Devotional – Page 6 – Dobra Family Ministry

Household Prayer: thanksgiving for undeserved grace

“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”” Luke 4:18-21 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.4.18-21.NKJV

Thanksgiving

Brothers, meditating on Luke 4:18-21 and Isaiah 61. It is shocking what Christ has done for us, undeserving as we are. It is double shocking that there is a double portion reward awaiting. Much to be thankful for. I give thanks for all of you and the homeschool community. Rejoice and give thanks!

““The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”” Luke 4:18-21 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.4.18-21.NKJV

“But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant.” Isaiah 61:6-8 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.61.6-8.NKJV

“Whittaker Chambers, an American writer and editor who had formerly been a Soviet communist spy before he recanted and defected to the West, stated: Freedom is a need of the soul, and nothing else. It is in striving toward God that the soul strives continually after a condition of freedom. God alone is the inciter and guarantor of freedom. He is the only guarantor. External freedom is only an aspect of interior freedom. Political freedom, as the Western world has known it, is only a political reading of the Bible. Religion and freedom are indivisible. Without freedom, the soul dies. Without the soul, there is no justification for freedom.” The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

THE GOOD NEWS

There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.

We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV

Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV

But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV

““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV

We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV

There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV

It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV

Household Prayer: Crowns, Glory, Fathers, and Children

“Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.” Proverbs 17:6 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.17.6.NKJV

Brothers, meditating on Proverbs 17:6 and 1 Thes. 2:11-12 today. We are the glory of our children, I pray for the faith to walk “worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory”! I pray for the faith to exhort, comfort, and charge my children as Peter does the church. I pray for a heart of gratitude for the blessing of my children and their future children. And I pray for a heart to encourage them and remind them they are my crown and I am proud of them.

“Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.” Proverbs 17:6 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.17.6.NKJV

“Prov 17:6 It is an honour to children to have wise and godly parents continued to them, even after they are grown up and settled in the world.” Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

“as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” I Thessalonians 2:11-12 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1th.2.11-12.NKJV

Household Prayer: Thankful for the saints God places in our lives.

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! … Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” Psalms 100:1-5 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.100.1-5.NKJV

Brothers, had a dear friend have emergency gallbladder surgery this morning. She and her husband have known us and loved us from conversion, baptism, marriage and three children. They are spiritual parents and grandparents. In thanksgiving season I’ve been meditating on Psalm 100 and recently studied 1 Peter 3:8-9. I’m praying this weekend that we remember the people God has placed in our lives and give Him thanks for them. Then let them know it and bless them.

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” Psalms 100:1-5 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.100.1-5.NKJV

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” I Peter 3:8-9 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1pe.3.9.NKJV

Household Prayer: Sent into the world

“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:18 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.17.18.NKJV

Brothers, Jesus prayed to the Father, “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18) I pray our hearts would be full of purpose even in the daily grind (Colossians 3:23). Sent by the Lamb of God into the world. As husbands and fathers to work (serve) and keep (protect) (Gen. 2:15, Matt. 6:10, I Tim. 5:8). I pray we labor, in submission to Christ, for the glory of God the Father. I pray our faithful labor and love for one another will draw many to the love of Christ (John 17:20-23) and I give thanks for you all.

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” Genesis 2:15 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.2.15.NKJV

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,” Colossians 3:23 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/col.3.23.NKJV

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.6.10.NKJV

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I Timothy 5:8 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1ti.5.8.NKJV

““I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:20-23 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.17.20-23.NKJV

Household Prayer: Our God is greater! No fear, rejoice!

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:38-39 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.7.38-39.NKJV

Brothers, our God is greater! I pray for preparedness and security of our households and that we would not be anxious or fear but “remember the Lord who is great and awesome.” (Neh. 4:13-14) I pray that in the power of the Gospel and resurrection we “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4-7) And I pray, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that “rivers of living water” would wash over our families (John 7:38-39) with words that give grace (Eph. 4:29).

“I am thus far a Quaker [a pacifist]: I would gladly agree with all the world to lay aside the use of arms and settle matters by negotiation; but unless the whole will, the matter ends, and I take up my musket and thank Heaven He has put it in my power. THOMAS PAINE, Patriot, Author

Nehemiah 4:14 (NASB) [14] When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”

Philippians 4:4-7 (NASB) [4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! [5] Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. [6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 7:38-39 (NASB) [38] “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” [39] But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Ephesians 4:29 (NASB) [29] Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Fear God, Make disciples, Protect your family!

