INTRODUCTION

One of the most important issues that every believer must face involves the question of ultimate authority. The Pharisees abused their God-given authority by “laying aside the commandment of God” and replacing it with “the tradition of men” (Mark 7:8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
See All...). They simply transgressed “the commandment of God” in order to obey and follow their tradition (Matthew 15:3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
See All...). Through these unwise actions, they plainly declared that the traditions of men were their ultimate authority rather than God and His word. As a result, the Lord Jesus said they made the word of God of none effect. This same truth applies today. When a man accepts men’s traditions as superior to the scripture, he makes scripture ineffective for God’s intended purposes. The Bible must be believed in order for it to be effectual (1 Thessalonians 2:13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Tradition places three wise men at the manger scene. The Bible never specifies how many wise men came but simply mentions three gifts. When the wise men reached Bethlehem, Jesus was a child living in a house (Matthew 2:1-2 [1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, [2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
  See All..., 9-11). Will you believe the Bible over any tradition?
• (For everyone): What are some beliefs that you hold dear? What is your authority for holding onto those beliefs? Are any of those unscriptural? If so, will you accept the traditions of men over the scripture?
• What are some common beliefs that people hold that are unscriptural? Where did those doctrines originate? Is there any scripture that plainly shows those doctrines unscriptural?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to help you maintain the proper authority.
• Ask the Lord to show you any unscriptural views you have.

HYMN

THE OLD BOOK AND THE OLD FAITH

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