Authority puts demands on our love.

Wherever Jesus went, crowds formed when it was known that He was there. People were drawn to Him. Not just because He did miracles, though that would be a huge draw. I think they were also drawn to His authority. People like to be told what to do. We’re like baby birds, we like to be fed.

But Jesus left and gave His authority to us. Suddenly, we’re not just baby birds with our mouths open wide anymore. Suddenly, we’re supposed to be the ones bringing salvation, healing, and deliverance. The authority has some weight on our shoulders. It doesn’t feel comfortable.

We’d rather let someone else do that stuff while we continue to be fed. That authority takes responsibility, and responsibility makes demands on us. That’s what maturity and growth in the kingdom calls for. If we are to be known by our love, then we have to be open to loving when it’s needed. And that need rarely comes at convenient times.

The authority we’ve been given assumes that we want to be obedient to the Great Commission. If we’re not willing to do that, we have to ask ourselves why. Laziness is not an option. Selfishness is not an option. Love is the only option, and that will require maturity to be available when we are needed.

It’s time to grow up. It’s time to be who we’ve been called to be and love, really love.