This week we will have the opportunity to participate in child dedications during the service. As an aside, we should really call these “parent dedications” since it is the parents who are dedicating themselves to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. In any case, let us reflect today upon the tremendous blessing it is to be raised in a family that loves and treasures Jesus. These children are being given every opportunity to trust in Him from a young age, and for that we should rejoice. 

As a church family, we also have an important role to play in the child dedications. During the service we will be asked to affirm the following:

Do you, the people of the Lord, promise to encourage these parents as they seek to raise their children, praying for them and serving them as you have opportunity?

No matter your age or stage, if you call Hope Fellowship “home,” you have the joy, and the great responsibility, to help encourage these little ones in their faith. Rather than saying a perfunctory “we will” on Sunday, would you prayerfully consider how God may be calling you to encourage these young families at our church? Maybe you could take a day per week to pray for specific families, or you could volunteer in Hope Nursery or Hope Kids once per month. Remember that kids are not the future of the church, they are part of the church, now. What a joy we have in being part of these kids’ stories of faith.

The preaching passage for Sunday is Colossians 2:6-15. Once again Paul is encouraging and instructing us on how to grow in the Christian life; what to do and what to avoid. If you have 5 minutes to spare, please read the text and let it dwell in your heart before Sunday morning. I’m looking forward to what God will do amongst us as we gather together.

For His Glory,

Eric