Focal Passage: John 2:1-16
Being a pastor’s wife, parent and social worker have all given me opportunities to consider the role of authority. I have observed struggles over the word “submit” in wedding vows and the increasing use of the psychological diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder for children who resist authority. The issue of authority comes up every day. As a Christian, I choose daily whether or not to submit to the authority of the Lord, Jesus Christ, in my life. Don’t we all want to experience the joy of making this choice in every role we fill each day?
Our Bible study lesson illustrates that the child of God demonstrates that he is acknowledging the authority of his heavenly Father when we obey Him. It is in the following of Jesus’ instructions that the first miracle of his ministry is accomplished.
A child demonstrates the faith he has in his parent when he jumps into their waiting arms in the swimming pool or places their hand in their parent’s hand as they cross the street. As a Christian, we acknowledge the authority of Jesus Christ in our life when we jump into the place He has called us to serve or we place our hand in His as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We place our growing faith in Him and demonstrate that through actions of trust.
The act of genuine worship also demonstrates that Jesus has authority over us. It begins by choosing to be in a house of worship instead of at the lake or in the bed. It continues by committing our full attention to the leaders of worship and participating in spirit and truth (John 4:23). We carry the joy of genuine worship as we leave a building and show, through our daily decisions, that Jesus is our authority. In the July 31 e-newsletter Biblical Recorder there were joyous accounts of obedience to Christ as believers responded to God’s calling to start a Bible study or be politically active to protect Christian values. These believers acknowledged the authority of Jesus in their lives, by their actions.