Avizandam In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters Avise endum Because of our fallen state, all of us are naturally rebellious. This begins with our first parents in the Garden of Eden. Although the commands of the Lord were clear to Adam and Eve, They fell. They disobeyed God.
They went their own way rather than God's. In this regard, we're like our first parents. We don't like being told what to do. Isaiah reminds us that all of us are like sheep having gone astray. Each one of us.
turning to her own way. We are created by God.
so it is the height of pride on our part to think that our way is better than God's. But such is the nature of sin. We praise God that through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, his burial and resurrection, there is forgiveness. In our Saviour. but in our fallen state we continue to rebel against authority.
Self-autonomy. Self-actualization. Self-indulgence and selfishness are rife in our society. Many believe that no one can question their behavior. as it is for them to decide their own values, their own actions.
This is self-autonomy. This is expressive individualism. And it's all around us. People making themselves As the authority I'm not going to submit to anyone or anything. The results are disastrous.
Perhaps just as prevalent, many people just drift along. Their authority, if they have one, is the crowd. Follow everyone else. If everyone is doing something, it must be right.
So they pattern their lifestyle, their goals and ambitions after the current trends. But for followers of Jesus Christ it's altogether different. Submission is to be the lifestyle of the Christian. The pattern and example of this is found in our Lord Jesus Christ. In his incarnation, Jesus said that he had come not to do his own will, but the will of his Father.
The Son of God was always seeking to please his Father. he humbled himself to such an extent that he was obedient to death, even death on the cross.
So This attitude of submission and humility should characterize those who are following Jesus Christ. God is opposed to the proud But gives grace to to the humble Now, a demonstration of our humility is seen by not constantly asserting our own views. and not listening to others. Paul writes that we are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Self-will, lack of submission, and arrogance are disastrous in the home.
in personal relationships, and certainly in the church. Our ultimate submission is to God Himself. He's given us His Word, which is firmly fixed in the heavens. The grass withers. the flower fades, but the word of the Lord abides for ever.
God's word is perfect, it's pure, and it must be obeyed.
Sometimes in the church the leaders make themselves the authority. In cults, the leader of the cult makes commands which everyone must follow. He becomes the authority rather than the word of God. but it is essential that all of us, including leaders, are subject to the living word of God. There's a famous episode in the life of King James the Sixth of Scotland.
who also became King James I of England on the death of Queen Elizabeth I. James believed, James Stewart, he believed in the divine right of kings. This belief led to King James disagreeing with the leaders of the Scottish Church. Andrew Melville was the principal of St Mary's College in St Andrews, Scotland, and he found himself in conflict with King James. Ultimately, Melville was going to be imprisoned in the Tower of London by James and ultimately exiled.
But in this incident, Andrew Melville insisted that there were two kings and two kingdoms in Scotland. There is Christ Jesus the King and his kingdom and the kirk. And there is King James the Sixth, It was subject Through God's kingdom. And then the kingdom of God King James is not a king. Not a lord, not a head, but a member.
That is, the Scottish leaders would give due allegiance to James as the king of Scotland, but he was not king of the church. That is, even the king is to be submissive to the word of God. The Pharisees made their traditions the authority, and in so doing neglected the word of God. It's imperative that our submission is to the Word of God. which is the supreme authority for all of us.
There are those who believe that church traditions are on an equal level with the Word of God. but God's word stands over man's traditions. There are also those in the contemporary church who claim they've received some vision or word of knowledge from God. and in so doing make themselves the authority. They stand before the congregation and say they've received a vision from God.
In such churches, inevitably, the word of God is neglected or marginalized. And these extra-biblical statements become the authority and the focus. Let's be careful that all of us, without exception, are subject to the word of God. It is the inspired, inerrant word of God and is to be read, meditated on, understood, and obeyed. And in this way, we demonstrate our humility and submission.
And so the grace of God will be lavished. on us. Alexander. You're listening to the weekly Avizandam podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe. John is senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about the Verdict Ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com/slash the verdict.
