My Child, Our Child

The beginning

Have I ever shared to you the story the early hours before Aaron was born?

Aaron Fredrick Edian was born last year, at 11:48 AM, but it was around 10 AM, me and Ana were waiting at the lobby. You see, we came early like 9 AM early and waited in the lobby area.

You know how it is like in hospital lobbies, you wait there hoping to get your name called out but minutes past and it feels like your name will never be called out at all.

It was during this time of waiting in the lobby, as people seemed to get restless as they await their turn. I wasn’t really concerned with our name getting called. I was more concerned about Ana and the actual outcome of my future son.

Sure, we had all the tests done beforehand, everything looked good, we even did a 4D scan of him all the parts were there. Nothing seemed off, but it is that gnawing thought like, what if something happens, what if he doesn’t have this, or what if the doctors drop him. All these silly thoughts cross my mind as we waited in the lobby waiting for our names to be called.

Then something hit me, like, reality really hitting me. Can you guess what that was?

It was the idea that I was going to be holding my son and become a father. I mean, sure I saw Ana’s belly growing bigger and bigger, I saw the pictures, but it wasn’t something that was physical for me to touch. My mind and body decided that this was a time for me to start feeling anxious.

Anxious

My palms were sweating, butterflies started flying around in my stomach. I was excited but at the same time nervous as reality was slowly creeping in.

I am going to be a father. I am going to be the role model for this child for the rest of his life.

It was a mixture of feelings, one of excitement, of joy, of happiness, and of fear.

Am I ready to be a father? Am I ready to be his role model?

Such is the question I suspect that most fathers have when their first born in brought into the world. The thought whether they are good enough, but who here has the manual on how they can be the best dad for their son? Sure we have the Bible and many other books about fatherhood. But every child is unique and special and requires that unique relationship that no book can ever prepare you for.

There I was in the lobby with my sweaty palms and pacing back and forth waiting for us to be called in, my wife was also getting a C-section, and that also dawned me as well.

They’re going to cut up my wife, what if I had lost her, or if I had to make a choice between my wife and my son who would I choose, you can get an idea the thoughts that were flooding my head.

But what can I do, at the end of the day, I can go it alone or I can go it with Jesus, and trust me, I was praying, praying for Ana and praying for Aaron. Praying for myself that I can be better and especially, praying for Jesus to be my Guide and trust in His wisdom.

If I was to trust in my own strength, then Ana would have thrown me out of the house a long time ago. But, I couldn’t have become the father and man that I am if it wasn’t for Jesus.

Dedication for Aaron today!

Today is my son’s birthday, 1 revolution around the sun and Ana and I publicly dedicate our child before the church and before God.

Dedication is a sacred responsibility where we acknowledge that this child is not only ours but gift and blessing from God and that this church joins us in this dedication and pledges to assist us in working toward the day when this act of dedication shall be followed by baptism and full entering of this child into the membership in the church family some time in the future.

My child, becomes our child. These children are our children. They are our responsibilities and of our care.

Jesus and His children

Let me share to you a story of Jesus and children.

Luke 18:15–17 NLT

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. 16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

We are all familiar with this story, we are not to forbid these children from seeing Jesus. So, the question should be asked, what are the actions that are hindering these children from seeing Jesus?

We know children are a heritage from the Lord (Psalms 127:3).

But, there is something that Jesus says about children.

Matthew 18:2–5 NLT

2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

When we think about children, we don’t naturally think about us, because we think we’re full grown adults that have grown out of our childish ways.

What is a child?

But have we really? What defines a child?

My mother is here, am I still her child? What about those that don’t have parents, are they still children? What about the more mature people in the church? Are they children?

Unless you become like little children you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

We’re all children!

We are all children even though we’re adults that make mature decisions. We’re still children to God’s eyes.

Jesus addresses the disciples in in the upper room in John 13:33

John 13:33 NKJV

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.

