When someone asks me a question in a demanding manner, my first thought is, Who are you to ask in such a way? Answering a demand could, in some contexts, be an acknowledgement of a persons authority. Do they actually have the authority to demand in the first place? Maybe so, maybe no... Jesus recognized this and His response is a model for us. In some cases, the best answer is no answer. How to know? Begin by praying for wisdom and discernment. ______________________________________________________ They demanded, By whose authority did you drive out the merchants from the Temple? Who gave you such authority? Let me ask you a question first, he replied. Did Johns baptism come from heaven, or was it merely human? They talked it over among themselves. If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didnt believe him. But if we say it was merely human, the people will stone us, because they are convinced he was a prophet. Finally they replied, We dont know. And Jesus responded, Then I wont answer your question either. (Luke 20:2-8 NLT) Prayer: LORD, when someone pressures me to justify my relationship with You or tries to hold me accountable to their conception of it, help me remember that the best response may be no response. Help me recognize true authority, reject the false, and understand which questions I should answer and which I should not. I am accountable to You first, all the time, in everything, above all others. Give me wisdom and discernment to respond to others appropriately. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:46:58 +0000
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