I was driving the family to church one Sunday morning on the highway. The posted speed limit was 65 mph. I won’t tell you how fast I was going in case you are a state trooper reading this. Let’s just say the other cars were going really fast and I was caught in the middle so I had to keep up. However, I noticed something very interesting as we were barreling down the interstate. We kept getting closer to a car that had a stream of lights in the back window. The windows on the car were tinted and the car had no visible markings on the outside. As we got closer we all began to realize we were catching up to what looked like an unmarked police car.
When we got close enough to verify it was a police car something very peculiar happened, we all slowed down to the speed limit. Not one car went speeding past that police officer. I would see cars coming up really fast in my rearview mirror and they would zoom past me but when they noticed that unmarked police car the brake lights came on and they too slowed down to the speed limit.
What’s interesting is the police didn’t ask us to slow down but because we recognized the authority the police had we all slowed down. This taught me a very important lesson about authority. When you have real authority you don’t have to tell people, they recognize it. When you look at Jesus’ life he demonstrated this because when he showed up things changed. When he spoke winds, waves, storms, diseases, demons and even death had to respond to his authority. Sometimes Jesus didn’t even have to say a word but his mere presence demonstrated his authority.
Jesus said all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. All this simply means is that Jesus has the right to intervene in any situation whenever he chooses and no one can stop him. However, there is something else Jesus did for us as believers, he gave us authority. Notice Luke 9:1-2 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”
As believers and disciples of Christ he has given us authority. Authority to speak. Authority to heal and authority to proclaim the kingdom of God. Does that mean we can go and do whatever we want? Absolutely not. It does mean however that we can walk into any situation and have impact and influence to change the situation. In other words, chaos could be ensuing but when authority shows up, that’s you by the way, order is restored. Authority calms fears, gives courage and brings peace. When authority shows up people feel like everything is going to be alright.
Recognize today that wherever you are God has strategically placed you there and given you authority to proclaim the kingdom of God and to impact the lives of those around you. I challenge you today to represent God’s kingdom with the authority he has given you because there are lives hanging in the balance waiting for you to show up.
