The Source of Moral Authority - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts.
Psalm 51:6 NKJV

The Source of Moral Authority
The evangelist Luke especially shows us the humanity of the Lord Jesus. He is presented there as the praying Man fourteen times—a testimony of His perfect dependence (see Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:16, 18, 28; 10:21; 11:1; 22:17, 32, 41–44; 23:34, 46; 24:30). In no other Gospel is it mentioned that He prayed that many times.

With our Lord there was no discrepancy between teaching and practice. He lived out what He taught, and He was exactly what He said to people (Jn. 8:25). He loved not only with words, but in deed and in truth (cf. 1 Jn. 3:18). His life is also the best example of what it means that man should always pray and not tire (Lk. 18:1).

Before preaching the Word of God in the synagogue in Nazareth, He first applied it to Himself in the desert when He was tempted by Satan. It is therefore no wonder that we read about Him preaching with authority and power—in contrast to the hypocritical scribes (see Mt. 7:28–29).

God wants to see reality and sincerity in our lives! He is looking for people who live out what they profess publicly or preach aloud. As the saying goes, “Your actions are screaming so loudly, I can’t hear what you are saying!” If our lives do not back up what we tell others, then our words or testimony will have neither power nor moral authority. For example, if we as Christians profess that we are pilgrims on earth because our true home is in heaven, and at the same time make ourselves as comfortable as possible down here, our testimony is not very credible.

-- Philip Svetlik

Should we to gain the world’s applause, or to escape its harmless frown,
Refuse to countenance Thy cause, and make Thy people’s lot our own,
What shame would fill us in that day, when Thou Thy glory wilt display!

-- T. Kelly