Devotional: Who has power and authority in our eyes?
In Mark 10:42-45, Jesus explained that among the Gentiles, those in high positions ruled; this was how you knew someone had power and authority in the Gentile world. But who has the power and authority in our world today?
Obviously, it’s those who have money; are of a certain class/high-ranking position; and, those who have all the worldly possessions. While it’s tempting to live, striving to be like those people with money, high-rank or smothered in worldly possessions, Jesus teaches his disciples that in order to be the greatest among all, you have to be a servant to all.
What does it mean to be a servant?
Being a servant doesn’t mean sucking up to people or doing everything someone tells you to do. It’s more than how the modern world has defined as a servant too. So, how can we know what it means to be a servant? Jesus said that He came to serve not to be served. So, if we want to see how we can live as a servant, we look towards Jesus. There was one thing we find in His words and actions that made it possible to live as a person of power and authority i.e. a servant.
Living as a person of power and authority
The secret is…. Obedience to God. I initially thought the secret was humility; but that isn’t the case because if you aren’t obedient to God, you wouldn’t be able to have humility. So, it starts with obedience to God.
Being obedient to God means always seeking Him; reading the Word to know more about Him; and praying to Him for guidance. Once we have this, we will have true access to humility; the humility of Jesus.
Having the humility of Jesus means to be being able to love someone even if they hurt you. It means whenever you’re having an argument with someone, you desire fruitful discussions instead of winning the argument. Having humility means that if you’ve done something wrong, you are quick to ask for forgiveness; and if someone has done wrong to you, you are even quicker to forgive. That is what living as a person of power and authority looks like.
Being last in order to be first
It’s not easy to give up the world’s perception of power and authority; it’s so enticing to our flesh. But even more, it’s what Satan uses to pull us away from God. As it says in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” As people who have received the Holy Spirit, to fight against these spiritual forces, we have no excuse. As people who have witnessed, read and heard of how Jesus lived, we have no excuse. As people who know what it means to really means to be first, we have no excuse.
Dear heavenly Father,
Thank you that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to show us how to live. Thank you that you sent the Holy Spirit to help us fight against evil forces. I pray that I can be obedient to You and serve others as Christ did when He was on Earth.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.