Let's turn to Colossians 3, verses 20-21. We'll also read Ephesians 6, verse 4. A portion of what we read last Lord's Day. Colossians 3, 20-21. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. And fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. And then from Ephesians chapter six, verse four, Ephesians six, four. Fathers do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and then the instruction of the Lord. Father, we are so grateful that you treat us as your loving sons and daughters. We thank you that you are our loving Heavenly Father. And it is our great privilege and our great duty to reflect that in our homes. So we pray that our time together in your word would help us, particularly as parents, to be those who bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of our great Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen. Please be seated. reading in some of the writings of John Frame this week, and I think he has really summarized for us very well what really I normally would desire as I preach each Lord's Day. First of all, that is to proclaim the whole counsel of God. We all must live by every word in the Bible. But second of all, each Lord's Day, to proclaim the gospel of Christ. Because the whole message of God's word is summarized very simply in, we are sinners and we need a Savior. And that Savior is God's Son, the Lord Jesus. But thirdly, We wish each Lord's Day to proclaim applications of the gospel to all of life. We are saints called to live for Christ in all that we do. Well, I will tell you, last week's sermon was sort of different by design because it only fulfilled two of those three desires. From Colossians 3, 20, and 21, words we just read, We were reminded of the whole counsel of God as children and parents are supposed to live in a godly manner in their homes. Children very simply are to obey the Lord in everything. Parents, especially fathers, and it is, of course, fathers who are heads of households, but mothers as well, are not to provoke, that is to irritate or to exasperate or to embitter or discourage their children, rather positively not to provoke them in Ephesians 6, 4, but to bring them up in encouragement in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. But we know these duties only can be fulfilled at homes where children and parents have heard and embraced the gospel of the Lord Jesus. And those who've received Christ Jesus as Lord, those who've turned from sin, those who've In repentance, turned also in faith to Jesus Christ, can now then obey and can teach according to the whole counsel of God. And in this section of Colossians, we've been reminded that Paul is describing for us, beginning in chapter 3, verse 5, sanctification involves putting off certain things, but putting on certain things as well, as we put on, ultimately, the Lord Jesus. So last week we considered the whole counsel of God. We've considered the gospel of Christ. This week we want to focus very particularly on the application of the gospel to our home lives and even more specifically, moms and dads, this week's for you. The words and the actions that we as parents can instill in our children, ten godly ways that we can encourage our sons and daughters in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And as we consider these applications then from last week, let's all keep in mind that it's ultimately the Lord who blesses our children with obedience and prompts us to lead them in a godly manner. We read last week from Psalm 127.1, unless the Lord builds a house, they labor in vain who build it. So let me begin by giving the very simple application, the first way to encourage and not to broke our children. And again, it may seem so obvious that it need not be stated, but in our day and age of so many broken homes without both the father and the mother, let me start with this simple, simple truth. We have to be present. in the lives of our children. Be present. It's impossible to fulfill Deuteronomy 6-7. Teach God's commandments diligently to your children. Talk to them when you sit in your house, when you walk along the way, when you lie down, when you rise up, if you don't make yourselves available to your children. Yes, we have work commitments, we have church commitments, we have other commitments that are good and godly and absolutely necessary, but none are more important than your daily interchanges with your children as you teach them about Jesus. You should have, I hate this quality time phrase, right? We should have both quality and quantity times with our children. You know, I don't think I've ever heard a parent of children that have grown up and now are in adulthood say, you know what, I spent way too much time with my children. I have heard many parents regret how often they neglected their children, how much time they did not spend with them. in their homes. And fathers, let me again remind you, dads are specifically addressed in this manner. Don't provoke, don't discourage your children by being too self-absorbed in your interests. But dads, let's be honest, we can get so self-absorbed in our work that we forget the affairs of the home. Again, I want to emphasize, we're not saying it's not important, obviously, to be diligent in our labors and we want to work in God's kingdom, but kingdom work begins with our children. The expositor's commentary said it this way. Many a parent, especially many a father, drives his child to evil by keeping him at a distance. He should make his boy and his girl a companion. He should teach them to think of how, Think of their father as a confidant, and