Today is a special day for our congregation as we dedicate one of our member’s baby’s unto the Lord.
Psalm 127:3 proclaims that "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him."
As believers, we realize that children are gifts from God!
Parents receive this gift from God totally by grace.
They are to enjoy this gift, but also they are given a responsibility for this gift.
Because children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and
appropriate that children be dedicated back to God.
We are told in 1 Samuel 1 that Hannah presented her son Samuel to the Lord. In Luke 2:22 we read
that Mary and Joseph brought their baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem in order to present him
before the Lord. In the same way, JARROD and his wife STEPHANIE today bring their SON -
MARC CHARLES PUFFENBARGER, presenting first themselves and then their SON before the
Lord our God.
JARROD and STEPHANIE, I call your attention to the commands of God recorded in Holy Scripture.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 tells us:
"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on their children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on their children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Ephesians 6:4 says:
"fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
"fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
God's instructions are plain.
- JARROD AND STEPHANIE love God with every ounce and fiber of your being and teach MARC to do the same.
- JARROD, as the spiritual head of your household, and by coming forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to dedicate yourselves and your (SON – MARC CHARLES) to the Lord? If so, please respond by saying "I do." ("WE do.")
- PARENTS, Having come freely, I ask now that you enter into the following commitment in the presence of God and his people. So that MARC CHARLES may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you vow by God's help and in partnership with the church, to provide MARC CHARLES a Christian home of love and peace, to raise him in the truth of our Lord's instruction and discipline, and to encourage him to one day trust Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord? Please respond with: ("We do.")
- And now, I ask the CHURCH to make a vow as well. Having come freely, I ask now that you make the following commitment to those who stand before you: So that MARC CHARLES may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you vow by God's help, to be faithful in your calling as members of the body of Christ, to help JARROD AND STEPHANIE be faithful to God, and to help teach and train MARC CHARLES in the ways of the Lord so that he might one day trust him as Savior and Lord? If you accept this responsibility, please respond by saying "we do."
Then Pastor Mike prayed for Marc, that he would be a man of God to love and serve God with all of his heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Amen.
We were blessed to have my sister, Rachel, and good friend, Beth Trieber, in attendance with us.
The church gave Marc a Beginner Bible in honor of his dedication.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
No comments:
Post a Comment