Authority
Authority
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 18-19
The Great Commission- the mission given to the disciples and the church body. I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit lately. We have been given authority. The authority was given to Jesus by The Father, which was delegated to us…to me. Like with all authority, it comes with great responsibility. In fact, the greater the authority, the greater the responsibility. This is the greatest of all authority and responsibility.
Jesus, before giving us this authority, became a man. The authority came with a price. The price tag was pain and suffering. He was bruised, beaten, despised, rejected, betrayed. & denied. His crown wasn’t made of Jewels. He wore a crown of thorns instead. With nail pierced hands He died on a cross for you and me. His authority didn’t come with elegance or prestige.
Then the revelation…the light bulb moment… Knowing Jesus suffered, bled, and died to save us and to give us this authority and calling as Christians, who am I to question it? Who am I to squander, abuse, negotiate, deny, or mishandle this authority and calling in my life? Who am I to say I’m not good enough or able enough after everything He went through? After all, He never said I must do anything. He said it’s Christ who lives in me…and that I can do all things THROUGH Christ.
Don’t talk yourself out of what God has in mind for you. He will always equip those He calls. Let’s go forward with authority. May we answer His call all to the glory of God.