ing questions. Ask questions that are relevant to the passage, and are appro­priate to the age of those around the table and encourage them to ask ques­tions in return. If the adults in the family don’t know the answer, write the ques­tion down and either research it or ask your elder or pastor. You don’t have to know all the answers. Our family is very blessed to have a pastor at the end of the table, and sometimes even he says, “I’ll have to do some research on that and get back to you.” All too often people have been lost to Christ because we do not engage with them when they query the Bible, but offer them pat answers that do not help, or fob them off alto­gether. Search the Scriptures together as a family, ask others, and read relevant books on the subject.

When we close the table after Sunday lunch, our practice is to discuss that morning’s sermon. The younger children might remember the Scripture readings, or a hymn that they sang. Older ones may know the sermon points and the il­lustrations (if any) that were used. Young adults (and older ones) are encouraged to ask questions they have and to discuss various aspects of the sermon.

Pass the Salt Please←⤒🔗

We are called to be salt in the world and one of the ways we can be equipped to do this, is through family devotions. We can be encouraged and strengthened to live in a world that does not know Jesus Christ and mostly doesn’t want to either. Apply to life the Bible reading or devo­tion, and talk about circumstances we have experienced the Holy Spirit’s help. When we see faith evident in other’s lives, when we hear how God is working in and through us, and through reading God’ Word we, too, can all learn to be salt in an wicked world.

Singing←⤒🔗

I am going to put in a plug here for making singing a regular part of your family devotions. When we first started attending reformed churches we knew hardly any of the psalms and hymns that were sung during services. Thankfully, we had hymnbooks so we started practising songs that we had heard on Sundays or at Bible study nights. Some­times it all turned ‘pear-shaped’ and we would have to try another time or wait until people were visiting who knew the song we were trying to learn. My husband wasn’t much of a singer when we began this practice but he has become a good singer over the years we have been doing this regularly. Singing regularly makes a difference! At first our attempts were pretty feeble but we have all learnt and grown to thoroughly enjoy singing after dinner. An off-hoot to singing at family devotion time, is that guests often enjoy singing. We have been known to get totally carried away and sing many songs, sometimes accompanied by several instruments. A joyful sound was heard by all! Singing aloud, if you are on your own or no-one is very musical, may seem a bit odd but you could put on a CD, or listen to a play-list from your phone (apparently this is a thing with people younger than me!) and sing along with it. Sing a new song to the Lord.

Prayer←⤒🔗

Jesus gave his disciples an example of how to pray so that they (and we) would know how to talk to God. Praying aloud becomes a natural thing to do when we do it regularly. Dad or Mum may pray or you may go around the table and have each person pray. This is good practice for praying aloud in Bible study or youth groups etc. Some households have a list they pray through. It might be a photo album of family members and mission­aries, the church phone directory or some churches provide a prayer list of members of the congregation along with missionaries and other churches in the denomination to pray. You might like to ask those around the table if they can think of anyone we can pray for.

So as you close the table with family devotions, having “set the table”, eat the bread of life, drink the living water, chew on the meat, pass the salt on, sing and pray and taste and see that the Lord is good.