Wisdom and Stature, and in Favour with God and Man

We are here to dedicate *baby's name* to the Lord, so he/she can understand how to live and walk as Jesus did.

The Bible doesn't say a lot about Jesus' life as a child. We know about the virgin birth, we know he was an intelligent young 12-year-old and that at that age, his knowledge amazed the Rabbis in the Jewish temple. 

At the age of 12, Jesus knew his purpose in life when he reminded his mother that he had to be about his father's business. How many of us, even as adults, can confidently state; what we believe in is our purpose in life? 

However short the record of Jesus' childhood history was, we can be sure that he lived an exemplary life in His youth. There was one verse that the Bible used to summarize Jesus' entire life as a youth.

Luke 2:52, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

This may seem like a simple and unremarkable description, but let's look in detail at what this meant. 

Increased

The word increase here is referring to Jesus' growth as a child. Every healthy child will grow, regardless of what you do as a parent, but what type of character and traits will they grow up with? Will they grow to become a criminal? Or will they become an advocate of the poor and uneducated persons? Will they give of themselves with money, time, wisdom, and compassion?

 I pray that through your example, *the baby's name* will grow to value people over material things. To value the interest of others over wasteful pleasures and, most importantly, to increase in the love of God.

Wisdom

The Bible said Jesus increased in wisdom. However, note well that Jesus increased in the wisdom and knowledge that was taught to Him by His parents Mary and Joseph. 

God entrusted the parenting of His son to earthly parents that would do the best job possible. Children cannot parent themselves. Even Jesus needed good parents, and so *insert baby's name* requires good parents too. 

*Insert Baby's name* requires your direction and teaching, not just by word but also by example. It is not only teaching him/her knowledge but that through the word of God, they can increase in wisdom. The Bible says: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and true wisdom comes only from knowing God. 

Favor

Jesus obtained the favor of both God and man because he practiced what he preached concerning the two greatest commandments. These commandments instruct us to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and the second is to love thy neighbor as thyself.

The Bible says that love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

This is what true love looks like; therefore, *Insert Baby's name* should see all these character traits in you as parents, and guardians. This is the best way for them to increase in favour with God and man like Jesus did.

Today we dedicate *Insert Baby's name* to Jesus, who declared, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them."

We call on the elders/pastors to surround this child as we lift him/her in prayer.