Free Church of Scotland Moderator Rev Callum Macleod addressed the Scottish Parliament today during the ‘Time for Reflection.’
A transcript of his address can be found below plus a link to the recorded message.
Time for Reflection, The Scottish Parliament, January 14, 2025
Presiding Office, Members of the Scottish Parliament, it is an honour for me to be invited to lead the Time of Reflection for today.
Having served in the pastoral ministry for over 24 years, I discovered that the key to effective service is to acknowledge our own insufficiency for the task, and to reach beyond ourselves for the help that enables effective, life-changing service.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, when he left his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, to take up Office, he said –
“I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail.”
Abraham Lincoln recognised his need for help from the living God, and he proved in his time to be a political genius and an effective leader.
Solomon succeeded David as King over God’s covenant people in the Old Testament. Recognising the huge task ahead of him, he made the following request –
“And now, O Lord my God…your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people…for who is able to govern this your great people?”
God gave King Solomon the wisdom he requested. He was famous as the King who established righteousness and justice in the land.
The Apostle Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, wrote to the church in Corinth in AD55. Corinth was a busy, commercial city, divided in its allegiance to leadership, disoriented in its morality, and diverse in its understanding of the source of wisdom.
Paul offered a single unified answer – Jesus Christ is ‘the power of God and the wisdom of God.’ Paul had previously depended on his own resources. But he now wants to share with them what he discovered for himself – Jesus ‘became wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption’.
In the midst of the complex issues that you seek to address as a Parliament, I commend to you the divine wisdom that made Abraham Lincoln, King Solomon, and the Apostle Paul, life-changing servants of the people in their own time.
Praying the Lord’s blessing on you in all your deliberations.
Leis gach dùrachd agus beannachd dhuibh uile na’r seirbhis.
Thank you. Tapa leibh.
You can view the address on the Scottish Parliament’s website by clicking this link