Moving on in Peace

Here comes September, ready or not.

I have enjoyed my time in Illinois and it hardly seems possible that I've been here for a month. It has been a little bit 'less hot' ,weather wise, for which we are grateful. Today there was a 'smattering' of rain, but not a lot.

My brother and I got to talking about what 'authority' means. It is sometimes easier to define what a word is not rather than what it really means in its original and genuine meaning. This is one of those words that we find easier to understand the counterfeit, probably because we know a whole lot more about it. Yet, a proper definition can really help enable us to have God's kind of peace in our lives and hearts. Here is my present perception of 'authority'.

Counterfeit or false authority includes the using of 'force' to control others to do what you want done. This form of authority is rooted in a hierachy type of organization. There are many facets of this kind of authority, but overall it is based on some form of 'independence' by the one attempting to use it.

Genuine or true authority comes from God and is based on a proper understanding of our relationship to our heavenly Father - we are His children - based on true love. Since this form of authority is based on the understanding that we are the children of the God who loves us, then we 'keep', or 'do', or 'abide' in His will for us.

Jesus gave his disciples 'authority' over evil spirits. But He went on to say that they were not to 'rejoice' in that authority but rather rejoice that their names were written in the book of life.

When we even begin to think that 'we' have authority over another spirit, have we not basically fallen into Satan's form of authority?

So long as we rejoice that we belong to God's family of love then the evil spirits cannot use their form of control over us and we remain in God's form of government.

Satan may think he has gained advantage by being able to hurt the body, but Jesus reminds us that we are not to be afraid of that. What we do need to guard against is coming under the control of another by loosing our connection with our heavenly family.

That is also why Jesus could say to His family: 'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'

Why do we need have no fear? We can remember who we are in the Father - His beloved child.

Until we meet again, May God's peace be in your heart because He consider's you His family.

Bringer of Peace