Baby Dedications

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It is such a wonderful moment when we see parents dedicating their newborn baby to the Lord isn't it? We have examples in Scripture of this. The most common one is probably when Hannah dedicated Samuel. She said,  "So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." 1 Samuel 1:28a NASB

But there is another example in the New Testament that we often overlook. That example is in Mary. Think about this:

• God gives her His own son that her body nurtures during the 9 months of pregnancy
• The bodily life of Jesus grows within her
• Mary gives birth to that physical life
• Mary dedicates that life back to God at the presentation:

Luke writes: And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THELORD”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.” - Luke 2:22-24 NASB

One cross reference is in Exodus: You shall devote to the LORD the first offspring of every womb - Exodus 13:12a NASB

We are following a very biblical pattern when we pray over our children and dedicate them to God. It is God that gifted our lives with them and it is to God we give all praise. Amen