Dedication: The Sacred Act of Setting Apart for God

Dedication is the profound biblical principle of setting apart people or objects for God's holy purposes, separating them from the ordinary and consecrating them for divine use.

Biblical Foundations of Dedication

Throughout Scripture, we see powerful examples of dedication. The Lord commanded His people to be set apart from that which is not holy (Ex 19:22-23). Samson was dedicated from birth as a Nazirite, set apart for God's special purpose (Jdg 13:5). Similarly, Hannah dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord's service after years of barrenness and fervent prayer (1 Sam 1:22,28).

The pinnacle of Old Testament dedication was Solomon's temple, which was consecrated to the Lord God in an elaborate and powerful ceremony (1 Kgs 8:22-53,62-66). After the temple's destruction and subsequent rebuilding, Ezra recorded its rededication (Ezra 6:15-16). Following these biblical precedents, churches today often dedicate their buildings or leaders in formal services, recognizing the need to set apart everything for God's glory.

Personal Dedication to God

The most crucial dedication we can make is giving ourselves completely to God (Rom 12:1; 2 Cor 8:5). This is not merely a one-time decision but should be a continual, wholehearted giving of ourselves as an act of worship to God. It is declaring, "God, I am yours. You are the Lord of my life. I choose to die daily to my sinful self and live for Your Kingdom's sake" (2 Cor 5:15; Gal 2:20).

Am I fully dedicated to the Lord?

True dedication requires total commitment to fully please God—cultivating right attitudes and making right decisions that result in wholehearted obedience (1 Chr 22:12-13,19). We are commanded to "Find out what pleases the Lord" and to deal decisively with anything that would distract us or compete for our loyalty (Rom 8:12-14; Eph 5:10; Col 3:5).

Forms of Dedication in Christian Life

Baby dedication is when Christian parents present their child publicly for prayer, asking for God's protection and blessing with the hope that the child will accept Christ as Savior when they grow older. Salvation is not implied by this symbolic ceremony; it is only when a child reaches an age of understanding that they can choose to follow Christ of their own free will. Hannah dedicated her son to God, as did Mary and Joseph with the infant Jesus (1 Sam 1:11,26-28; Lk 2:22). Child or baby dedication is not one of the two ordinances (water baptism and partaking of the Lord's Supper) required of Christians in the New Testament.

House dedication is a practice where Christian residents, through prayer, "invite" the Lord to be master of their home and use it in any way He chooses, while claiming protection from evil influences. Consequently, they endeavor to ensure that all activities, entertainments, and conversations within the house honor Him. Jesus provided the ultimate example when He reclaimed the temple for holy use by driving out those who had defiled it and dedicating it as a house of prayer and godly activity (Mt 21:12-14).

Rededication is a term indicating a saved person who has fallen away turning back to Christ in renewed devotion. Mature believers are exhorted to bring about restoration by gently confronting those who have wandered (Gal 6:1). However, the Christian walk should not be a roller-coaster experience but rather one of consistent growth in Christ through daily commitment to Him and righteous living.

Reflection and Application:

Examine your heart: Are there areas of your life you haven't fully dedicated to God?
Consider what it means to be "set apart" in your daily decisions and relationships.
Reflect on whether your dedication to God is consistent or fluctuates with circumstances.
Identify practical ways to demonstrate wholehearted commitment to God's purposes this week.