authority

Godly authority fills, it doesn't take.

Authority. What's your gut response to this word? What's my gut response to this word?For some, this word makes your heart buck up with a resounding refusal to heed.

For some, this word makes your heart shrink and cower with fear. For some, this word makes your heart swell with prideful domination. For some, your reaction may be completely different or a swirling combination of all of the above. But let me assure you...

Godly authority fills, it doesn't take.

"And He (God) put all things in subjection under His (Jesus') feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:22-23)

When people use their authority to take, it does not reflect the heart of God accurately.

Now to be sure, there are times when authority disciplines (and may seem to be taking) but really they are giving. Giving boundaries, giving truth, giving hope that they believe more for you! Think of a parent disciplining their child, they may appear to be taking as they remove a privilege, but really they are giving boundaries and not enabling their child so they can mature into the fullness of who they were created to be! So when I say that Godly authority doesn't take, I do not mean that it doesn't correct appropriately.

The verses before talk of the surpassing greatness of His power, the strength of His might, and how He is far above all rule and authority and power and dominion (Ephesians 1:19-21).

And He uses this authority to fill us.

"For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." (John 1:16)"...to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19)

"He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things." (Ephesians 4:10)

"...in which there is no distinction...but Christ is all, and in all." Colossians 3:11

Colossians 3 is talking about being made new in Christ, being renewed and renovated and saying that life in Christ is available to all...regardless of your race or how religious your background is, or what your status in society is. And that He can fill you!

All the empty spaces, made full. To complete where you've felt lack. To fill you to the top so you want nothing.

This is not to say that you'll get what you want in Christ. Or that He uses His authority to do what you want. But it is to say the He is the One who can fill all of you! The only One!

He is the One who completes you (Colossians 2:10).

He can fill all of you! Fulfill all of you.

My mom and I got to go to Israel one Thanksgiving holiday. We met, served and worshipped with people that my Grandad knew years before from a hippie commune back in the 60s in New Mexico. (A story for another day...) And while we were there, our hostess asked about my name. I confirmed, yes, it is indeed Jewish although I'm not and my parents didn't know the origin of the name when they chose it. She giggled a bit and asked me if I knew what it meant... it's not used now, but just a couple of generations ago it meant "chubby." It was slang for someone who was fat. But to those before, it meant "full." And to those before, it meant "fulfilled." And although the academic meaning of the original word is lost, a Hebrew scholar one time broke down my name and told me it most likely meant "the LORD has fulfilled."

The Lord has fulfilled. A work already done and yet continuing to be lived out. I'll take it. I'll take that meaning. I'll take the Lord filling and fulfilling me!

And where does this filling and fulfillment come from, walking in step with Him!

You see, submission in the Bible doesn't mean being walked over, taken advantage of, being a mindless robot or dutifully obeying.

Submitting means falling in line with, to go into battle together, to follow because you believe in the cause. It's saying, "Yes! I want to be where You are. I want to go where You are going. I believe in what You are doing. I will follow You! I will align with You. I am on Your team. Let's do this!"

It's acting and affirming what God says is true, even if I don't feel like it yet. And there is freedom in this (James 4:7)!

So for those who have been hurt or had something taken from you by someone in authority, I am so sorry. Let me assure you, they did not use their authority well.

For those who like to hurt or take from others with your authority, you need to stop. Nothing you can take from them will fill you. Only the Lord will.

And for all of us, may we find rest and take courage knowing that the power and authority of God is to fill us! Not to take from us. He is the strongest! He is the most powerful. And we can trust His strength, trust His authority. Perfectly. Better than any other... Why would we refuse Someone greater and stronger than ourselves when it's what we crave so desperately?

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion" ... "Safe?" said Mr Beaver ... "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” ~ CS Lewis in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe