There are two passages assigned for today!
SCRIPTURE: Ezra 5
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?” They also asked for the names of all the men working on the Temple. But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision. [Ezra 5:3-5]
Who gives you the right to do what you do, to say what you say?
When you speak, when you act, is it based only on your own opinions and convictions?
Who is the authority that you submit to, and therefore the authority that stands behind and before you?
If I am my own authority, then I am in trouble.
But if I bow before God, and seek to do His will above all else (even before my own will and purpose), then I can be confident that He will establish the work of my hands.
The Jews were challenged to reveal their authority, and because it was God, their efforts were protected.
If God is behind it, nothing can stop it.
When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?” “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John. But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things. [Matthew 21:23-27]
The religious leaders were also challenging Jesus about the authority behind His teaching and miracles.
Jesus does not answer their question directly, but asks them a question to reveal their heart’s true loyalty.
Through this question, Jesus exposes how they were more committed to themselves than to God; they were bowing to their own safety and comfort, not to God or to His truth.
God was not the authority behind them, because they were not submitting their hearts to Him.
For Jesus, Who was fully surrendered to God and His purpose, He was confident that behind and before Him was God and His purpose.
I need to submit my plans and efforts to God, so that He will be the authority and permission behind what I do.
I do not claim that everything I do and say is from God – I know my mixed motives too well.
But I do want to be surrendered to God above all, I do want His purpose to succeed, even if mine does not.
Its not about me and my agenda, its about God and His agenda.
I am confident that God’s kingdom will continue to unfold in me, through me, even despite me – and I am good with that.
I know that nothing can hinder God’s purpose because His authority is final.
After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, when the first disciples were facing opposition from the Jewish leaders, one leader made a very astute observation.
“Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered. “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” [Acts 5:35-39]
We can have this same confidence: if God is for us, who can be against us? [Romans 8:31]
PRAYER:
Lord, You are the authority and power behind me; I surrender my plans, my dreams, my agendas to You. May Your will be done in me and through me.