they must try to keep their children nearer to them than to anybody else. So there it is. Very simply, be present. But also, may I encourage you to be attentive as well. Nothing can embitter, can discourage can belittle a child more than if he or she is talking to you and you don't listen to them. I know we have to teach our children not to interrupt us when we're talking to other adults. We all have had that happen, and we all get quite disturbed when the children are butting in in our conversations. But I'm fearful that we, both as adults and children, need to learn the practical reminder from James 1. Let everyone be quick to hear. Slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. There's that word anger, provocation. Provocation on both ends can occur. Moms, dads, put your cell phones down and engage your children as meaningful a conversation with them as you possibly can for their age. Now, I know sometimes in their age, I will tell you, I've had conversations with Noelle that have gone absolutely nowhere. I've looked at her straight in the face, and I have no idea what she was telling me, and all I could say is, that's nice. or affirm something and hope that I didn't just give her permission to do something disastrous. But be attentive to them as much as possible. You know, there's that old expression, children should be seen and not heard. I don't think that's a Christian sentiment at all. Children should be heard by godly parents who spend time daily in meaningful conversations with their sons and daughters. Well, second way to encourage and not provoke your children. Secondly, be knowledgeable about your children individually. Sorry, be knowledgeable about your children individually. Isn't it fascinating to you, it is to me, how brothers and sisters can be so different? How sons and daughters can be so unalike? Our pediatrician told us at one point, you know what, if you didn't see them come out of the same oven, you probably wouldn't have believed they were baked the same way. And that's true, isn't it? Each of our sons and daughters, each of our children, made in God's image in a unique way and in a different way, and sometimes far different than we are. They have different likes. They have different gifts. They have different talents. They have different interests. They have different learning styles, even. I had one child who we could do every chore around the house and recite the catechism simultaneously. I had another child, as soon as we started trying to do that, Catechism went out the window because this child had to relate to me every spot on every dish, every other thing that was going on around them. So you need to know your children, they are made differently. And it's your responsibility to recognize that. Well, no sermon, no Seminar on Christian parenting is complete without mentioning Proverbs 22.6. Now that reference may not trigger something in your mind right away, but you'll know the verse once you hear it from me. Ready? You can probably finish it. Train up a child in the way he should go when he's old. He will not depart from it. And it certainly is true that if we are to train up our children in righteousness, it's crucial to do so. And we have the promise from God that we'll be blessed in their training. But there is a possible alternative translation of that or a way to understand that. A literal reading is train up a child in his own way. And so it is conceivable that what Proverbs is teaching us here is as parents, we need to know what is the best way to train up our children. And we can't do that unless we know them intimately. And Psalm 139, 13 through 36 reminds us that our children in their mother's wombs were wonderfully and greatly made. And that's why we have the reference there. We won't read it all. But it is our job as parents then to encourage our children as image bearers of God who've been renewed in Christ by the Holy Spirit to use their gifts for God's glory throughout their lives. But we cannot do so if we do not know them and know them individually. Jesus said in John 10, 3, that he calls each of his own sheep by name. He knows us that intimately. He calls us by our name. And as a father of six, who will admit right now, and you've all heard me do it, I frequently call my own children by the wrong name, and it doesn't help, if I can make an excuse for just a second, it doesn't help that I had a daughter named Carrie, and now I have a daughter-in-law named Kara, a son-in-law whose name is Steven, and a daughter-in-law whose maiden name was Stevens, but no excuses there, having said all that. It is our need as parents to have an intimate relationship with all of our children as Jesus does with each of us, as we encourage them to live for Jesus throughout their lives. Well, I think most of us recognize the book of Proverbs has so much to say to us as Christian parents. And I want to make three summary statements here about the book of Proverbs, ways three, four, and five that we can encourage and not provoke our children. But I really think we need to take them together. There really is one unit. And what we're about to do is we're about to summarize the book of the Bible in about five to 10 minutes. So please know the limitations of that. But first, we must consider what Proverbs rather tells us about what we sometimes call negative discipline, corrective discipline. That is, what do we do when a child disobeys? Well, really, I think the methods in Proverbs can be summarized in two ways. There's the rod. That is corporal punishment, physical response to disobedience. But there's