To be considered a child by the Creator of all things is a wonderful privilege. You can see that relationship; Master/Teacher and disciple/student to Father/Parent to child, because in this new bond we see love in the union. We see love in discipline and we see love in action.

We’re blessed and privileged!

Are you blessed and privileged to be a child of the Most High?

One of the most famous verses found the Bible is found in 1 John 3.1

1 John 3:1 NKJV

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Galatians 3:26–29 NKJV

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

You are a child of the living God, look around you, everyone that has given their life to Jesus is a child of the Most High God. Because, Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us.

We are blessed to have a Saviour who loves us and gave Himself for us, even though we have done so many wrongs to Him. He still calls us His child.

Praise the Lord!

The caveat in being His child.

But we’re not out of the woods yet, although we are privileged and blessed, there is however caveat that comes with this promise of being a child of God. It’s not a bad caveat because all He asks us to do is the will of the Father.

To be a follower of Christ is to mature and tell others about this gospel message this is to do the will of the Father, to take part of the growth of His this church family.

I mean, if you find joy knowing that you are a child of the Heavenly Father, then what more joy is there to bring and share to others this good news that they can be a child of the Living God.

Relationships of teacher and pupil.

Look at this relationship Paul has with those he leads to Jesus.

Galatians 4:19–20 NLT

19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. 20 I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.

Paul sees those that have accepted the gospel as his children. The SDA Commentary says:

The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 6 19. My Little Children

Paul regards all who have received the gospel from him as his spiritual children, this expression can hardly be considered a rebuke on his part, as some commentators think. It may simply be a reminder of their indebtedness to him. As their spiritual father, it was only right and proper that he should manifest concern for their welfare.

The New American Commentary reveals the relationship between teacher and pupil:

John 12–21 (4) A Summation in Four Parts and a Preface to the Teaching that Follows (13:31–38)

Jewish teachers often addressed their learners with such kind and gentle designations.

It’s not only Paul that calls Christians children, we can find it in 1 John 2:1-2

1 John 2:1–2 NKJV

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

John uses this term a lot in the 1st epistles to the church. Other places you would find John addressing the readers are children is in:

1 John 2:12 NKJV

12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

1 John 2:28 NKJV

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

1 John 3:7 NKJV

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

1 John 3:18 NKJV

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

1 John 4:4 NKJV

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 5:21 NKJV

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

We’re not ‘the Father!’

John is considered to be the disciple of love, John’s endearment and his relationship towards those that love Jesus shows how we should have that endearment towards those we bring to the Lord.

The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 1. Little Children

This does not indicate, however, that John accepted the title of “father.” Christ had enjoined His disciples not to call one another p 636 by any name that would signify control over a man’s conscience or over what he is to believe

The commentary was referring to these verses that Jesus spoke to His disciples:

Matthew 23:8–12 NKJV

8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Not about titles! It’s about relationships!

It’s not about titles, it’s about relationships, loving relationship, and as we bring people to Jesus the bond between these two is like a parent and child. They don’t take the place of the Father in heaven, but they lead and guide their fellow brother or sister to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

God will use that teacher to look out for the spiritual welfare as a parent will look out for the welfare of their children.

This role isn’t just given to one individual, but to many that are followers of the Lord. We are all here to support each other and to encourage each other as we all journey in the paths of righteousness, for no one is greater but there is responsibility for whom the Lord has put in their life.

John 15:8–11 NKJV

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

The joy of being the spiritual father!

Brothers and sisters, how joyful are you to know the we are a church of love and that you are part of that church of love? That’s God’s love!

My message is about ‘my child, our child’, I am not only referring to my child as your child, but I am also referring to those we as a church have brought to the Lord.

Our spiritual children, the Lord has placed His people in our lives and we as a church have a duty of care to help them meet our Saviour and Friend Jesus.

Friends, will you look after His children and be that lesser light to lead people to the Greater Light?