Open your Bibles, if you would, to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2. The title of today's message is Honoring Our Parents. We're going to be joining the text as the boy, Jesus, is lost by his parents. Okay, we're going to join the text in verse 41, as we see the parents' ignorance and the assumptions that they're making. about where their son is. And his parents, Joseph and Mary, would go to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he became 12 years old, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast. And as they were returning after finishing the days of the Feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know. I'm not going to ask for a show of hands of who has ever lost one of their children or left them at church, but I know it happens. Surely this is a little bit, a little bit graver because Jesus has been left in the city of Jerusalem. But as the son of God, there's probably no better place he could have been despite his parents' assumptions about where he was. Ultimately, his parents, they begin a frightful search. Verse 44, Supposing him to be in the caravan, they went a day's journey, and they began searching for him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. No matter what your worst day as a parent is, at least you haven't lost the Son of God. You may have made some tremendous mistakes, but this one's a whopper. Verse 46, Jesus is going to be found and He's going to be found safe and sound. And it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. He was right where he was supposed to be. He went to the safest place he could go. He went to be with his Father. And when his parents confront him over that, that's what he's going to tell them. He's going to very subtly and tactfully rebuke them, but still submit to them. Verse 48, When they saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, Child, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I have been anxiously searching for you. I feel so bad for Mary. And he said to them, why is it that you are searching for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my father's house? That's the gentlest of rebukes he could have given her. I'm right where I'm supposed to be. I'm in my father's house. But they did not understand the statement which he had spoken to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he continued in subjection to them. And his mother was treasuring all these things in her heart. And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. " Kids, it's hard to submit to parents. It's got to be so hard if you are the very son of God who is perfect in every way to submit to fallible parents. And yet Jesus did. And that's a model and example for all of us, not just kids that are in the home, but also for kids that don't have parents in the home. Today, we're going to be looking at how to honor parents. And we have here a perfect example of Jesus doing what God expects. God expects that we honor and submit to our parents. Jesus did, and it pleased the Lord. We're going to see that point made more salient, more obvious as we get to our main text as we look at Noah's boys and the response to a particular episode where Noah gets drunk. What's going to happen in that situation? Two of his boys are going to honor their parents, Noah, and one is going to bring much shame and reproach upon him. The main point of today's message, this is the whole sermon in one sentence. It's taken from Ephesians chapter 6 verses 2 and 3. Honor your parents. Honor your parents, that it may be well with you. And we're going to develop that. But we can see God's blessing is bestowed upon children that honor their parents. That's going to be very apparent as we continue on in today's message. But before we do that, we need to make sure that we are aware of the context. The context makes what happens very very clear what's going on. God is being gracious, and people are acting like people. Their depravity comes to the surface, seemingly in every situation. Well, then after we look at the context, we'll look at the text found in the closing verses of Genesis chapter 9, as we see Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth confronting this issue of honoring parents. Then we're going to have some takeaways, some application. We're going to personalize what scripture says about this concept because it's hard, right? We're going to have to be persuaded and equipped how to do this thing. It's difficult. It's difficult for kiddo children and adult children to do this, but we're going to get tools not just for those that are small in years and stature, but also for us that are adults on how to submit to our parents. And then we're going to conclude by going to Matthew chapter 26 as we see Christ's ultimate submission to His Father. So that's our roadmap. That is today's sermon. And let's turn it over to the Lord. Oh, Father God, we thank you that you are a good God, that you are a good Father, that you instruct us and you discipline us for the purpose of holiness. You do this because you love us. Lord, I pray that as we reflect on your word and our own personal experience, that we wouldn't