Showing posts with label Principle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Principle. Show all posts

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Delegation of Authority

Focus verses: John 5:30-47 and Mark 3:13-19

There is a foundational principle in today's reading. All authority comes from God. Jesus spoke of God's authority as being superior to His own while he was incarnate on earth.

He did nothing on earth that He did not see the Father doing in the heavenlies. All He did was to please the Father.

Jesus knew that His time on earth was limited and that peoples' vision was limited to the earthly. Therefore, He appointed the apostles - the twelve - to go and do as He told them. He gave them authority to preach and power over demons. He could not have done that had the Father not delegated that authority to Him.

The lesson for us in these verses is that we have only the authority that God delegates to us. If we are to know what He allows us to do, we need to be reading His word all the time. We need to spend time in His presence. We need to become a temple of the Holy Spirit, so that He can whisper in our ears all day long.

That immediate communion with the God-head that the Holy Spirit provides is key to our living a Christ-like life.

Father, God,

Keep us aware of our position in Your kingdom. Imbue us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may be in constant communion with You, whether kneeling in sanctuary or scrubbing toilets. We would, like Brother Lawrence, practice the presence of God. Help us stay close to You.
In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Minding Your Business

Focus verses: Proverbs 27:23-27

Today's readings talk about prosperity and diligence, and laziness and poverty. The general thought is that diligence brings prosperity and laziness leads to poverty.

Our focus passage, however, talks about tending to what you have, taking good care of what is yours right now. The thought is that if you tend to what is, more will come. But if you neglect what you have, it will dissipate to nothing.

This principle holds true for other areas of life as well as the flocks and herds mentioned here.

If you maintain your house, repainting and repairing when needed, it will last forever. If you defer that maintenance, it will fall down around your ears.

Your personal relationships require constant maintenance. You can't risk taking friends and family for granted. And you certainly can't risk it with God.

Father, God,

Help us to appreciate what You have given us. Keep us on track to be faithful stewards of all your gifts to us.
In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.