In The Margins

by Justan Borth

“I don’t care what you want to do. Your curfew is at 11:00, so you will be home at 11:00—and that’s final.”
Sound familiar? I’m sure many of you have had conversations like that with your parents. I remember one night when I wanted to stay out with my friends longer. I called my dad and tried everything—bartering, reasoning, even softening my tone—to convince him to let me stay. But he wasn’t having it. My curfew didn’t budge. I ended the night annoyed and frustrated… but I was home by 11:00.

Why did I obey? Because my dad had authority in my life. As the parent, he had the final say. His authority determined my actions.

The same is true for us as Christians. Our beliefs, behavior, and obedience hinge on how we view Scripture—specifically its authority. The Bible isn’t just another book; it stands above every other power and opinion.

Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

I love starting sermons with that verse. I’ll read the passage for the day, then say it out loud, and the congregation responds with “Amen.” Why? Because it reminds us of the weight of Scripture. These aren’t just words on a page—they are God’s words, alive and eternal. When we believe and obey Scripture, we are believing and obeying God Himself. When we ignore it, we are ignoring Him.
That’s what the authority of Scripture means: on every matter, the Bible gets the final word. It becomes the filter for our choices, the lens through which we make decisions. Before acting, we should ask: Does this align with biblical principles? Does Scripture speak directly to this situation?

When you run your decisions through the authority of Scripture, you can be confident you’re honoring God.
Scripture will guide how you manage conflict.
Scripture will set boundaries for relationships and purity.
Scripture will shape how you handle money.
Scripture will even tell you how to honor your parents.
The world has endless opinions, but Scripture has the final say. And when you live under its authority, you’ll find clarity, wisdom, and the confidence to follow God faithfully.

Reflective questions:
-Are there parts of the Bible that feel hard for you to believe or follow? How do you think God wants you to respond to those struggles?
-In what ways have you let Scripture shape your choices and actions? In what ways have you resisted? What would it look like to surrender more fully to its authority?
-Is there an area of your life—like friendships, relationships, school, or habits—that you haven’t fully submitted to God’s Word? How could you take a step toward change?

Further study and reading: 2 Timothy 3