make excuses as to why we don't need to do what you so clearly say, but that you would lead us into a submissive obedience to you. Lord, I pray that you will help us to do this well for your glory. It's in Christ's name I pray. Amen. We'll turn to Genesis chapter 9, and we'll jump into the context. Just briefly, the flood account has ended, and Noah and his family have debarked from the ark, and the Lord has graciously blessed Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and even us with this covenant. In verse 13, The Lord says, I put my bow in the cloud and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between me and the earth and it will be when I bring a cloud over the earth that the bow will be seen in the cloud and I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. Something I'm very grateful for living in Vernonia. The flood ended and the Lord committed Himself not to bank on people's good behavior not to flood the earth. He made a covenant that He Himself is going to keep not to flood the entire earth. And He even gave us a sign that we enjoy on those perfect rainy days where we see the cloud and the rainbow in the cloud. After that, in verse 18 though, despite God's graciousness, rather verse 20, Noah descends back to the mean. He starts acting like ten generations prior, Adam. It says in verse 20, Noah began to be a man of the land and planted a vineyard and he drank of the wine and became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent. This is especially grievous because he is the ruling priest king. like Adam was. This is especially grievous because he's supposed to represent people before God. This is grievous because on this mountain where worship was to be taking place, he has acted like Adam, the first priest king. So man's depravity continues. So this is all context to understand what takes place now in the text. In the text, Noah is going to be discovered drunk, naked by his youngest son, Ham. So in verse 22 is where we're going to pick it up. Would you stand with me? And I'm going to read verses 22 through 29. Then Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father. and told his two brothers outside. Beshem and Japheth took the garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father, and their faces were turned backward so that they did not see their father's nakedness. Then Noah awoke from his wine, and he knew what his youngest son had done to him. So he said, Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants he shall be to his brothers. And he said, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant. and Noah lived 350 years after the flood. So all the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died. This is the word of the Lord. May we heed and obey. You can have a seat. What a narrative as Noah is discovered drunk and naked by his youngest son. His youngest son gleefully takes joy in the depravity of his father and goes and reports it to his brothers and Noah, he wakes up. and not in rage, not in wrath, he prays. He prays to the Lord. The consequences for this sin of Ham would continue because of its incredible grievous nature, but also that Shem and Japheth would be blessed, and they were blessed immeasurably. So, this is our text. I've divided it into four points. Our first point is just verse 22. Ham's shameful conduct, the youngest son of Noah, is going to bring shame upon his father. Verse 22, then Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father. and told his two brothers outside. We already looked at in the context in last week about what was taking place and why that was so grievous. Noah is the priest king. He's the righteous man in Genesis chapter six, verse nine. He's the one who walked with God and he got drunk and he went naked. This is a particularly grievous sin on Noah's part, but Ham's sin is far greater because he takes delight in what his father, in his father's shame, Ham doesn't honor his father, but he delights in his failure. It's inexcusable in ordinary parents, but much more so in Noah's case. We're not to be those that delight when people fail. No, no. In Proverbs chapter 24, And you don't have to turn there unless you would like to. I'm just going to read it very quickly. Proverbs 24. This is just wise counsel for all of us, but particularly for kiddos that find it so easy to be sarcastic and mock. When your enemy falls, don't be glad. And when he stumbles, don't let your heart rejoice. Lest Yahweh see it, and it be evil in his eyes, and turn his anger away from him. It's not fitting to delight when people sin because we're rejoicing something that is antagonistic against God. No, we're to be those that look toward holiness and elevate holiness. That is not what Ham did. What should you do, kiddo, if you find a parent failing? Or really, what should you do, Christian, when you see a brother in the Lord failing? Galatians 6 verse 1 tells us, Even if someone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each of you looking to yourself so that you too will not be tempted." We can fall so easily. We think that maybe we're having a good day and we haven't sinned that much. Don't go looking too