AUTHORITATIVE

“The reason was that He taught with authority and not like their scribes.” —Matthew 7:29

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day did not teach with authority as He did. They informed, educated, and enlightened people, but they didn’t always expect the people to respond and obey. Jesus did. He warned us not to give lip-service to God’s Word and nullify the commandments (Mt 15:3-8). Jesus said that if we didn’t hear His words and put them into practice, our lives would collapse (Mt 7:26-27). He clearly expected us to be doers of the Word (Jas 1:22). He taught with authority, and He’s the same today (Heb 13:8).

When Jesus does anything, He does it as Lord, and the nature of lordship is to command and call for obedience. Look at the readings in the previous few pages of this book. Did you take Jesus at His Word? Did you accept Him as Lord? Did you respond to Jesus’ authority with obedience and submission? It matters not how much of the Bible we know, but how much of it we obey. It’s not those who say “Lord, Lord” but those who obey “Lord, Lord” that will enter God’s kingdom (Mt 7:21).

PRAYER: Lord, I submit my life and will to You.
PROMISE: “The Lord has heard you, God has answered you.” –Gn 16:11
PRAISE: St. Cyril of Alexandria played a key leadership role in the Council of Ephesus (431 A.D.). The Council battled against the Nestorian heresy and declared Mary to be Theotokos (Mother of God).