This is a baptismal exhortation given at the baptism of Anne Sutton:
Luke’s Gospel opens up with the story of the birth of two children: John and Jesus. Their stories are unique in many ways.
John is the last of the prophets of the old creation. He will be, in some way, bringing that old world to an end with his ministry. His conception and birth are, no doubt, special in the economy of God, something indicated by the parallels of his conception with the promise and conception of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah (cf. Gen 18). An angel comes to visit and announce the fact that this older couple, who have not been able to have a child because of the barrenness of the woman, will now be having a child even though they are also well past the age of child-bearing. The angel promises that this child will be special in many ways. He will be the fulfillment of prophecy, one who will go in the Spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb.
Then there is Jesus. His conception is obviously unique. An angel comes to visit Mary and tells her that she will have a child even though she is a virgin. This child will be the Son of the Most High.
Both children are gifts given by God and have special missions given to them in order to bring in the kingdom that God promised. Both children are unique, but both provide something of a pattern of what God has always done and what he continues to do every time he gives a child to a believing husband and wife. What God does in these extraordinary conceptions sheds light upon what he does in the ordinary conceptions of every covenant child.
The children he gives us are gifts; gifts given, not just to us as parents, but to the church and the world. Children are the expression of God’s grace to us; the expression of his creation blessing to be fruitful and multiply.
God’s gifts are always given with a purpose. Our children are no different. They are born with a God-given mission. We don’t have angels telling us what that mission is specifically, but we do know that our children are given so that they may grow up in the likeness of God and for the purpose of working in, for, and expanding the kingdom of Christ Jesus. That will look different in every person’s life, but it is the mission of every covenant child to participate in pressing the crown rights of Jesus Christ in every area of the life of the world. This takes various forms; everything from being a missionary to foreign lands to being a plumber, from keeping books to proclaiming the gospel on a university’s campus. Our children are given by God to the world to aid in the mission of the will of God being done on earth as it is in heaven.
Baptism sets them apart as God’s child for the purpose of this mission. Of course, they know nothing of it in their infancy. That is why he has appointed stewards to guard and train his children.
Caleb and Cassie, you are God’s stewards for the life of Anne. You are appointed by God through the church in Anne’s baptism to be the frontline of the church’s ministry to Anne. That is, your parenting of Anne (and all of your children) is a specific application and obedience to the command of Jesus to “disciple the nations.” Bring her up in the discipline and culture of the Lord. Teach her of Jesus’ loving lordship over her life. Show her the beauties of the Faith in your life together as husband and wife and your commitment to his church. In short, be faithful stewards of God’s gift.
Church, though the primary responsibility is given to Caleb and Cassie to fulfill the church’s ministry to Anne, we are to come alongside them to encourage and help them in any way that they need us.
Let us all be faithful stewards of the gifts God has given.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