deeply in your heart. It's a pit full of sin. No, don't elevate yourself in arrogance. Be gentle with those that have failed because it'll be your turn soon too. You too will fail. You too will sin. And you will want them to be forgiving and kind to you as well. Maybe one final reason why this failure of Ham is so grievous Turn with me, if you would, to Exodus 20. This is a command that is applicable to us today. It's applicable in all periods of time. It's the fifth of ten commandments. It's right smack dab in the middle. of God's commandments. God has commanded people to honor their parents. Exodus 20, verse 12, the Lord said to Moses, honor your father and your mother that your days may be prolonged in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. Hey, that's the main point. Think of who he's saying this to, kiddos. Who is he commanding this to? is to the people of Israel, right? They're going to wander around in the wilderness, and when they get an opportunity to go into the promised land, their folks are going to flub it. They're going to say, we're scared, we don't want to go. Bad things are going to happen. And they don't go in. And the Lord judges them and forces them to walk in the wilderness for 40 years until their kiddos get old enough and that past generation dies off. Look, look at what it says. Honor your father and your mother, even if they're disobedient, even if they're turkeys, that your days may be prolonged in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. That is an amazing command. God doesn't command us to honor our parents when they're likable, when they're nice, when they spoil us and they let us have our way. No, we got to honor our parents all the time unless they're telling us to sin. That's the only caveat. Is that counterintuitive? Is that hard? Yeah, you're going to need the Lord to help you. Okay, and we're going to need an example of what it looks like to do what is right, to honor parents, even when they're sinners. Let's go back to Genesis 9, verse 23. It's our second point. But Shem and Japheth, Ham's two older brothers, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and walked backward, and covered the nakedness of their father. And their faces were turned backward, so that they did not see their father's nakedness." They honored Him. What you can't see here, which I'll just very briefly mention, is that in the word order in the Hebrew, It effectively says, but Shem took the garment, and he and Japheth laid it upon both their shoulders. Put your finger on that, okay? Because it's going to be important. Register that in your mind, what Shem did, and what is going to be the result of that. They took the garment, they laid it upon both their shoulders, and then they walked backward. The taking of the garment is singular. The walking backward and covering the nakedness of their father is plural. They walk backward. They don't want to see the disrobed priest king who has dishonored himself. They want to maintain piety. So they walk backwards and they don't see their father's nakedness. Shem and Japheth, they look righteous. They look really righteous in this. They care for their parents' dignity, for Noah's honor. And so, they wrap him up. He's drunk. He can't do anything. He's passed out, blacked out, drunk. He can't protect himself. He's sinned, but they preserve him. Go with me to Genesis chapter 3. This activity that Shem and Japheth engage in, it looks a lot like something God would do, right? Do you remember the fall in the garden? Adam and Eve, they ate the fruit, they fell. And what does the Lord do? He covers them up just like Shem and Japheth. Verse 21, then Yahweh God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them. They had seen that they were naked. They were ashamed. They were fearful. They were afraid. And God, while they were naked, He judges them. He exposes it. He calls it what it is. But then He covers that shame, just like Shem and Japheth did. Turn with me, if you would, to Proverbs, Chapter 25. God is honored when we conduct ourselves in this way. Proverbs 25, verse 2 says, It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. The Lord delights in covering over our sin. That's amazing. It must be exposed, but then He Himself covers over that sin. He Himself atones for that sin. We have proof, don't we? That this is what the Lord delights in. What's the proof? The proof is our Savior honoring His Father by going to Calvary to pay for our sin. Our sin, 2,000 years later. The Lord is honored by this in displaying how glorious His grace and His love is. This is something that we are to demonstrate, Christian. When our brother and our sister sin, we are to confront them individually, exposing them, but in gentleness, trying to draw them back to holiness. That's what God does. That's a good thing. Do it gently. Do it with much prayer. Do it carefully and in the hope that those that will ultimately call to you to repent as well, that they will be effective in their work. Let's go back to Genesis 9, and we'll see Noah's prayer to the Lord. Verse 24, then, Noah awoke from his wine, and he knew what his youngest son had done to him. So he said, Cursed be Canaan. That's a surprise. Who's Canaan? Well, we heard last week that Canaan is the son of Ham. Why is Canaan being cursed? Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants he shall be to his brothers. And he said, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth and let him dwell in the tents of Shem and let Canaan be his servant. What's the deal here? We're familiar with sin guilt, right? There's guilt for sin. That is a legal term. When we sin, we incur guilt. But not all the repercussions for sin are related to guilt. It's not always one for one. When we sin, like an opposite reaction, an immediate result happens. It's not always like that. Sometimes when we sin, other people are harmed. Who knows that? You know, when the drunk goes driving down the highway and plows into another vehicle and the other vehicle's occupants are killed, they didn't do anything wrong, but there's a consequence for sin. The guilt registers with the drunk driver, but the consequences are encountered by the other vehicle. That's tragic. Sin has consequences. Cain is going to receive the consequences of Ham's guilt. Noah, here in this situation, he wakes up from being drunk and he knew what his youngest son had done to him. The priest king and his discernment is incredible. He knew. I don't think he had to be told. I think he knew what had happened. Noah woke up and he knew what Ham had done. His reaction is a lot like Moses after the golden calf. I don't think this is an overreaction. I don't think this is based on irrational rage. He's still representing people before the Lord. And what's interesting is he's going to make a prayer asking for these things to happen. This isn't a statement of absolute fact, but God hears him. But he was just drunk. Who has read James chapter 5? Who knows what James chapter 5 verse 16 says? The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. He was righteous because he believed God, even though he sinned. In faith, he has Christ's righteousness, Hebrews chapter 11 tells us. And he asked the Lord to do this, not because he's raged, not because he's out of control, but because of the consequences that are necessary. Noah prays requesting these things. This is not a definite prophecy, but we can definitely see how this plays out because of Noah's relationship with God. So let me tell us a little bit that maybe we don't necessarily see. I don't always see because geography is not my strong suit. There's definitely a request that as the Lord is going to scatter these families across the earth, that the descendants of Ham or Canaan, they're going to occupy a certain place, the land of Canaan, right? But they're going to be moved out. By who? Shems. In fact, Canaan and his descendants, they're going to be the lowest of slaves. That's what the literal version of verse 25 is. Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants, the lowest of low. He shall be to who? His brothers. Shem and Japheth. Going back to our geography, the descendants of Japheth, they wind up heading north. They're the Gentile nations of the North, the European variant of Noah's descendants. So we can trace our ancestry back, probably generally here in North America, back to Japheth. Who are the descendants of Shem? The one who took up the priestly garment. the Jews, the Hebrews. Shem is going to occupy the land of Canaan. And who else is going to be made partaker of the blessing that Shem receives? Go with me, if you would, to Colossians. This is a great mystery. This is an incredible mystery that has been hidden in the Old Testament. Unless it's explained, you can't really see it. In Colossians 1, verse 26, Paul writes to the Colossian church, The Gentiles are brought into the tents of Shem. They're made to know Yahweh. Isn't that amazing? This traces back to what a righteous man prayed, even in the midst of this fallen state. We are beneficiaries of this. To me, that is remarkable, that the Lord would make me a beneficiary of this. We're going to see more of this develop next week as we look at Genesis chapter 10. It's a genealogy passage, which usually gets a lot of flack because there's a long list of names and locations and people are like, well, I don't really like genealogies. There's always good stuff in a genealogy. So read Genesis 10 in advance. And I think you'll find some interesting things in here. Let's go back to Genesis 9 though, and we'll wrap up this passage. In verse 28, it says, Noah lived 350 years after the flood. Wow, that's a long time. By the time he died, Abraham was already 50, around 50 years old. A lot of generations passed that Noah got to see. He got to see these things take place. Noah lived 350 years after the flood, so all the days of Noah were 950 years and he died. Why do I bring this up? Because Genesis, if you've been here, you've probably registered this, but Genesis is broken down into Toledot books of the generations of particular individuals. Go with me to Genesis chapter 5. We have been in a subsection of Genesis and is only now concluding that began in Genesis chapter 5. In Genesis 5, verse 1, it says, this is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. Verse 