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Scripture
Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority….Matthew 10:1

Observation
Because ministry happens in the public eye there is pressure on pastors to perform and to conform to expectations. We may excel in the eyes of others, but in the process we just might forget who we really are. The further we move from our real self the less useful we are to the Lord.

Jesus gave the first ministry to leaders as a gift. The word Matthew chose to describe this authority is deliberate. He had two words to choose from. One means power, the other word, exousia, means the right to use the power. Exousia is like the policeman who can stop a speeding vehicle simply by standing in the middle of a road in uniform and lifting his arm. The officer does not have to prove anything, for he has the right to use power.

When Jesus gives us a ministry he frees us from living up to expectations and gives is the comfort of being ourselves. Authority comes by giving not by grabbing. Jesus gave it. The disciples did not work for it. They had nothing to prove. They did not have to wind up another miracle show to get attention. To become people of authority, the disciples had only to bring themselves, their real selves, to Jesus. That was it. That was enough.

Application
This authority of ministry works best when we are absolutely ourselves. The closer we come to the core of who God has designed us to be, the better the power of Christ can work through us.

Since ministry is a gift, the authority to do it is a given. There is nothing to prove or to achieve. We begin as gifted disciples. We don’t have to remember how to perform or look for cues to remember our lines. Instead we are to be ourselves and in that the authority of Jesus is seen.

Because I have authority, I’m free to be just who I am. Just entering the room, just speaking, just praying, just leading, just whatever is enough. I have been with Jesus and people will sense the overflow.

To produce grace I need to minister out of grace. When I try to prove myself, grace stops and works begin. Soon everyone is performing. Grace flows only when I accept that I cannot grab the right to minister, instead authority is a given thing.

Prayer
Lord, you know who I am, but it seems to take us humans much longer to realize that. Many don’t discover until old age who they are and who they are not. I’d like to make that realization earlier in life if I could. Help me to be so comfortable with who I am and who I am not that I am useful to you. I accept authority you grant as a gift and repent of keeping up appearances to earn it. Help me to walk relaxed with myself as you are at ease with me. It is mind boggling to think that you would invest ability into such wobbly people as we are. Keep that sense of awe fresh in me today. Amen.