12 Sep Walking in God’s Authority
The word “authority” often carries a negative connotation. It reminds us of teachers giving us work we didn’t want to do or coaches yelling at us to take the line.
But as we get older, we realize that authority is actually a beneficial thing. In fact, it’s necessary if we want to reach our full potential. Especially when we’re referring to the authority of God.
My wife told me a story recently that proves this point well. One day, as we were preparing to leave the office, a little boy from the K-4 Faith Academy class ran up to get a drink of water from the water fountain.
Tamara just so happened to be walking by, so she stopped and asked him, “How are you doing buddy?”
He said, “I couldn’t even kick the ball in the kickball game! I’m such a loser.” Hearing Tamara imitate the little boy, not yet able to say his “r’s” properly makes the story even that much better!
My wife bent down and looked at the little kid eye-to-eye. She said sternly, “You’re not a loser. God made you, and because you’re His child, you’ll always be a winner.”
The kid slowly lifted his eyes up until they met hers. His mouth started to form a half-smile, as his 4-year-old macho personality tried to fight it.
She smiled at him and said, “Now let me hear it. What are you?”
“I’m a winner!” he responded, this time breaking into in a full grin.
He gave her a high-five, and then ran back to his class much happier and much more confident than before.
That’s exactly how we’re to walk through life—knowing we are winners not because of what we can do, but because of Whose we are.
In 2 Corinthians 10:8, Paul says, “I boast freely about the authority the Lord gave us… I am not going to be ashamed of it.”
We should strive to live the same way– confident that we can overcome any challenge because we serve a mighty God.
In order to fully live with this authority, we’ve first got to fully understand it. We do that by studying God’s Word and allowing it to take roots in our hearts.
We don’t read the Scripture with a hard heart, allowing bitterness from the past to steal our belief. We don’t allow other things to distract us, and like weeds, keep God’s Word from taking root.