These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. No one is to disregard you.
College professors usually speak with a lot of authority on their given subject. This is because they have studied the subject intensely to get a PhD, which often elevates them to expert status on that topic. Imagine how different it would be if a professor stood in front of a college class and was obviously unsure about what he or she was teaching. If the professor seemed unprepared and uninformed, many students would quickly discredit him or her. That simple change in demeanor could make an informative lecture into a confusing mess, even if the one teaching was actually qualified.
Paul reminded Titus that it is important to understand and remember the authority Jesus has given His people. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
In the Great Commission, Jesus gave the authority that fueled the message. It is not based on man’s strength or good ideas; Jesus sent us out based on the authority God gave Him. How often do followers of Christ forget we have been given this authority! If we feel like we lack authority when sharing the gospel, it might be that we’re not living under that authority ourselves. Jesus operated with complete authority because of what had been given Him by the Father. And now, Jesus has given us the authority to operate with full confidence as we pursue His mission in the world.
- What does it mean to live under God’s authority?
- Why do you think we easily forget about the authority we have been given? What gets in the way?
- Pray and thank God for the confidence we can have in the gospel as we share with others.
