Why Should Christians Dedicate Children?
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” Psalm 127:3
Christian parents have been given a tremendous responsibility by the Lord in the nurturing of their children. Professionals tell us that a child’s basic personality make-up is established by the age of six and some even sooner. God has thus given us the responsibility of raising our children in His ways from the very beginning, building a solid foundation of Jesus Christ into their lives.
This responsibility involves both the mother and father and at the time of our baby dedications, we also like to dedicate the parents to the Lord for this purpose. Psalm 127:3 states, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” Our children are given to us by the Lord for a ‘heritage’ or a blessing.
Job, when he lost his children, said, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21). Job understood that although God had given him these children, that He also decided when to take them back. We too must be willing to submit to the will of God and commit our children’s lives to His care.
A Good Illustration Of Child Dedication Is Found In 1st Samuel 1
In this chapter we meet Hannah, a woman who had not been able to have children for many years and went weeping before the Lord because of her condition. It was at this time that she made a vow unto the Lord,
“Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, THEN I WILL GIVE HIM TO THE LORD ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE…”
- 1 Samuel 1:11
“Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, THEN I WILL GIVE HIM TO THE LORD ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE…”
- 1 Samuel 1:11
Also, in Luke 2:22, we find Joseph and Mary coming to the Temple to present their child, Jesus, to the Lord.
Here then is the criteria for us as parents. It is our obligation to dedicate or set apart our children unto God until the day that they are able to make that choice for themselves. Dedication here at Calvary Chapel is but one aspect of true dedication of our children to the Lord.
Here then is the criteria for us as parents. It is our obligation to dedicate or set apart our children unto God until the day that they are able to make that choice for themselves. Dedication here at Calvary Chapel is but one aspect of true dedication of our children to the Lord.
I Would Like To Dedicate My Child To The Lord
Christian parents are to do all they can do to “set apart” their child to God until that child can make his or her own choice regarding a relationship with Jesus Christ. By dedicating a child to the Lord, parents make a vow to raise their child in God’s ways and not their own. They commit themselves to this promise and must do all they can do to keep it.
The responsibilities God has entrusted to Christian parents include continuously praying for their children (Job 1:5), instructing them in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6), setting a godly example (Proverbs 20:7), and disciplining them as the Lord would discipline us (Proverbs 29:15, 17; 13:24). These responsibilities can only be fulfilled in Christ’s strength (Philippians 4:13).
As a parent, your devotion to God, or lack of it, will make a resounding impression on the next generation. May your legacy be a godly one!
The responsibilities God has entrusted to Christian parents include continuously praying for their children (Job 1:5), instructing them in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6), setting a godly example (Proverbs 20:7), and disciplining them as the Lord would discipline us (Proverbs 29:15, 17; 13:24). These responsibilities can only be fulfilled in Christ’s strength (Philippians 4:13).
As a parent, your devotion to God, or lack of it, will make a resounding impression on the next generation. May your legacy be a godly one!