For Christian parents, child dedication symbolizes a promise to God.  Dedicating children means the parents will not only love and nurture them but will also to raise them to love the Lord. While services for dedicating children vary from church to church, all have biblical roots.  Using the stories and passages related to raising children can bring even greater meaning to the ceremonies.

The Most Popular Bible Story about Child Dedication

The most well-known and emotional story of a child dedication is that of Samuel. In the book of I Samuel, we read about Hannah, who had been unable to have a child for years.  She was heartbroken, and finally, in her grief, she called out to God and asked Him to give her a son. She promised that if He would answer her prayer, she would bring him to the temple to serve God all his life. God heard Hannah and blessed her with a son, whom she named Samuel.

Hannah was faithful to her promise. In I Samuel 1: 27-28 we read, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him, Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.” Samuel grew up to be a judge of Israel, and did indeed serve God all his life.
Other Bible Verses Related to Child Dedication

            In dedicating your child to the Lord, you may share some of Hannah’s great sentiment.  You may want to borrow Hannah’s words, “For this child I prayed.”

You may also want to use other Bible verses that have to do with raising Godly children:

• Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
• Psalms 127:3, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”
• Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Other Ways to Use the Verses

While a child dedication ceremony is a serious event, it is also a joyful one! Take this opportunity to celebrate this new life by including the Bible verses in more than the ceremony.  Put a verse on the napkins or even on the cake. If you’re sending out photos, you can now include your favorite scripture on budget friendly frames, such as those ordered on Snapfish.  You can even have the verse imbedded right into the bottom of the photo.

God said in Isaiah 55:11 that when His word goes out, it will not return to Him void.  Each time we include scriptures in important church celebrations like child dedications, we are celebrating the continuation of God’s word in our children’s lives.