also reproof, a verbal response to disobedience. And this reproof is clear communication that such disobedience, even as we emphasized last week, yes, it's rebellion against parents, but far more significantly, it's rebellion against the Lord, and that's what we have to remind our children as they disobey. So we do, as godly parents, we need to be wise in the use of both the rod and in reproof. when to use corporal punishment, when to use rebuke. It's not always easy to discern. Again, if you know your children well, you perhaps know best how they respond. And of course, age becomes a factor here as well. But please, however you respond with reproof and with the rod, do not neglect them. Do not be like Eli. God says of him in 1 Samuel 3, 6, his sons were blaspheming God and he didn't restrain them. Nor should you be like David, who never said anything that displeased his son Adonijah, by asking him when he went astray, why have you done thus and so? Again, according to 1 Kings 6. When our sons and daughters disobey us, moms, dads, it is our job to make life unpleasant for them. We just read from Hebrews, no one enjoys the discipline when it is going on. But we bring that unpleasantness now so that they will learn to serve the Lord Jesus. And I know, we've all heard this from secular psychologists and others who would teach, you should just ignore bad behavior. and commend the good behavior. And if you'll ignore the bad behavior, the children will somehow on their own come to their senses and figure it all out. Well, that didn't work very well for Eli's sons. Eli's sons were called worthless before God. And it didn't work very well for Adonijah either, who rebelled against David and tried to usurp the throne from God's appointed heir, Solomon. And if you have any doubt about where God stands on this, let me make this clear. It is not loving to allow children to disobey. Proverbs 13 24 very plainly tells us what God thinks. Whoever spares the rod hates his son. But he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. Not the rod alone. I want to emphasize that. Reproof as well. And I, again, recognize in a topical sermon like this, there is no way we can possibly cover everything. But if you want to turn to one passage with me, Proverbs 23, 12 through 18. Because while reproof may not be specifically mentioned here, very stern, strong warnings certainly are. And we definitely have the need for all of us understand the need for wisdom, for righteousness, as well as for the rod. So in Romans 23, sorry, Proverbs 23, verse 12, we have this, apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge. And it's interesting, sons and daughters are not being addressed directly here. I think this applies to parents as well as to our children. We all must be applying our heart to instruction. We must all give ear to words of knowledge. But now parents are addressed. Don't withhold discipline from a child. If you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with a rod, you'll save his soul from Sheol. And so my son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. My inmost being will exalt when your lips speak what's right. Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off. Here, my son, be wise. Direct your hearts in the way. Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkards and the glutton will come to poverty. Slumber will clothe them. with rags. So we need that balance. We must use the rod. We must use rebuke. It's interesting, though. Proverbs 1710 tells us that a rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. So the hope here is that the rod will be a temporary thing. And as they grow in the Lord, they will be honorable ones who will hear reproofs from you and heed those reproofs. Well, Proverbs also, though, gives us what to do by way of preventative discipline, that is, giving rules and commands that the children are to obey, godly instruction, good counsel, imparting of wisdom. That simple phrase, my son, keeps showing up in Proverbs, doesn't it? We've read two of those accounts already in worship. Let me just read Proverbs 2, one more example. of godly instruction. My son, if you receive my words, if you treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and you incline your heart to understanding, yes, if you call out for insight, if you raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver, if you search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord, then you will find the knowledge of God. So we must be those as parents who encourage with kind words as well as rebuke when sinful behavior takes place. If you want to provoke your children, only speak negatively to them all day long. We need to point them to Jesus and the forgiveness that comes. Encourage them in this way. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5.14 to encourage the faint-hearted, to help the weak, and to be patient with them all. Well, isn't that a description of our children and their formative years? They are weak. They are faint-hearted and we need patience with them. How often have we seen our children want to give up after trying a task for the first time? They are easily discouraged. We must speak kindly and gently with them to teach them to walk in wisdom's way as we teach them about Jesus. And this applies to when they're clearly sinning, but also when they take on new tasks, new responsibilities, chores, schoolwork. Take your time, be patient with them. Having said that, I will tell you I am so, so grateful that my wife taught my children kindergarten. I do not think either they or I would have survived a year of my attempting to teach them how to read. Some of the most patient people I've ever met in my life, moms in general, but kindergarten teachers in particular. And I recognize I'm singling out my wife here, but I will tell you, I was on occasion with another OPC pastor yesterday, and he told me the same thing. He said, my wife is teaching kindergarten in a Christian school, and I have no idea how she can do it. She can do it because she loves her children and she wants to have kind and gentle and patient words when that's helpful. By the way, kindergarten teachers can be very firm too. And they can be strong and they can reproof when needed as well. It's interesting to me, Martin Luther, if you ever read any of his biographical sketches, we all know, of course, that Luther struggled with sin, thought that God was an angry God who never could show love and compassion. And Luther basically said, I have this wrong understanding of God for basically two reasons. One, because of the training of the church where we were taught if you just do all these things to abuse your body and all these other penance, somehow God will forgive you. Well, that never happened, of course, for Luther, no matter what he tried. But the other thing he said was his dad was a very stern man. He didn't remember his dad ever commending him for anything. So fathers, once more, I remind us it is our job to be patient, to be encouraging, not to provoke our children. Yes, to deal with sin in a stern way, but to deal with our children in a loving way as well. Paul generally gives us this guideline in our speech, and it certainly applies to moms and dads as we talk to our children. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth. but only such as good, only what will build them up as it fits the occasion so that it can give grace to those who hear. There are occasions when the reproof is needed. There are occasions when encouragement is needed as well. And as you speak to your children in an encouraging and a kind manner, may I suggest this is, may I say this too, be rewarding of obedience. Be rewarding of obedience. Not just negative consequences if they disobey, positive consequences when they do obey. We all know the fifth commandment. We recite it often, right? Children, obey your parents and the Lord. And if you do so, you'll be rewarded with long life here on earth. Ephesians six emphasizes as well. That's the first commandment with a promise. All will go well with you. God promised adults in his covenant community the same thing. Way back in Moses' day in Deuteronomy 28, You can read that list of all the blessings that will occur for obedience, all the curses that will occur for disobedience when one does not repent. And isn't that a summary of God's dealing with Israel throughout the Old Testament? But back to Proverbs. Proverbs 13, 18 tells us this, whoever heeds reproof is honored. whoever heeds reproof is honored. And so when your children heed your reproof, when they take your godly counsel, honor them. Yes, reward them with praise, but may I also say it's appropriate to reward them with something tangible as well. Notice the parallel. When they disobey, you use physical disobedience, the rod, but you also use oral corrective discipline. You reprove them. Well, it's appropriate then, if they obey, to encourage them with your words, but also to physically reward them as well. Martin Luther. The man who had two stern of a father said this, and by the way, Luther had six children. So he was somewhat of an expert on parenting once life was done. And he said this, spare the rod, spoil the child. That's true. But beside the rod, keep an apple to give him when he does well. Now, you know, your children might not get too excited about an apple. Maybe they would. But think about it. It doesn't have to be food either, just for the record. I don't usually make commercials in the middle of a sermon, but if you parents don't use the Oriental Trading Company, you can save yourselves a lot of money by just buying a packet of little trinkets that are relatively, I don't know how teachers survive without the Oriental Trading Company, but now that it's there, and if you think, That's no big deal. You watch our children come out of Sunday school class today, if they get a prize for obeying in Sunday school. Most of that stuff, I think, has come from the Orlando Training Company. Okay, end of commercial. It doesn't have to be from OTC, but it's there. Our next application, to be honest with you, is probably the most difficult in our list. I certainly know this week, as I was reflecting on these things, this was the most condemnatory of my parenting. I told you, many of you, this before, I think. But when we were talking about the Fifth Commandment in junior high class while I was teaching Bible at Westminster Academy, I asked the students a very simple question. I said, what is it that your parents do that provokes you or discourages you? And almost inevitably, they came up with some variation on this theme. We don't know what they expect of us. We don't know what they want from us. You want to avoid frustration, discouragement from your children? Be consistent. Be consistent. Let me suggest there's three ways in which that can take place in your parenting. First, be consistent in your example before them. In your example before them. Children can easily see through hypocrisy. Ever hear them ask you something along the lines of, how come mommy and daddy can get mad but I can't? What condemnatory words. But sadly, they can see through our hypocrisy. Christian parents