I've been thinking a lot lately about the authority of Jesus. One day I was driving in my car, and it just struck me. ALL authority is His. All of it. Whew. If I could really grasp this (which maybe I'm hopefully starting to do?), it would change my perspective on many, many things. I'm even going to use bullet points to share them.
- All authority: I'm home alone tonight, and I'm often terrified of the tiniest spooky sound. But all authority is His! Therefore, I do not entertain fear. If something were to happen, it would be under His good allowance (ie., when Jesus tells Pilate that he has no power except what the Father has given him). And if nothing should happen, it's because His authority has deemed nothing to happen.
- All authority: cancer, AIDS, heart attacks, car accidents, the laws of physics and chemistry are subject to Jesus. He says, "Be healed," and we're healed. He says, "Come home," and we go.
- All authority: Nature itself is under His rule. He tells the tide where to stop; He is in the whirlwind and the storm. Natural disasters, drought, full harvests and fruit are because His wisdom has spoken the word.
- All authority: Alot of demonic stuff has been recently happening to different people I know. But really, I'm not giving it that much thought. All authority belongs to Jesus, so I will not be afraid. Why would I respond to Satan's false claims?
I know there are some significant complications in all this (free will and sin), and I'm not too interested in mentally dissecting everything for myself tonight. When I was in high school, I was crazy about finding all the right rhetorical ways to debate this stuff. But tonight, I just want to rest in the simplicity of this promise: that all authority is His.
I don't have authority over my own life, and woohoo! I mean, I hate to make decisions- why would I want to take authority over my life anyways? If I decide to go to Chilis for dinner, I wish I went to Chipotle. If I buy a purple bed spread, I immediately wish I'd bought green. I can't make any good choices! I don't know the future, and better to leave the shots to the One who does.
My friends don't have authority over my life, and hallelujah! People's opinions change everyday, and I could never keep up trying to change them/ always win people over.
My circumstances don't have authority in my life because I've already placed my joy in Jesus! If I lose my money, I'm okay, because my joy wasn't in money anyways. If I have a lame job, I'm okay, because my joy wasn't in work anyways. And if under God's good authority I get sick, I'm okay, because then I get to see Jesus, who is my joy anyways!
I recognize the authority of Jesus in my life today. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. The authority over my life is rightly His, and ultimately His no matter what I decide. But I willingly surrender it, without fight or fear. This is the most beautiful, peace-producing way to live!
well, i had a really good comment written a couple of days ago and then couldn't post it through my phone. i wanted to say that i love the freedom with which you accept the Lord's authority. i struggle so much with it, especially in the area of sickness and safety. i could walk in total peace if i could just grasp the fullness of what you're talking about - the sovereignty and authority that cannot be taken away from a good God, One who loves us so deeply. think of the miraculous things He could do in our lives if we just walk in this simple acceptance. it's an invitation to the Holy Spirit to work wonders in our daily mundane. and a step into the life that, i think, God has truly planned for us.
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