Authority
My wife and I were recently watching one of those British murder mysteries. The “team” was at the shipyard and needed to talk to the Port Authority. That got me thinking about authority, which led to Jesus being given all authority, including the port 😉.
If I just think I believe something and try to act on it, well, I’m just guessing. That’s not what God wants, and it rarely turns out well; trust me, I’ve had a few spectacular failures! Faith is a funny thing. For faith to be true, it must only be built upon Christ’s authority.
This is why Paul wrote in Galatians 3:26, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Our faith in the absolute authority of Jesus is the raw material for making hope. And faith is only real when we trust God for things we don’t know. Human knowledge is fallible, but Spirit-revealed knowledge is unshakable.
I may “know” a bridge is safe, but when I walk on it, it may collapse! But I know that Jesus is alive and seated at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19), and nothing can change my mind.
That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. - 2 Timothy 1:12
God’s response to our stepping out in faith may never be observed, but the only KPI (Key Performance Indicator) by which we will be judged by Jesus is our faithfulness. And true faith is anchored in the authority of Jesus.
I can testify that Jesus has never failed me when I have given my problems to Him and trusted in His authority. He may not do what I expect, when I expect, or how I expect, but in His way, Jesus has always brought me through every problem. How could I ask for more? I pray the same for you.
By the way, how can you trust what I have written? You can because all I’ve done is expound on Matthew 28:18 (NIV): “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” And Jesus was confirming the completion of the vision God gave Daniel.
As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. - Daniel 7:13-14 NLT
Live for Jesus. That’s what matters.
Photo by Nathan Shively on Unsplash