Are you willing to listen to and obey authority? Will you listen the person who has the authority over all? Will you obey the commands given the ultimate authority? Or will you reject or discard those commands? Have you obeyed? Are you convincing others to obey?
We, sometimes, take issue with those in authority. There are times when we may rightly do so. As humans, our authority is limited, even those who are in the highest positions of authority. As humans we are fallible and make mistakes or bad judgments.
Despite human failures, we are called to obey human authorities. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells the church in Rome to not only obey authorities, but whoever rebels against authority is rebelling against God (Romans 13:1-2). Why? He states that God has instituted that authority.
As the ultimate authority, Jesus stated we are to be born of water and Spirit or we cannot enter the kingdom of God. So, will we obey Him? Our human nature is to rebel. We think we know best. Especially within our American culture, we want to be in control. That means only doing what we want to do and obeying only what we believe is right.
Jesus, God incarnate, gave very few commands. Even His statement that we are to be born of water and Spirit is not a command. It is a principle, an if, then, else statement. If we want to enter the kingdom of God, we will be born of water and Spirit. Otherwise, will not enter the kingdom of God.
We have a choice to make. Yet, the choice cannot be flippant nor half-hearted. God sees into our hearts, and he knows our real motives. If someone is being baptized as a “just in case” insurance policy, it results in nothing more than the person getting wet. God is a forgiving God, but he also is a just God who expects obedience. May each of us choose wisely.
I pray we all recognize Jesus as our ultimate authority. I pray we seek follow God’s commands and principles. I pray each one of us will choose to commit to Jesus with our hearts. Know Jesus is the ultimate authority. Follow God’s commands. Follow God’s principles. Enter into God’s kingdom.
John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Marty Pressey 