5 says, all the days that Adam lived were 930 years and he died. And then if you remember that sermon, we click through the nine generations of Adam and he died and he died. Do you remember? And he died. That Toledot, that section is only just now concluding. We're going to be entering into the Toledot, the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth in chapter 10. But this narrative just basically closes out where we started in Genesis chapter 5. It's the end of Adam's generation, and the same consequences that God warned Adam about, if you eat of that tree, you're going to die, those consequences landed on Noah. They're going to land on Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They're going to land on us. There are consequences for sin. Heed the warning. Okay. We've already kind of talked about consequences. But let's look at Exodus 34. Those of you who are looking for attributes of God or characteristics of God, this is going to be an especially sweet passage. The Lord is displaying His glory to Moses. He's tucked Moses away into the cliffside in the mountain, and He's revealing His glory to him. He's going to tell him His name. And He says, and it says in verse six, Yahweh passed by in front of Moses and called out, Yahweh, Yahweh God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness and truth, who keeps loving kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers, on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations. There's consequences for sin. Even though the Lord is compassionate, even though He is gracious, He must confront sin. He must punish sin. And some of that punishment is aftershocks or aftereffects of consequences of that. We might look at what happened with Canaan and say, well, that's really unfortunate. That's not fair. Sin has consequences. Sin has guilt. And the Lord, who does not change, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, feels the same way about our sin today as he did then. Now, kiddos, You see what verse seven says, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children, on the grandchildren of the third and fourth generation, you have an opportunity to interrupt cycles. You have the inner, you have the opportunity to choose to do differently than your parents. Even the best of parents fail. You have an opportunity to call upon the name of the Lord in His compassion and not choose sin, not go your own way, which you've had examples, tutoring, training in. You have opportunity to do something different. Be sure that you take the Lord up on that opportunity. Choose to do what is righteous and good, and the Lord will bless that. He's going to bless that submission. We've looked at a lot of different stuff just in related to Genesis chapter 9, but now we're going to figure out how to cultivate submission. It's hard to honor your parents, isn't it? They're turkeys, too. They fail. They do things that are wrong. They sin. You're going to need God's help to submit to them. You really are. Okay. So, let's learn how to cultivate submission. We have an acrostic. Depend. Turn with me to Proverbs chapter 3. Proverbs chapter 3. Familiar verses. We're going to be bombarded with advice from the world that tells us to do what you want to do. No, we're to do what the Lord tells us to do. In Proverbs 3, verse 5, not verse 6, it says, If you depend upon Him, if you lean upon Him, if you honor Him with obedience, He's the one that's going to provide you with straight paths. He's going to be the one that brings blessing to you and peace in your life. Don't do what Disney tells you and just follow your heart. Your heart, my heart, the human heart is deceitful and wicked. It lies to us. Don't be a Disney princess. Don't follow your heart. Follow what God's word says and depend upon it. Furthermore, first Peter chapter 2, verse 23, says, Be like Jesus, depend upon Him, who even in His suffering, even being reviled, was not reviling in return. While suffering, He was uttering no threats. I'm going to get even. But He kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. in your submission and you're turning over your preferences to what the Lord clearly commands, you're going to have to entrust the results to the Lord. You're going to say, I'm not doing this great. I'm trying, Lord. Would you please do something good with my faulty obedience? He will. Okay, this one's for more adult children. Piety develops through providing. Go with me to 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy chapter 5, verse 3. We are to honor our parents even as adults. Some of you have had bad parents, really bad parents. Don't let that dissuade you from heeding the Lord. 1 Timothy 5, verse 3, and we'll do 4 too. Honor widows who are widows indeed, but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they, the children or grandchildren, must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. You're going to grow in holiness by supporting your parents in their old age, in their infirmity, when they can't, when they're cranky, when they're not acting nice. Your piety, your holiness, your faithfulness is going to be demonstrated. It's going