“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” Genesis‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“The right to life is a good example of what legal historians refer to as an objective right: it is objective in the sense that it exists outside ourselves and is unalienable… The right to life imposes obligations: you must do everything in your power to preserve it.”
#SlayingLeviathan https://canonpress.com/products/slaying-leviathan/

AMENDMENT II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
https://ministry.family.blog/america/second-amendment/

“Religion and liberty must flourish or fall together in America. We pray that both may be perpetual.” Pastor William Smith, Christ Church Philadelphia, 1775
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both.” John Witherspoon, 1776
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“And if our religion is given up, all the liberty we boast of will soon be gone.” Samuel Langdon, 1788
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

Household Prayer: leave and follow Jesus

He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” Matthew 4:21-22

Brothers, Matt. 4:21-22 was part of my morning reading. Couple quick thoughts today: our sons and daughters must eventually leave us to some extent for it is God’s will (Gen. 2:24), and I pray they follow after Jesus when they do. Make sure they know how to hear and know Jesus! (Duet. 6:4-7)

“Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” Matthew 4:21-22 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.4.21-22.NKJV

Household Prayer: physical and spiritual rebuilding

“Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel… So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.” Nehemiah 8:1, 8 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/neh.8.8.NKJV

God’s people assembled in the public square. Ezra reads God’s law for the assembly, and the Levites “teach and instruct the people in the will of God… to explain and apply the truth of God in your life.” (Family worship Bible guide)

Brothers, meditating on Nehemiah 8 this week. We are both body and spirit, both physical and spiritual. Nehemiah tells the story of both the physical and spiritual rebuilding. “Rebuilding the walls without returning to the Word of God would be foolish.” (Family worship Bible guide) And likewise, according to James, returning to God’s word without rebuilding the walls may indicate a dead faith. (James 1:22; 2:14-26; Matt. 6:10) I pray for a renewed fear of God and love of His word. I pray that a renewed faith would result in joy as we labor in faithful obedience in the roles God has given us in this world until “the nations of those who are saved shall walk in [the new Jerusalem’s] light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.” (Revelation 21:24)

The four God ordained governments working in cooperation. Individuals, households, spiritual (Church) and civil authorities (Nehemiah 8:9,13) cooperated in “ensuring that everyone, both citizens and leaders, understood how the principles of God’s Word applied to every aspect of life and culture.” (The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers)

“Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel…
Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law…
Also… the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”” Nehemiah 8:1, 3, 7-10 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/neh.8.1-10.NKJV

“Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalms 119:165 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.119.165.NKJV

“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalms 127:1 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.127.1.NKJV

“and their brethren, heads of their fathers’ houses—one thousand seven hundred and sixty. They were very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.” I Chronicles 9:13 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1ch.9.13.NKJV

For the People Had a Mind to Work | Reformation And Revival “Nehemiah tells us that the Jewish returned exiles finished the wall, even in the face of Sanballat’s mockery, because the people had a mind to work. They didn’t seem to care that Sanballat was over there saying, ‘What do these feeble Jews think they are doing? Will they rebuild out of the heaps of rubbish which are burned?’ And Tobiah added, ‘Even if a fox went up on the wall, he would break it down.'” https://youtu.be/WzcqjrquTmE?si=cFW5QTdM-07ttdD5

Take dominion. Make disciples. By faith (Heb. 11:1-3,4,5…), get to work subduing and ruling, working and keeping, being fruitful and multiplying (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15), and making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20) for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” – Amen

Household Prayer: Repentance and Reformation

“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day…O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”” Daniel 9:3-19 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/dan.9.3-19.NKJV

Brother’s I’ve had to confess and repent before my family this week. They called me out on some attitude issues. Praise God! I also read Daniel’s prayer for his people this week. I pray we would come before God in confession and repentance when we stumble. I pray we would, like Daniel, confess on behalf of our families and pray for reformation in our souls as the heads of our households. “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” Daniel 9:19

Four steps to reformation: Lord’s Day Worship! Give your children a Christian education! Sing! Cultivate Christian fellowship!

Lord’s Day Worship! “Preach, pray, sing, and celebrate the sacraments… with exuberant, expectant faith.”

Give your children a Christian education! “next to Lord’s Day worship, teaching disciples to obey Jesus in everything is the next most important thing we do, and parents (and fathers in particular) are commanded to teach their children all day long, every day about how everything relates to Christ, how the whole Bible applies to all of life. Children are the heritage of the Lord, and they are arrows and weapons in the hands of warriors. Therefore, the training and teaching and thorough enculturation of children in the knowledge and love the Lord is essential.”

Sing! “a singing people is a joyful people, and the joy of the Lord is our strength. And if you’re not careful, you might break out in song in the streets, around your dinner table, or after football games.” “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” Eph 5:19

Cultivate Christian fellowship! “we work, we build, we sing, we marry, we worship, and we feast because we are walking in the light and have fellowship with God and another.”

Excerpts from https://tobyjsumpter.com/how-to-start-a-reformation-in-four-easy-steps/

“when the world went crazy and our tyrants began tyrannizing, the only thing you had to do to win was be open. Have church, don’t mandate masks or vaccines, sing to the Lord, declare His word with authority, and celebrate the sacraments (in person) and face to face. The churches that did this have grown, and in some places they have simply exploded. Some ministers were arrested; some were fined. But everywhere there has been fruit… I believe that when God gives us Reformation, it will mostly consist of a bunch of people doing relatively ordinary things with God’s extraordinary blessing upon them. So this is not rocket science. This is not some kind of deep, esoteric masterplan. This is just simple obedience in faith. But if someone were starting from scratch, and they wanted to know what I think are the top four things they should do in order to work for Reformation and Revival, this is what I would say: …” https://tobyjsumpter.com/how-to-start-a-reformation-in-four-easy-steps/

Household Prayer: Surely the kingdom of God has come upon us!

