"The God of Dedication"

" The eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the Dedication of the Altar seven days..."  2 Chronicles 7:9

Thoughts from Pastor's Message...
Today we are blessed with "Dedicating" a child. It is a glorious occasion and one I know blesses our Father in Heaven. We see the example of this as we read in Luke 2 where the parents of Jesus bring him to the Temple. There, He is blessed by the Priest and it is prophesied, "He is a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy People Israel."  This is awesome, for at this moment of the Child Jesus' dedication, it was revealed that He would not only be the Light to Israel, but to the Gentiles, that's us! Seeing Simeon, the Prophet of God, taking Jesus up in his arms and blessing has become the pattern even to this generation as we bring our children to the Lord! God is a God of Dedication! As we read the Scriptures in the Old Testament, often there is mention of God requiring Israel to dedicate things. In the Book of Numbers, there is the anointing and dedication of the Altar. In the Book of Ezra, there is the dedication of the House of God and with "Joy!" In Nehemiah, there is the dedication of the Walls of Jerusalem, with "gladness and thanksgiving, singing, and with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps." In Psalms, there were songs of dedication and in 2 Samuel, the spoils of war, vessels of gold and silver and brass were dedicated to the Lord. Think of this: The Old Testament Covenant and the New Testament Covenant that God made with His people were dedicated in Blood. On and on, the occasions wherein dedication is mentioned in Scripture. Then, there are events such as the "Blessing of the Christ Child" that does not have a word dedication; but the fact of dedicating is there as the Child was presented in the Temple. We see this in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  This is the moment in our generation that God is calling for His people to present themselves afresh to Him! Our Altar is dedicated and ready for this precious purpose!
                   Loving you, Pastor