Live for God, Give to God
Endearing sweet, irresistibly cuddly, and oh-so-photogenic! Yes, babies are all of those things, but they are also incontrovertibly needy. Babies are born into this world utterly dependent upon their parents. Parents play a key role in determining how their baby-turned-toddler-turned-child is disciplined, educated, and influenced. Hence, it is the parents’ inherent responsibility to raise their child in a God-honoring way. Beyond living a godly life, it is imperative that parents nurture their child’s spiritual growth by instilling biblical principles. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV). Dedicating your son or daughter to the Lord sets the tone for the proceeding years of parenting.
Dedicating your child to the Lord puts God at the center of your family. It glorifies Him as the Creator and Giver of Life. It declares to the church body your commitment to raising your child for the Lord’s purposes. Most importantly, it is an act of submission, as you joyously offer to the Heavenly Father the child He has blessed you with. “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him” (Psalm 127:3 NIV). Therefore, in response to being entrusted with another life, dedicating your son or daughter to the Lord is an act of faith, as you give back to God what is His. Read 1 Samuel 1:1-28 for the inspiring biblical account of a mother’s faithfulness in dedicating her son to the Lord.
At Reliance, we will be having an opportunity for child dedication on Sunday, February 19th. If you are interested, sign up at the Connection Center or online, and mark your calendar for the mandatory parent meeting on February 17th at 7 pm.