How to Be a Good Parent: Dedicate Yourself to God

A Belated Mother's Day Message

From the moment we find out we're pregnant, we want what’s best for our child. Before we ever see their sweet faces, we dream about what their life will be like. We hope they have certain characteristics that we see in our spouse, our family members, or ourselves. Maybe we also worry about other traits they might inherit. We pray, read all the books, and talk to other parents to learn as much as we can about being a good parent. But the truth is, all we really need to do is dedicate ourselves and our children to the Lord. He will guide us if we will just follow.

Samson's Father Prayed

When Manoah was told he would soon have a son, he immediately began to pray. An angel had appeared to his wife and said their son would have a specific purpose in the Lord. When I read the words of his prayer, the question he asked the angel, and God's response, I realized this applies to all of us.

O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.

What is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?

Judges 13:8, 12

Manoah’s prayer was not about what he wanted for his child. Instead, he wanted to know what God wanted for his son and how he could best support Samson for the mission ahead. Oh, that we would all pray, “God, show me what You want for this precious child You are giving me. How can I be the best parent to this person You have entrusted me with? Show me how to nourish their God-given gifts that they may accomplish your purposes for them in this world. Help us all live lives pleasing to You.”

He Dedicated His Child to God

Manoah's wife had been told that her son's mission would be to begin freeing the Israelites from the Philistines. Since Samson had a special purpose, his whole life needed to be dedicated to God from the very beginning. He and his mother were both commanded to be Nazarites.

When someone wanted to separate themselves to the Lord, they would take the Nazarite vow. This just meant they were setting themselves apart to God temporarily. During this time, they could not cut their hair, drink alcohol, or come in contact with a dead body because it would make them unclean.

Samson's vow was not voluntary or temporary. He was to be set aside for God's purposes from the moment of conception until the day of his death. His mother, also, had to follow the same guidelines while she was pregnant, so nothing she did would corrupt her son.

Because he was such a special boy, his dad thought he needed special instructions to parent him. But when Manoah asked more about how to raise the boy, the angel only repeated that he and his mother were to be set aside to the Lord from the beginning. That was it.

Created With Purpose

God certainly created Samson for great things, and their dedication was different than what we do today, but I don't think the premise has changed much. We're all created with certain gifts. We may not know God's plans for them, but He created our children specifically and uniquely for a reason. Of that I have no doubt.

You formed my inward parts. You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works. My soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance. In Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

Dedicating Our Children to God

So, we should dedicate our lives, and the lives of our children, to the Lord from the very beginning. Eventually, they must make their own personal commitment to God. But as parents, we should be pointing them towards Him from the start.

Like Samson's mother, we should seek to live clean lives ourselves, so that nothing we do damages their relationship with the Lord. We are their example. They need to see that God is first in our lives and that we are willing to make sacrifices to follow Him. Then, while they are in our home, we should be teaching them God’s ways and making sure they live by His rules. God needs to be a part of our every day lives. We should talk about Him, read His Word, pray, teach our children how to pray, and surround ourselves with godly people.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children. Talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Bind them as a sign on your hand. They shall be frontlets between your eyes. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Everyone Must Decide For Themselves

No matter how many prayers we say for our children, or how well we teach and guide, in the end the decision is theirs. We cannot pray our children into heaven. We can only create the best environment for their relationship with God to grow. As parents, we give them the knowledge and structure, but they must take that final step.

Like the Nazarites, our dedication must be voluntary, but permanent. Once we come to an understanding of who God is and why we owe our lives to Him, then our vow must be forever. Just as the Lord sent Samson to save the Israelites, He sent Jesus to save us. Because Jesus offered His life for us, we must kill our own desires and offer our lives to Him.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Count the Cost

Now, this is not a vow to be taken lightly. If we offer our lives to God, or our children's lives to Him, then they are no longer ours. It no longer matters what we want for ourselves or our children, only what God wants for us. Wherever He leads, whatever He asks, our lives are in His hands. By committing our lives to Him, we are setting ourselves apart for His purposes all the days of our lives. Our lives belong to Him.

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciples. Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.

Which of you intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it? What king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with 10,000 to meet him who comes against him with 20,000? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends his delegation and asks conditions of peace.

So, likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has, cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:26-28, 31-33

God doesn't want us to literally hate our family or ourselves. He specifically told His disciples to care for their families. But we cannot love them more than we love Him. He must come first. If He does, then all else will follow.

Set Yourself Apart

Once we have made the decision to set ourselves apart to God, we must also realize, we need to set ourselves apart from the rest of the world.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy.

1 Peter 1:14-16

To be holy just means to be set apart, dedicated, different than all others. God isn’t holy because He is perfect. He is holy because He is the only One who is perfect. He is like no other gods, and because we are His, we are to be like no other people.

Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

Holiness Draws Others to Him

When people see us, they should recognize there is something different about us.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth... Let everyone who names the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity.

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay - some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Having nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies. You know that they breed quarrels. The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

2 Timothy 2:15, 19-26

So, are you willing to dedicate yourself and your family to the Lord? You won't be perfect. That's not what God asks of us. He only wants us to set ourselves apart so we can be useful to Him. Anyone able to do even some of the things listed above, will draw others to Him. They will notice that you don't act, or react like others, and they will want to know why. Then, you can tell them about Jesus. This is His purpose for us all!

Links

This is an excerpt from “Dedicated to God” as taught on YouTube, Podcast, and written on Substack. Read the beginning of the lesson for free. Or read it in its entirety, along with previous lessons over Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges for $6/month or $60/year. Once subscribed, you’ll receive one lesson each week thereafter by email. Cancel anytime.

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