Abuse of Authority

Verse:

Woe to those who device iniquity, and work out evils on their beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. 

Therefore you will have no one to determine boundaries by lot in the congregation of the Lord.

(Micah 2:1, 5)

Message of the day:

There are always difficult people around us. It is natural for a person in authority who deals with so many people to feel disturbed at the end of the day. About the subordinate who did not complete the project on time, the assistant who did not prepare the report properly, the associate who did not finish his part of the job and so on. As we retire to our beds, we might feel tensed and filled with so many emotions towards that person who did not perform and/or live up to the mark of our expectations.

We might start thinking about ways to deal with that person. We take certain decisions. At the end of it we might say to ourselves and/or the person “nothing personal”. We do need to take actions or corrective measures against a person who underperforms or is at fault. But what motivates our decisions? We took that decision because we were hurt or we were disturbed or his/her actions affected our reputation, our ego? Or because we felt insecure? Did we try talking to that person and give him/her a chance to explain him/herself?

The authority that we posses is that which we have received from God, says the Bible. And though we are in certain ways accountable to those above us, in all ways we are accountable to God, because the authority is ultimately from Him and He is the one who can see deep into our hearts & minds. Authority without accountability leads to atrocity.

Let us not misuse the authority that we posses. This is not only about the power or position that we hold at our work places, but also in our families and with our friends. In some way or the other we have authority and influence over the life of so many people in and around us. Let us be careful in our decisions. Let not our decisions destroy someone, but only develop them!

There is also a consequence of abuse of authority according to the Bible. We will be left alone, having no one to stand by us & with us to empathize. What a terrible thing it would be to have no one in our life?

Prayer:

Lord, I thank you for the position and the power that you have given me. Help me never to misuse it for my own sake. But help me to use it to build people. Forgive all my wrong decisions that I took in the past and I pray that in Your own Sovereign way repair those that have affected the lives of others. I commit myself to be accountable to You for the authority that I have received. In Jesus name, Amen.

Resolutions & Decisions

Verse:

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself……. (Daniel 1:8 NIV)

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…….. (Daniel 1:8 KJV)

Message of the day:

Pollution has become a global concern.  Global warming has been attributed as one of the major factors to pollution. Many health hazards are caused by pollution. So our vehicles are checked for emissions that pollute the atmosphere. We are careful to avoid getting in contact with anything that might cause us physical danger and health hazards. It is also the same with the food that we eat and the fluids that we drink. We check for the quality of the food before we buy, because we don’t want to purchase & consume adulterated stuff. But are we careful enough to check that which pollutes our soul?

Profane entertainment, wrong relationships, immoral speech, abusive substances & drinks pollute us from outside. “From within, out of our hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside and defile you.” (Mark 1:21, 22).

But very often it becomes difficult to say no to many of the above, because either we are heavily under its influence or it gives pleasure & satisfaction. It’s when we need to resolve it. This might require taking time alone and writing down all that is defiling us and resolving that with God’s help we are not going to continue doing that. When we ask God’s help, He sets us free from all that defiles us and gives us abundant & glorious life in Christ, that which He has made freely available to us by the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins.

Prayer:

There are so many things, I understand, that defiles me. I resolve now not to defile myself with all this. Jesus, set me free and give me the strength to stand firm in my decision. In Jesus name, Amen.