Numbers 11:16–17, 24–29; Ephesians 2:11–22; Matthew 7:28–8:4
When I worked as a security officer, the expression, “Who’s in charge?” gave me both comfort and fear—comfort because usually I wasn’t in charge, and fear that maybe I had made a mistake.
Moses was the leader of the Israelites, but God was the one in charge. When managing the Israelites became too much for Moses alone, God anointed 70 handpicked elders to assist Moses. Even though two of those elders failed to show up at the appointed place and time, God still shared with them the Spirit he had given Moses, reminding us that it is God who gives authority.
Likewise, Jesus’ authority, which came when God the Father shared his Spirit with his incarnate Son at his baptism, is demonstrated consistently in Jesus’ teachings and healings. Even the people felt it. They clearly saw that Jesus had the authority of God.
It is the same with us, the disciples of Jesus. We can take comfort in knowing our authority to share the gospel and to live together as one “family of faith” comes from Jesus, who, as the cornerstone of this “household of faith” is building us into a “dwelling place” for his Holy Spirit, for the sake of the world’s salvation.
Prayer: Eternal God, we give thanks that you are in charge of the transformation of the world and ask that by your Holy Spirit we may be found to be faithful disciples of Jesus in the process. Amen.
Today’s devotion was written by William E. Maki, Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, St. Marys, OH.