to be improved through that. You can expect God to bless this honor. Ephesians chapter 6, we already kind of touched on it, but in Ephesians 6, verses 1 through 3, it says, children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may be well with you and that you may live long in the land. expect God to do what he has already proven he does. He did bring the children of Israel into the promised land, didn't he? He expects us to honor our parents. Acts chapter 5, it is not okay to rebel unless, unless, unless Our parents are telling us to sin. Acts chapter 5 verse 29, Peter and the apostles, this is a principle, not a direct one for one, but Peter and the apostles were told by the Jews to stop preaching the name of Christ and they said, we must obey God rather than men. As long as your parents aren't telling you to sin, you need to submit. You need to honor them. If they are sinning, beg them, plead with them, persuade them from the word to change their course of action. There's passages about that too. Finally, in our acrostic, depend direct prayers to him who hears. In Hebrews chapter 5, This is going to transition us into our conclusion. In Hebrews chapter 5, verse 7, Jesus, in the days of his flesh, offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the one able to save him from death. And he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered. We're going to learn obedience. And it's going to be hard, but it is the way to grow in holiness. So I would encourage you, kiddos and adult kiddos, don't cast this information, which we have been given in so many different aspects, don't cast this behind you. Depend upon what the Lord has told you to do and act on it. Well, we're going to conclude by going to Matthew chapter 26. In Hebrews, we had heard that Jesus prayed to his father with loud crying and tears. We're going to see that. Matthew 26, verse 36 is where we're going to meet up as Jesus goes to Gethsemane before his crucifixion. Verse 36, then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. and said to his disciples, sit here while I go over there and pray. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and distressed. Then he said to them, my soul is deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and keep watch with me. Jesus, as he was about to go to the cross to suffer for our sins, he begs for prayer from his disciples. Church family, pray for the kiddos. Kiddos, pray to the Lord for endurance, for obedience to honor Him. as Christ honored him, verse 39. And he went a little beyond them and fell on his face and prayed, saying, My father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not as I will, but as you will. In a parallel account in Luke chapter 22, Jesus was in so much grief that his sweat became like drops of blood. And yet he submits. He submits to the Lord, his Father, so that we might be saved. And he came to his disciples and found them sleeping, verse 40, and said to Peter, so you men could not keep watch with me for one hour, keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Unless we are active in preparing ourselves, not only for the temptation to dishonor our parents, to rebel against them, but for every course of sin, unless we're diligent to watch and pray, first thing in the morning, we're sitting ducks. He exhorts them, keep watching, keep praying. And he went away a second time, verse 42, and prayed, My father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, your will be done. And it didn't pass away, praise the Lord. His father said no. His father told his son no. And his son obediently went to Calvary for me. and for you, and He honored His Father totally and paid for every sin. He did that for us. He did that because He loves His Father, and He wanted to bring glory and honor to His Father. What a tremendous gift of honor Jesus gave to His Father in submitting totally to Him. And that is the reason why every knee will bow before the Son. Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Kiddos, Adult kiddos, we are going to struggle to honor our parents. It is not easy. Look to Jesus. He is interceding on our behalf right now in this ridiculously hard task that we don't want to do. Submit yourself to Him. Honor Him with obedience. And He will bring about every blessing. And it will be well with us. Let's stand and close in prayer. Father God, we celebrate Your Son and His obedience, His total submission to You. Oh Lord, you know that you have appointed frail and sinful parents over children that fail and are often conducting themselves shamefully. Lord, I pray that you would be with each and every kiddo here. Grant them discernment, a supernatural ability to discern right from wrong. Please give them an appetite for righteousness and holiness. Please give them every good and perfect gift as they submit to you. Oh Lord, I pray that you would reward them richly. Father, I pray that for those of us with parents still living, adult children, Lord, I pray that you would help us to honor them with protection and care. May we be an example of Christ to them. We love you, Lord. Thank you for loving us first. It's in Christ's name I pray. Amen.