Thursday, February 17, 2011
2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God.
WHAT GOD PLEASES IN YOU! -- HIS AUTHORITY
When Paul wants to begin talking about evangelism, He begins with the authority of Christ. "All things are of God."
This is hardly a surprise because this is where Christ himself begins the great commission. "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." This great commission appears as the final instruction to the church in all four of the gospels and again in the beginning of Acts. And every time we are thus urged by Christ to go forth and spread the news of our Savior, the authority of Christ is at the heart of that urging. Like a snow plow going before us making it possible for us to go forward in this task.
Christ's authority is essential because it means that Christ is in control of the world. Christ will open doors for and preserve his people. Christ's authority is important because it means that He has control of the Church. It is his mission, and His work. But even more importantly, the authority of Christ is important because it means He has authority over your life as His witness.
This can be a scary thing. This can be a terrifying thing -- for someone else to control our life. Yet, if we are going to be faithful witnesses to His name, it will begin with His leading us to put our life in His hands -- allowing our life to become what He pleases it to become. We need to begin by allowing Him to shape and mold us. And yes, He may use us in ways we don't like. He may even send us down to the gutter to lie there until such a one as J B comes along, as He did to that servant girl who became a witness to Naaman. But then it is not about us, it is about what God pleases to do for us and in us and through us for our fellow men.