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” Matthew 12:28-30 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.12.28-30.NKJV

Brothers, today I am praying that by faith and the light of our lives lived for King Jesus many would be drawn to Him. Lord, I pray that we would be swift to proclaim the good news and I pray we would have eyes to see Your Spirit plunder captive souls from the devil. Surely the kingdom of God has come upon us! (Matt. 12:28) Christ has bound the strong man. (Matt. 12:29) Jesus has all authority; the victory is won (Matt. 28:18). Plunder the devil’s house! (Matt. 12:30)

“Christ has reigned from His throne in heaven since He sat down, and the obvious evidence is that the gospel has spread throughout the world in ways that the earliest Church never would have believed… when Christ commanded the Great Commission to His disciples, I believe He was giving His strategy for His Church… Jesus proves that His coming is plundering Satan’s kingdom [Matt. 12:28-30] … Satan is bound, in that, no power and no principality has authority over Jesus Christ. We know this because Christ said so: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” [Matt. 28:18] … There’s nothing Satan can do to stop the advancing of the gospel [Hebrews 10:13] … the gospel is the truth that binds Satan.” Jarrin Jackson, “Christian Nationalism is inevitable… and that’s good news!” https://livelocal.store/product/christian_nationalism_is_inevitable/

“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.” Hebrews 10:12-13 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.10.12-13.NKJV

“There are two great interests in the world; and when unclean spirits are cast out by the Holy Spirit, in the conversion of sinners to a life of faith and obedience, the kingdom of God is come unto us. All who do not aid or rejoice in such a change are against Christ.” Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

“The enemies of the gospel are wanting to undermine the world of obedient Christians by dissuading their work through calling them names that demean them and socially isolate them. And like the first “Christians” being called Christian in Acts, “Christian nationalism” is a term that is weaponized against Christians living their faith in public. If Christians are quiet, they won’t be called Christian nationalists. If Christians tolerate fornication and homosexuality and the transgender abomination, then they won’t be called Christian nationalists. If Christians don’t argue the Constitution or stand firm in their worldview in conflict with globalism or hedonism or secularism, then they won’t be called Christian nationalists. If Christians just keep their God in a box and only worship Him in the steepled buildings on Sunday – when they’re not shut down for public health emergencies – and the sermons don’t preach on the need to evangelize the lost with the exclusive salvation message of Jesus Christ, then they won’t be called Christian nationalists. The enemy doesn’t really care about Christian nationalism. The enemy hates Christ’s followers obeying Christ.” Jarrin Jackson, “Christian Nationalism is inevitable… and that’s good news!” https://livelocal.store/product/christian_nationalism_is_inevitable/

Household Prayer: A shining light of good works

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.16.NKJV

Brothers, praying that our households, homeschool communities, and local assemblies of the Church are set apart as lights in the darkness (Matt. 5:16), illuminating God’s truth and grace. Lord I pray that our salvation produces the fruit of good works (Eph. 2:10, James 2:20), and May our good works shine a light (Matt. 5:16) that adorns “the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” (Titus 2:7, 10)

The pilgrims, according to William Bradford, “sought a better country for a more fruitful life, body and soul, but most importantly, to protect their children from corruption… they swore ‘in the Presence of God’ to form a ‘civil Body Politick’ for the ‘Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.’”

It’s often told of the persecution of the reformation time period that led the pilgrims across the ocean. But what is overlooked is the concern they had for the spiritual development and protection of their children from the degenerate corruption of the culture. This motivated them to be set apart as a shining example of “the ‘Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.’”

“Do it for the kids”

“What was intolerable—“of all sorrows most heavy to be borne”—was that some of the children of Bradford’s group had been influenced by the “great licentiousness of the youth in that country, and the manifold temptations of the place” been “drawn away by evil examples into extravagant and dangerous courses, getting the reins off their necks and departing from their parents… to the great grief of their parents and dishonour of God. So that they saw their posterity would be in danger to degenerate and be corrupted.” … They sought a better country for a more fruitful life, body and soul, but most importantly, to protect their children from corruption… There they swore “in the Presence of God” to form a “civil Body Politick” for the “Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.” The Pilgrim exodus was both evangelical and political, and not born from a martyrdom complex but from zeal to build anew and, most of all, to acquire space to exercise their preferred way of life. The security and longevity of their children were paramount… Though the proclamation of the Gospel would, of course, not be neglected, the Pilgrim emigration was effectively flight from a blue state to red territory. Would-be modern pilgrims needn’t feel ashamed of their decidedly natural and sensible impulses to safeguard their families and way of life by seeking out greener pastures.” ‘The Pilgrim Option, or On the Blue State Exodus’ by Timon Cline, American Reformer https://americanreformer.org/2023/07/do-it-for-the-kids/

William Bradford’s (1590-1657) ‘Of Plymouth Plantation’ https://books.google.com/books/about/Bradford_s_History_of_Plimoth_Plantation.html?id=1SwSAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&ovdme=1#v=onepage&q&f=false