Having Authority
Authority was a bad word for me as I grew up. It seemed I was constantly in trouble with authority figures. There was a teacher who slapped me in the face because I wouldn't listen to her. There was also a school principal whom I would visit on a regular basis for violating rules. As a result, I would have to bend over and receive five swats with a strap, which would make me smile because it really didn't hurt.
My most feared authority figure was my P.E. teacher. I got in trouble during one of my P.E. periods for running up behind other boys and pulling their shorts down. That earned me two whacks with a wooden paddle. Now, that hurt! I didn't do it again. There are other examples, but I'm sure you get the picture.
I never saw myself as having authority. I was always the victim.
So, you might wonder, why did I ever join the military (AUTHORITY)? I don't have an answer other than that I didn't know what else to do. I felt rudderless, going nowhere fast. I had no clue. God had a clue. While I was ignoring Him, He put me where I needed to be.
It wasn't long after I had joined the Army that I was introduced to two concepts of authority: Vested Authority and Earned Authority.
Vested Authority is what is given to you because of your rank or position. The title of boss comes with Vested Authority. You are the decision-maker, you write evaluations for the people who work for you, and you can spend money.
Then there is Earned Authority: authority given to you out of respect for your character and the way you conduct yourself. It involves leadership, listening, sharing, and giving respect to others. As it has been said to me, "It's a two-way street."
Christ came into this world as a humble child, poor and a nobody. It was His Father who provided Him with Vested Authority as "the Son of the Living God." Christ earned authority through loving and caring for those He came into contact with. There was no beating people over the head with a hammer approach. Christ offered what His Father had given Him.
As one who came into this world without earthly authority, Christ came to touch your life.
Do you have trouble with authority? Try Christ. He will surprise you. You can accept Him, reject Him, or just walk away. But He will be quietly waiting for you when you decide.
God loves you.
Just a Thought, not a Sermon
My most feared authority figure was my P.E. teacher. I got in trouble during one of my P.E. periods for running up behind other boys and pulling their shorts down. That earned me two whacks with a wooden paddle. Now, that hurt! I didn't do it again. There are other examples, but I'm sure you get the picture.
I never saw myself as having authority. I was always the victim.
So, you might wonder, why did I ever join the military (AUTHORITY)? I don't have an answer other than that I didn't know what else to do. I felt rudderless, going nowhere fast. I had no clue. God had a clue. While I was ignoring Him, He put me where I needed to be.
It wasn't long after I had joined the Army that I was introduced to two concepts of authority: Vested Authority and Earned Authority.
Vested Authority is what is given to you because of your rank or position. The title of boss comes with Vested Authority. You are the decision-maker, you write evaluations for the people who work for you, and you can spend money.
Then there is Earned Authority: authority given to you out of respect for your character and the way you conduct yourself. It involves leadership, listening, sharing, and giving respect to others. As it has been said to me, "It's a two-way street."
Christ came into this world as a humble child, poor and a nobody. It was His Father who provided Him with Vested Authority as "the Son of the Living God." Christ earned authority through loving and caring for those He came into contact with. There was no beating people over the head with a hammer approach. Christ offered what His Father had given Him.
As one who came into this world without earthly authority, Christ came to touch your life.
Do you have trouble with authority? Try Christ. He will surprise you. You can accept Him, reject Him, or just walk away. But He will be quietly waiting for you when you decide.
God loves you.
Just a Thought, not a Sermon
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