Dedicated for Life
Good day well-wishers and *Insert parents names*, today I want to ask you a series of questions.
Why are you here?
Are you here to dedicate your child to God?
Baby dedication is a common custom in our Church, but are you aware of the reasons why and possible implications?
The bible in 1 Samuel 1 talks about a woman who dedicated her son to God. That son's name was Samuel. She gave Samuel to the Lord, and he lived in the temple with the priests.
I am not asking you to leave your baby here, but I am praying that you understand that when you dedicate him/her you will be giving her/him away, not to the Church, but to God.
So from today, you no longer own this child. You have no right to feed him/her or teach *Insert Baby's name* what you please. You can't train him/her to do the things you feel are good for him/her. Forget about any personal ambitions you had for *Insert Baby's name*.
I can assure you that *Insert Baby's name* will be ok.
As of today, *Insert Baby's name* becomes the property of the heavenly Father, and you as the parents, guardians, and friends will serve as the caretakers and the stewards of God's child. At the end of his/her 18+ years under your care, you will have to give an account of how well you took care of God's property.
There is an instruction manual with the details on how to train little*Insert Baby's name*. It is called The Holy Bible. You will not teach him/her accurately unless you read this through and through. There are also two other recommended readings that I would personally add to that, these include, Child Guidance, and Adventist Home by Ellen G White.
If this commitment is making you a little nervous, don't worry. I can reassure you that the heavenly Father has an impeccable record for raising millions of successful children. Once the parents carry out the instructions, he has given them. God has great plans for little *Insert Baby's name*. They are greater than you could plan for yourself.
The ambitions God has for her/him will give him/her blessing both on earth and in heaven. God promises in Ephesians 3:20 that He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. All that the Lord requires is that you train up this child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. But how can you teach, unless you know.
Today, I pray that you also dedicate yourselves to God. Only then will you have the wisdom to raise your child in the fear of the Lord.
