Authority that Comes from Above

The first chapter of the Gospel of Mark highlights some of the disciples and describes some of Jesus’ miracles of healing and driving out of demons.

We all know it is essential to make our best efforts to have knowledge and education and to obtain more skills. It is also essential that we have plans and attitudes of perseverance in reaching them. Achieving these goals sometimes puts us in “positions of authority.”

However, the Bible teaches us that “to humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue” (Proverbs 16:1).

There is something that strengthens all our skills and gives direction to all our plans: to conform them to the Lord’s will, the authority that comes from above. The word “authority” is mentioned twice in this chapter, referring to the way Jesus taught and performed miracles.

It is not enough for us to acquire knowledge and skills or to make plans that look good in our eyes. It is not even sufficient for us to know the Bible, to go to church and Sunday school, or to work in ministry, whether with a church or through organizations such as Compassion. We must have the authority that comes from above, obtained only through a life dedicated to God, a life willing to surrender self to the Lord’s will.

Without authority from God, we live and work as people who chase after the wind.

“The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law…They asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.’” –Mark 1:22, 27, NIV

Prayer: Lord, help us to live our days so that we achieve the authority that comes from above, because only then will the Lord’s deeds be accomplished through our lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Eduardo Idalgo works as a Ministry Services Manager in our office in
Brazil.

Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.