Luke 20:1-2 (NASB) And it came about on one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, that the chief priests and the elders confronted Him, and they spoke, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who was the one who gave You this authority.”
The men asking this question were not really wanting to know the truth. They merely wanted to discredit Jesus and justify themselves for disregarding His teaching. Isn’t that what each of us does any time we choose to sin? The moment we willfully embark on a sinful path we are in a sense saying, “God does not rule my life right now. I am not fearful of Him. I will disregard His authority and ignore what He has proclaimed to be true. I will decide what is best now rather than relying on the Lord. I will pretend that He is Sovereign over everything and everyone in the entire universe except for little old me. This time I have decided that it is my turn to take charge.” Regrettably, we do not listen to what we are truly saying during such moments because we are not really wanting to know the truth.
I remember a day when I had my mother so exasperated that she addressed me with my full first and middle name, an address which only came as a result of supreme annoyance, “___ ___ , you would argue with God!” I foolishly responded, “I would if He was wrong and I was right.” I did argue with Him on many an occasion during my teens and early twenties. Truth be told, I never even bothered to hear Him out back then. I simply excelled at losing a one-sided debate.
I do not deliberately argue with Him these days, at least not very often. Now when I sin, it is usually because I neglect to pay close attention rather than vehemently refusing to submit to God’s authority. Sometimes it is because I minimize the sin in my thinking. What brings this attitude about? Failure to
totally respect God’s right to consistently reign in my life enough to remain alert to His instructions. Taking to heart the written Word of God and what He truly speaks individually into our lives will help us to submit to His Sovereign rule. Rely on the Holy Spirit. He is our most accurate ‘reign gauge’. Doing so really makes a difference in my life and will in yours too.
Who truly reigns in my heart during calm or storms that rage?
Who holds my heart and knows it well during every lifetime stage?
God sees how deep I really am…He can tell how dry.
He knows the motives of my heart far greater than I.
My most accurate reign gage is not one I can see.
The precise measure of my heart, God reveals to me.