SIX THINGS ABOUT DEDICATING CHILDREN 1. The practice of baby dedication is based on scriptural precedent, rooted in the Old Testament, in which Jesus was presented to the Lord in the Temple as an infant (Luke 2:22–35). 2. It is also based on and acknowledges God’s blessing upon and concern and care for children (Isa. 54:13; Matt 18:1–5, 10; 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17; Acts 2:39; 1 John 2:12–13). 3. It is you, parents, who are doing the dedicating. It is a commitment you make in your heart before Jesus and agree together to live out in your home. The ceremony performed during a church service is simply a public acknowledgement of that commitment. 4. You acknowledge that your children are a gift given you by God (Gen 33:5; Psalm 127:3–5). As such they are a blessing, a great privilege, and a source of joy (Prov. 23:24–25)—and a lot of work too we know! Ultimately we recognize that they have been created by our Father in heaven, and as such belong to him, being entrusted to you as stewards to raise in Jesus (Eph. 6:4, Deut 6:7). Baby dedication is a commitment you make in your heart before Jesus and agree together to live out in your home. 5. You commit to live your lives as parents, by the grace of God, in such a way as to be a positive example as followers of Jesus. You pray that your children will find it easy to follow you as you follow Jesus, and that you will not become a stumbling block to your children’s saving faith in Jesus. 6. Your church leadership and community (elders, deacons, and members) commits to support and equip you by the grace of God to fulfill your responsibility, and likewise to be good examples to your children. Dedicating children to the Lord is an expression of our commitment to persevering faithfulness in raising our children out of the heart-posture that God calls us to embrace daily: “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isa. 66:2).
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 06:28:23 +0000
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