should never say, do as I say, but not as I do. Paul could, in all integrity, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, pen these words to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 11.1, be imitators of me as I am, Christ. See, we as Christian parents should be so consistent in our Christian walk and in our testimony that we can in all integrity say to our children, be like mommy and daddy, because mommy and daddy are like Jesus. But secondly, be consistent in your instruction as well. We keep going back to Deuteronomy 6-7. Normal day in and day out lifestyle at home, on the way, in the morning, at night. First wake up, about to go to bed. Keep teaching your children diligently God's commands. See, Christian parents really don't get vacation days. Their job is never done. Always bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Which leads us to the third thing, and that is to be consistent in your discipline as well. Even when you're not feeling well, rules don't change, nor should enforcement of them. What will or will not be tolerated should not vary from day to day, or from minute to minute, depending on what kind of mood you are in. As a parent, you know how it goes. If you've had a good day at work, you tend to be easier going when you get home, right? If you don't sit in traffic for an hour and a half, when you get home, you tend to be in a better mood. I will tell you, I ask the three children that are geographically closest to me. What is it that I did that provoked you or frustrated you the most? And it was pretty strong consensus that I put my mood upon them. If I was tired, I just assumed they all should be tired. When I decided it was time for me to go to bed, I couldn't understand why the noise level was as high as it was, even though that noise level hadn't changed since two hours previously. You decide what the noise level should be, Keep it that way the whole time. Second, and I know I have to be real careful how I phrase this, but I do want to say it. The child's sugar intake is not an excuse for disobedience. If you really think they disobeyed because you gave them an Oreo, then don't give them an Oreo. By the way, my theory with that is usually you give them sugar when they're around other kids, and other kids interacting with each other makes them less hyper as much as the chemical reaction. But that's just my theory. I've not written a book or anything like that. Third one, though, as we talk about being consistent with discipline, don't threaten your children with the words that you know you're not going to keep. We've all gotten frustrated. I will never ever let you do something like that. Don't do that. Don't threaten them. Promise them, if you disobey, I will do this. And when they disobey, then follow through on what you do. See, parents should not have to be making oaths and swearing about what they will or will not do. I mean, we know the words from Jesus in Matthew 5, 37. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. We need to be consistent with that. even in our disciplining of our children. Well, at this point, you may be ready to just throw up your hands and say, God's given us as parents an impossible task. If you're telling me I'm supposed to be consistent in all ways, then really what you're telling me is I'm supposed to be fully sanctified in my parenting skills. I would remind you from Peter, we do read, be ye holy as I am holy. And we do want our children to be perfectly obedient, but it's also abundantly clear to us, or at least should be to us as Christian parents, our homes are not Christian homes because they're inhabited by sinless saints. Our homes are Christian homes because they're inhabited by saints who know what to do with their sins. And if you find that profound, I will tell you that was from Jay Adams, that was not from me. But I do think that there's brilliance to that. A Christian home isn't sinless. It deals with its sin properly. And so if you want to encourage your children in their Christian walk, be repentant when you sin against them. I hope none of your sons or daughters would be shocked to hear you say, I'm sorry I got mad at you. I'm sorry I spoke unkindly to you. I'm sorry I did not play a game with you when I promised you I would or didn't help you with your homework like I said I would. Will you please forgive me? See, if we want our children to learn how to repent, when they sin, when they disobey, we need to repent when we sin and when we disobey. And it's been my experience, some parents have said, even told me, well, I couldn't possibly tell my children I did wrong, then they'll think less of me. Trust me, your children are more perceptive than you realize. They often do know when you're wrong, even before you do. And telling them you're sorry for your sin will give you greater esteem in their eyes. Moms and dads need to heed our Lord's instruction from Matthew 7, 3 through 5. We do need to get the logs out of our own eyes sometimes before we get the specks out of our children's eyes. And James 5, 16 says, as I read it, confess your sins one to another. It doesn't say sons and daughters have to confess their sins to parents. Parents don't have to confess their sins to their children. And so I encourage your children then in the ways of the Lord by repenting of your sins before them as Christian parents who do know how to deal with sins. And if that's true, then you'll also be forgiven when your sons and daughters have repented of their sins. You'll be forgiven. It was common practice in our home when I administered corporal punishment to