Fri.’s Devo - Our Authority

Read: Lamentations 4:1-5:22; Hebrews 2:1-18; Psalm 103:1-22; Proverbs 26:23 The prophet laments the lack of respect for their wealth. The children are their greatest wealth - he compared them to gold. They were begging in the streets with no one to feed or take care of them. Everyone was starving and had turned barbaric. Murder was rampant as some had turned to canabalism to survive. *** The people had also lost respect for their priests and leaders. They had been told their allies would come to their rescue, but no one came. They had put their hope in their king, but he didn’t come through either. Jerusalem’s punishment would one day end, and Edom’s would begin. Jerusalem would be left empty, but God would restore his people back to him. His kingdom endures forever and can not be torn down. God’s reign continues from generation to generation. *** In Hebrews, God speaks about the angels a lot. They were the ones who announced Jesus birth, and yet some of them violated God’s laws and came to earth to marry women. They were punished and are still locked up in prison. Angels are a little higher than man, but God chose man to have authority over the earth. *** Jesus came to earth to show us how a man can use his authority to bring salvation. He died to break the power of death and set us free. Now we no longer fear death. His suffering and testing was an example to help us through our suffering and tests. Lord, thank you for coming to earth to be our example of how we should live and what our authority should look like. May we step out in faith and use this authority to tear down strongholds and build up your kingdom here on earth.