Authority.
Do you know as a Christ follower you have authority? In Mathew 28:18-20 Jesus said: 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We see in these verses that Jesus has given us authority and charged us with the mission to go and make disciples. Since He has given us authority and mission we have the title as Jesus' ambassadors to the world! The Apostle Paul says it beautifully in 2 Corinthians 5:20: "20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
I want to encourage you, beloved, not to forget that you have been given this authority! I remember a time when I forgot that I had authority.
I was a manager at McDonald's and the transition from regular employee to a manager was diffidently felt. It was odd because I once had the same title as my co-workers then I was over them. Being a manager was a great teaching experience in how to lead. Oh ya, there were times I messed up! There were times I didn't think I could handle arguments or situations because I was younger than the people I was over. I forgot that I had authority!
Now, just because we have authority to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19) it doesn't mean we yell at people that they are doing wrong, pelt them with scripture and force Bibles in their hands. No, we speak the truth in love. Every person we encounter is beautifully different. Ask the Holy Spirit to word your mouth and He will help you witness and lead others to Christ.
Also we are not seen as ambassadors by our words alone, we are also representing Christ in how we live our lives. It is in how we show the world we our God's by not even having to open our mouths. The way we live will most certainly get the attention of others and may be the way a conversation about Jesus is started.
Be blessed, beloveds!
Do you know as a Christ follower you have authority? In Mathew 28:18-20 Jesus said: 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We see in these verses that Jesus has given us authority and charged us with the mission to go and make disciples. Since He has given us authority and mission we have the title as Jesus' ambassadors to the world! The Apostle Paul says it beautifully in 2 Corinthians 5:20: "20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
am·bas·sa·dor
amˈbasədər/
noun
- an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.
- a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity.
I want to encourage you, beloved, not to forget that you have been given this authority! I remember a time when I forgot that I had authority.
I was a manager at McDonald's and the transition from regular employee to a manager was diffidently felt. It was odd because I once had the same title as my co-workers then I was over them. Being a manager was a great teaching experience in how to lead. Oh ya, there were times I messed up! There were times I didn't think I could handle arguments or situations because I was younger than the people I was over. I forgot that I had authority!
Now, just because we have authority to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19) it doesn't mean we yell at people that they are doing wrong, pelt them with scripture and force Bibles in their hands. No, we speak the truth in love. Every person we encounter is beautifully different. Ask the Holy Spirit to word your mouth and He will help you witness and lead others to Christ.
Also we are not seen as ambassadors by our words alone, we are also representing Christ in how we live our lives. It is in how we show the world we our God's by not even having to open our mouths. The way we live will most certainly get the attention of others and may be the way a conversation about Jesus is started.
So, to all my fellow ambassadors, shine bright! Don't hide your light. The dark world we live in needs to see your example, needs to hear your words of life and is longing to know the One who is Love.
Speak boldly, speak confidently, speak Jesus.
Be blessed, beloveds!
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Mathew 5:14-16
Comments
Post a Comment