Neil, Joanne, Zara, Alexandra and Georgia Smyth with
the newest member of the family; Bryce Samuel Smith

On Sunday 17 February we welcomed Bryce Samuel Smyth into our church family.

During the service Reverend Abraham reminded us that the Lord in his love and grace gave Neil and Joanne a beautiful baby boy and he continued: -

I know that the birth of Bryce has brought great joy and delight and happiness, not only to Neil and Joanne, but also to Zara, and Alexandra and Georgia. And not only to them but also to the grandparents, and to all of the members of the Family circle.

The birth of Bryce, and the miraculous birth of any child is a reminder yet again, that children are a gift from the Lord – and I think it is important that we remember that in these days.

In a world teeming with children and in an age of assisted conception – and of test-tube babies – we should always remember – that children are a gift given by God. That is true for parents, it is true for wider family circles and it is also true for congregations as well – children are a gift from the Lord

But what Scripture would also remind us is that, as with any gift from the Lord, there are certain responsibilities to be fulfilled.

And at Baptismal services, parents’ promise, before God, and in the presence of a congregation of God’s people – to try, as far as it lies in them, to fulfil the responsibilities the Lord has laid down for them.

Two questions are asked of parents before their children are baptised: -

The 1st question, which at least one parent must be able to answer in the affirmative is this: -

“In presenting your child for baptism, do you, profess your own faith in God as your creator and Father, in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and in the Holy Spirit as your sanctified and guide?”

Now that question highlights the faith of the parents – and in answering that question in the affirmative – the parents are making a public profession of faith – they are publicly declaring their own personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

But then a 2nd question is also asked of parents bringing their children for baptism, and it is this: -

“Will you, by God’s help, provide a Christian home, and bring this child up in the worship and teaching of the church, so that your child may come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour?”

And again to that question, at least one of the parents must give an affirmative answer. Now this morning I want us to think for a few moments about that question, and what it is, that parents are promising to do.

Well as we look at the question asked, it is clear to see that the parents are promising to do a number of things.

Now what is a Christian home? Well surely a Christian home is a home where the presence of Christ is experienced, where the reality of Christ is present – and where the headship of Christ is acknowledged.

“Will you, by God’s help, provide a Christian home?” In presenting their children for baptism Parents promise to provide a home for their children where Jesus Christ is reverenced and revered.

Then secondly, in presenting their children for baptism parents promise to bring their children up in the worship and teaching of the church.

Now I think that we need to emphasise that the duty to bring children up in the Christian faith  does not lie with the church, or with day school, or with the BB or GB – although you would like to think that the church and day school and the BB and GB would play a significant role in the spiritual development of a child.

The responsibility for a spiritual development of a child lies with its parents – and that responsibility is not fulfilled by simply sending a child to Sunday school whenever they feel like going.

Instead: -

• It is fulfilled by parents sending their child to Sunday school and by bringing their child to church
• It is fulfilled as parents read the bible to their children and pray for their children
• It is fulfilled as parents talk about Jesus and about Christian things to their children
• It is fulfilled as parents set before their children a Christ-like example in all that they do
• And it is fulfilled when the greatest desire that a parent has for their child, is that their child might come and embrace Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour for themselves

Now good parents want to give their children the very best and it is good to want the very best for your
children: -

• It is good to want your children to be educated to the very highest level
• It is good to want to look after your children financially
• It is good to want to give to your children the very best start they can have in life

But there is something even better – for the greatest hope that any parent could ever have for their child – is that their child might come to know Jesus for themselves – and the greatest thing that any parent can do – is to bring their children up in such a way – that their children are encouraged to do that.

“Will you, by God’s help, provide a Christian home, and bring this child up in the worship and teaching of the church, so that your child may come to know JESUS CHRIST as Lord and Saviour?”

Then there are three small words in that question, that are a source of tremendous help – and they are these, “Will you, by God’s help”.

• Do parents get it wrong and make mistakes? – They do, even the most well-meaning of parents do.
• Are parents at times left wondering what is the best thing I can do for my child in this situation? – Of course they are, on many occasions.
• Are parents left asking, how do I handle this situation? Of course they are, over and over again.

Yet those three words remind us that there is help, and wisdom and strength available – and that is the help and wisdom and strength of God. "Will you by God’s help – will you depending upon God?

I trust that the answer for all of us is, “I will.”

The Letters and Poems of Bishop Moule

Recently the editor has come across a 1921 book called, “The Letters and Poems of Bishop Moule” and the devotional content of this book is quite stunning. The following letter was written on 5 January 1919, less than two months after the end of the Great War (The First World War) and the subsequent poem during Passion Week of the same year.

Between the Cross and the Grave

“I have often lately prayed that daily, and to the end, I may live as in a tent pitched between the Cross and the Grave of our Lord - the empty Cross, symbol and seal of His finished work of sacrifice, and redemption, the empty grave, likewise the evidence and pledge of His eternal victory for us over the last enemy, death, and of our life hid with Him in God. May your tent be ever there also. It will be glad work one day to strike the tabernacles and to migrate from them to ‘the house not made with hands’ eternal in the heavens."

The Place of My Tent

SAFE sheltered from alarm and loss
I sit within my quiet tent;
'Twixt here a Grave and there a Cross
My days and nights in peace are spent.

Yon sanguined Cross is that which bore
Th' incarnate God who loved and died;
'Tis vacant now; His pangs are o'er,
And I in Him am justified.

Yon Grave once folded in its night
His holiest body riven and torn;
'Tis open now - a fount of light,
A gateway of immortal morn.

Peace, grace, and glory now He gives,
Fair fruits of his unfathomed woes,
And with me in my tent He lives,
The Lamb that died, the Life that rose