Avizandum. 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 avizandum. Sitting at the side of a swimming pool, I saw a man pushing a wheelchair. On it sat a disabled young man.
Probably in his twenties, his arms and his legs were painfully thin, and clearly the use of his limbs was very limited. He was wearing sunglasses and a white hat. His father and a young woman, presumably his sister, gently took him from the wheelchair and sat him on the side of the swimming pool. The father jumped into the pool. And then he and the young woman gently lured the young man into his father's arms.
The father stood in the swimming pool, holding his son with one arm and putting the other arm around the young man's shoulder. The father walked in the pool, holding the young man. It was a very moving scene, and all the more remarkable when the young man turned towards me. His face was glowing. He had a huge smile.
The joy of the young man, and the compassion and love of his father, were obvious to everyone. His sister, who was looking on, was beaming. I thought of the self-sacrifice of the father in getting the young man ready to come to the swimming pool, but the father showed no irritation. No impatience, quite the opposite. His tenderness for his son, his obvious love and care, were extraordinary.
As well as being very moved by this scene in the swimming pool, I was also sobered by how easy it is for me to jump in and out of a swimming pool, independent of anyone, to come and go as I want. This young man was completely dependent on his father and sister, but while he couldn't swim, his delight in being in the swimming pool, in the arms of his father, were obviously a delightful experience. As I sat and watched, I thought of very scriptures which explain the love of our heavenly Father for us, were loved. With a never-lasting love, Psalm 103 verse 13 reads, "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him." Yes, our heavenly Father shows His compassion to those who fear Him.
Soon after the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, the Lord says to Moses. You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Again, we see the care and the tenderness of God for His people. Perhaps you're having a difficult day. Life is hard.
Don't be discouraged. God is your heavenly father, and there is much more compassion, tenderness, love, and care for you than any father has for his children. Deuteronomy thirty-three, verse twenty-seven: The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. This young man in the swimming pool had his father's arms underneath him, supporting him, making him feel secure and comfortable. The father was never going to take away his supporting arms from his son.
He would never let the son be submerged in the swimming pool. Brother, sister, today remember this. The everlasting arms of your heavenly Father, are underneath you. When the Lord taught his disciples to pray, he began by saying, "Our Father in heaven." Jesus is encouraging us to ask, to seek, and to knock, and he gives the illustration of the father who likes to give good gifts to his children. Then Jesus says.
How much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him? Paul begins some of his epistles by saying, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." So, in the varying circumstances and experiences of our lives, we must remember that we have a good Father. A kind father, a strong father, a caring father, a father who always seeks our best, a father in heaven whose love for us will never end, a father who gives us eternal life, and we shall never perish. Avizandum. You're listening to the weekly Avizandum 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.
