Child Dedication Service

CHILD DEDICATION SERVICE

Does anyone want to know the measure of God’s blessing?

Illustration:

There was a young mother with two kids who got pregnant and gave birth to her 3rd baby. She was very upset and could not accept the birth of this child. Because they never planned to have another baby. She always said that her baby was just an accident.

You know, I have 3 children. And all of them are a blessing. They are a joy! They have taught me more about God and His love and His joy. In fact, they are spoken of as a "heritage," a legacy and a "reward," a prize, a gift!

Let me READ to you Psalm 127:3-5

"Children are a gift from the Lord. They are a reward from him. Children who are born to people when they are young are like arrows in the hands of a soldier. Blessed are those who have many children. They won’t be put to shame

when they go up against their enemies in court" (New International Readers Version)

Yes, God sees that children are so important, no doubt about that. Yet this past years, we heard of so many real life stories about children treated as toys, and throwaway things... being abuse, neglected, or not given care that they need from someone.

Illustration:

a) Do you remember the story of Andrea Yates from Texas? Who murdered her kids while under a psychotic delusion that Satan is sending them to hell.

b) How about in Los Angeles, CA? A Canadian couple who relied on prayer and denying to get medical help had been ordered to stand on trial on charge of manslaughter in the death of their11 - months’ old daughter.

c) In Canada, six children ages 2-11 years old were burned-out in their home.

d) There were many mothers that were arrested because of child neglect.

e) A mother from Florida was convicted and sentenced for 50 years for setting her daughter on fire.

Yes, there are so many children treated as toys, puppets, throwaway things... abuse, neglected, or not given care. But listen now to how Jesus sees the worth of a child as recorded in Mark 10:13-16.

Let us READ Mark 10:13-16

"People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them."

Yes, there are so many that react with hostility, and abuse to children, but not our Lord Jesus.

I believe God reacts the same way today. Jesus takes them into His arms and blesses them. Parents who are here today witnessing this child dedication,... please listen to me. The Bible is very clear saying that our children are a gift of the Lord. Yes, a precious GIFT from God.

So the question we must ask ourselves is ..."what must I do to preserve this precious gift?"

Yes, since God has given us this gift of child, He has also given us an awesome responsibility. Let me share the three necessities that our children need to live with.

I. OUR LOVE

Illustration:

John Lennon wrote a song called "Love." In it he said,

Love is real, real is love

Love is feeling, feeling love

Love is wanting to be loved

But listen to what John Lennon’s son, Julian Lennon, said about his father: "I felt my Dad was a hypocrite. Dad could talk about peace and love out loud to the world. But he could never show it to the people who supposedly meant the most to him: his wife and son.

How can you talk about peace and love and have a family in bits and pieces—no communication, adultery, divorce? You can’t do it, not if you are being true and honest with yourself"

Yes, ninety-nine percent of parents will say that they love their children, but love is MORE THAN A FEELING; love is an ACTION. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" (John 3:16a). God showed that He loves us by His action of giving His only Son for us.

Do you think that our children see loving actions in our homes?

My fellow parents who are here today, I want us to learn to see the positive in our children and always praise their strengths rather than continually criticizing their weaknesses. Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:1, "Love builds up."