Matthew 21:23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

Authority is an issue in virtually every area of life, and it is closely related to rights. A vitally important distinctive of the US Declaration of Independence and Constitution is the assertion that our rights are given to us by our Creator, and not by the government we happen to live under. There are those today who are openly mocking that principle, because they want to be on the side of those doling out those rights, but they are forgetting the whole matter of authority. They don’t have the authority to do such things! Human society tends to operate on power, of one sort or another, as in the saying, “Might makes right.” However, even by that standard, God is omnipotent by definition, which makes Him right in any and every circumstance. In the situation here, Jesus was clearly operating in great authority, and the human “authorities” knew it didn’t come from them, so it made them very nervous. They wanted to be in control, and Jesus was totally out of their control. That, ultimately, was why they crucified Him, but their actions in no way diminished His authority or power. After His resurrection some repented and believed, but the majority clung to their delusions of authority and power, and so went to eternal destruction. For everyone lower than God, authority is always delegated, in some fashion. That’s why Jesus explicitly gave His disciples authority to drive out demons. (Luke 9:1) It is also why, before issuing the Great Commission, Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) It follows that when we are obedient to Him, we are operating in His authority, and that is a position of power indeed. We are never to think that the authority originates with us, but at the same time, we are not to doubt His authority that operates through us. That can be called humble assurance, and those who operate in it are more powerful than any human government or agency.

I have always been somewhat uneasy with authority, and that hasn’t been a good thing. On the one hand, I have had the conceit of feeling like if I thought something should be a certain way, that was the way it should be. On the other hand, I have recognized that authority includes responsibility, and I have wanted to avoid that. Being the one in charge also means being the one responsible! At the moment, I am literally the Elder Christian minister in this city, and in Japanese society, that automatically confers on me a level of authority. Concurrent with that, I realized years ago that God had given me spiritual authority over this city, and to a degree, over this nation. The question arises, how have I exercised that authority? I do pray blessing over each of the churches in this city every week, but that’s a very small expression. I need to be actively seeking the will of the One who has given me every bit of authority that I might possess, because only then will that authority operate properly in and through me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me recognize Your authority in me in full humility, so that indeed, Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your rule and reign be established as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!