Gay marriage. Nuclear Weapons. Economic Stability. War. The odd moment that I tune into CNN, these seem to be the hot topics. I have my opinions on each topic. So does the rest of the world. Who's right? Who's wrong?
Authority. Just as many differing opinions that surface on each topic that causes eye browse to straighten and chest muscles to tighten ... there are that many differing sources of authority.
It's my blog. I only want to and can speak about from where my authority comes. It used to come from myself. I took my upbringing, my opinions and my worldview to form my platforms about life. If the topic fit well into my platform, my ideals, my worldview then it was accepted. If not, throw it out and all who buy into it's value.
Now ... I have chosen to accept the authority that comes from a living God.
I'm not weighing in on gay marriage, nuclear weapons, economic stability or war. What I am weighing in on is my own heart. My authority tells me to love ... to treat others as I would like to be treated ... to not think better of myself ... to forgive ... and forgive again ... to give to those who have not ... and those who have ... to show grace. Taken by themselves, these concepts are not easy to live out on a daily basis. Throw in a conflict ... and it seems impossible to live out.
That's where the kicker comes. My authority gives me the power to love ... when I am being hated. My authority gives me the power to treat others better than myself ... when they are acting better than me. My authority gives me the power to forgive ... when the unforgivable has been done. My authority gives me the power to show grace ... even when I don't feel very graceful.
My authority, the person of Jesus, went to a cross for His commitment to His authority, his Father ... God. He choose to die an unjust death for those who didn't approve of him, his methods or his worldview. Yet, he did it ... out of love for and devotion to ... those who disagreed with him. Their lack of acceptance didn't sway his level of commitment. They were not his authority. He answered to a higher authority ... God almighty. God gave him the power to do the unthinkable ... to give his own life.
You don't have to agree with me. I don't have to agree with you. What I do have to do ... because of my commitment to God ... THE authority in my life ... is to love you. That's how I know there is authority in my Authority ... He has given me the ability ... in the very condition of my heart ... to do what on my own is impossible. He has transformed my own heart to accept ... with not approving ... and still love.
Authority. Just as many differing opinions that surface on each topic that causes eye browse to straighten and chest muscles to tighten ... there are that many differing sources of authority.
It's my blog. I only want to and can speak about from where my authority comes. It used to come from myself. I took my upbringing, my opinions and my worldview to form my platforms about life. If the topic fit well into my platform, my ideals, my worldview then it was accepted. If not, throw it out and all who buy into it's value.
Now ... I have chosen to accept the authority that comes from a living God.
I'm not weighing in on gay marriage, nuclear weapons, economic stability or war. What I am weighing in on is my own heart. My authority tells me to love ... to treat others as I would like to be treated ... to not think better of myself ... to forgive ... and forgive again ... to give to those who have not ... and those who have ... to show grace. Taken by themselves, these concepts are not easy to live out on a daily basis. Throw in a conflict ... and it seems impossible to live out.
That's where the kicker comes. My authority gives me the power to love ... when I am being hated. My authority gives me the power to treat others better than myself ... when they are acting better than me. My authority gives me the power to forgive ... when the unforgivable has been done. My authority gives me the power to show grace ... even when I don't feel very graceful.
My authority, the person of Jesus, went to a cross for His commitment to His authority, his Father ... God. He choose to die an unjust death for those who didn't approve of him, his methods or his worldview. Yet, he did it ... out of love for and devotion to ... those who disagreed with him. Their lack of acceptance didn't sway his level of commitment. They were not his authority. He answered to a higher authority ... God almighty. God gave him the power to do the unthinkable ... to give his own life.
You don't have to agree with me. I don't have to agree with you. What I do have to do ... because of my commitment to God ... THE authority in my life ... is to love you. That's how I know there is authority in my Authority ... He has given me the ability ... in the very condition of my heart ... to do what on my own is impossible. He has transformed my own heart to accept ... with not approving ... and still love.