have the children in a separate room. It was a matter for me to deal with. We sought and granted forgiveness. We prayed together. But then we left the room smiling, hugging. I usually would not let the children leave until they smiled. And oftentimes, I left the room giving them a horsey ride. Why? Because I wanted them to know that when we forgive, we really do forgive. Why? Because Paul said, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. No matter what your children have done, no matter what offense they may have committed against you, your multiple offenses against your holy, loving, heavenly Father, who sent Jesus to die for your sins and the sins of your children. He rejoices when you repent. Christian parents should be leading a time of rejoicing in their homes when their children repent, and we should encourage them in their repentance by our spirit of forgiveness. Well, this is quite a daunting task, isn't it, being a Christian parent? to be encouraging and not provoking our children. And that should prompt us then to recognize the response we have to have from considering this truth from God's word is we need to be prayerful, prayerful. We need to know that we must come on our knees to our Heavenly Father and seek the sanctification that only His Holy Spirit can give to us. How many times have I prayed, Lord, please don't let my bad example before my children be what causes them to go astray from you. Well, as you pray for yourself and your parenting, you must also pray for your children that they would be more righteous. Learn from Job what it means to intercede for your children as well. Job is described in the very first book, verse of the book named after him in the Bible as a blameless, upright man who feared God, who turned away from evil. And just a few verses later, we learned how he demonstrated his righteousness. Verse 5 tells us he would rise up early in the morning and he would offer burnt offerings for his 10 children. For Job said, it may be that my children have sinned and cursed God. in their hearts. So learn from and follow Job's example. Be godly. Be encouraging parents who make it a priority to pray for the sanctification of yourself and for your children. When Paul ends his section that we've been considering in Colossians for a while on sanctified living, both in the church and in the home, he ends in Colossians 4-2 with these words, continue steadfastly in prayer. See, your steadfast prayer for your children should always accompany your encouraging manner of bringing them up in the discipline and in the instruction of the Lord. And of course, as you interact with them, as you pray for them, remember your discipline, your instruction should always focus on the gospel, should always focus on the Lord Jesus. Your goal is not to turn your children into good, moral little people or outstanding American citizens, as noble as that might be. Your goal is that the Lord would be pleased to use your instruction to instruct your sons and daughters and to give them the encouragement that only the gospel and only Jesus can give. And we've considered Colossians 6, I'm sorry, 3, 16, and 17 a lot lately, both in Sunday school and during the sermons. But I want to give you opportunity to turn back, if you would like. to Colossians 3.16 and 17, because these are the words that Paul wrote in general terms. This is the application of the principle that Paul is giving us in our home lives. Colossians 3.16 and 17 reminds us that as God's people, The word of God from Colossians 3.16, and that is the whole gospel, the whole message of Jesus should dwell in you richly. And as it dwells in each of us in our Christian homes, that will dwell in our home as well. And how do we do that? We do that by teaching and admonishing one another, especially as parents with children. Yes, we rebuke, but we do encourage. And we rejoice together in the salvation we have in Jesus. We sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thanksgiving in our hearts to our God. And as Christians in our homes, we have this desire. Whatever we do, in word or deed, we want to do everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him because he has saved us from our sins. He has made us his set-apart sanctified adults, his set-apart sanctified children. So may indeed the word, the message, the gospel of Jesus dwell in our homes. May it do so richly. as obedient children and encouraging parents, love Jesus, live for Jesus, and glorify Jesus in our lives. Amen. Let's pray together. Father, sometimes we We recognize the truth of your word, but we can easily get discouraged and say, there is no way we can live up to this awesome responsibility. But Father, when we think on those things, that does cause us to run to Jesus, and that's a good thing. It does cause us to be fervent in prayer, to repent and to forgive. And Father, help us to do those things. even as we strive to be obedient children. and encouraging parents, and help us, Father, to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus so that we will be Christian homes, where it is evident that when sin occurs, we deal with it, but it is also evident that we are increasing in the knowledge and in the grace of our Savior. We desire these things because you brought Jesus to die for us. You brought Jesus to show us our need for a Savior. You've given us the Holy Spirit to show us these truths as well. And so, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we pray that we would honor you and glorify you in all of our beings, but especially in our homes. And we do pray in Jesus' name. Amen.