Baby Dedication

Today Stephen and Emeliegh Fowler have brought before us, their new baby boy, Oliver. They have signified that they wish to dedicate his life to God. I would like to be clear, the dedication of a baby to Christ is not salvation. It is not a promise that Oliver will never sin or make mistakes. In reality this dedication is as much about Stephen and Emeliegh as it is Oliver.

We see in I Samuel that the dedication of a child is found within the Scriptures.

1 Samuel 1:11 ESV

And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:21–28 ESV

The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

Today, Stephen and Emeliegh have come to take this same vow. They wish to give their son to Jesus.

Although, this doe snot mean they will be leaving Oliver at the church today, (At least I hope not, I don’t need another mouth to feed) it does mean that they will work in his life to point him towards Christ.

It will not be an easy task. It will have many obstacles and disappointments. However, with God’s help they can fulfill the vow they make today.

VOWS

Both parents to respond (I DO)

Do you today recognize Oliver as the gift of God and give heartfelt thanks for God’s blessing?

Do you now dedicate your child to the Lord who gave him to you, surrendering all worldly claims upon his life in the hope that he will belong wholly to God?

Do you pledge as parents that, with God’s fatherly help, you will bring up your child in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, making every reasonable effort, with patience and love, to build the Word of God, the character of Christ and the joy of the Lord into his life?

Do you promise to provide, through God’s blessing, for the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of your son, looking to your own heavenly Father for the wisdom, love and strength to serve him and not use him?

Do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that, by God’s grace, Oliver will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of his sins and for the fulfillment of all his promises to him, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey his teachings?

Mark 9:36–37 NKJV

Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Mark 10:15 ESV

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

PRAYER