When Jesus called his Twelve men in Luke 6, he named them apostles. They would be his official representatives, sent out with his authority. Their initial calling looked toward maturity. Eventually, they would be ready for Jesus to grant them more authority and send them out. But there must be time between their calling and when Jesus sends them out with his authority to deliver people from demons and disease in Luke 9. This is where Jesus was taking them, but before he could entrust them with this authority, they had to be with Jesus for a while to learn from him by word and example what it means to have and use authority in his kingdom. The disciples stay in the “school of Jesus” for a while. Then, when Jesus deems them ready, we see Jesus granting them the authority he always intended to give them.
While our calling might not seem so dramatic as theirs, our calling has the same fundamental trajectory: maturity that will be able to handle greater authority. At our baptism, Jesus calls us into a special relationship with himself. We belong to him and he to us. Like the disciples, we are called to be with him to learn from him. Also, like the disciples, we are vested with a certain amount of authority in our calling. When Jesus grants his authority to his disciples, he is “clothing” or “vesting” them in his own authority. When we are baptized, Paul says that we “put on Christ” (Gal 3.27). We are vested with Christ’s name, and with that name, a certain amount of authority. While our authority and responsibility grow throughout the years, every Christian has this basic authority. Each Christian bears the name of Christ and has the responsibility to use that authority as he did: to serve others.
With this authority comes responsibility and accountability. Each one of us will give an account to our Judge, King Jesus, as to how we used the authority given to us. We are to be careful, then, in how we carry ourselves before the world. When the world looks at us, they are seeing Jesus’ royal robes on us. Whatever we do reflects upon him.
While baptism clothes every Christian with similar authority, each of us grows up in our calling in unique ways. Jesus gives certain responsibilities into the hands of one that he doesn’t give into the hands of others. Some are given this gift, others are given that gift. Some are called to be unmarried. Others are called to be married. Some are called to be parents of biological children. Others are called to adopt or not have any children at all. Some are called to be electricians. Others are called to be plumbers. Some are called to go around the world to proclaim the gospel. Others are called to work quietly at home. Some are called to suffer physically. Others are called to be healthy.
Whatever Jesus in his providence has put into our hands at this particular time in history is where he expects us to use his authority. He has put this in your hands because he believes you’re ready for it. There are no mistakes. There is nothing random. Our God is a personal God who is directing all things in his wisdom. So, whatever you have at this moment has been placed in your hands by Jesus in order to be fruitful and multiply in his kingdom work.
Like the Twelve, you are a steward of his authority, not the master. As a steward, you are called to be faithful. That’s it. The disciples couldn’t control the response that they would receive from the cities in which they preached. Jesus prepared them for various responses but didn’t make them responsible for the responses.
You are responsible to stay faithful with what Jesus has given into your hand at this point in your life. Look at what Jesus did and said. How does the pattern of his life inform how you are to act with what he has given you right now? How does Jesus use his authority? How should you use his authority as an unmarried person, a husband, wife, employer, employee, sufferer, or a healthy person? Wherever he placed you and whatever he placed in your hand, be content with it and be faithful to your King in using his authority at that place. You will give an account.
