Reacting to Authority

Act beyond yourself each day.

Recently I experienced significant change.  I was oriented to a goal.  I am talking about my work as an English teacher to 9 eager students from the greater Boston area.  Friday night was my first true experience as a formal teacher.  All my students are older than me.....There is a good place to start.

It is common for people my age to quote Paul's first epistle to Timothy "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young..." (1 Tim. 4:12).  I pray we do not stop there.  The whole verse is important, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."  It is not in my power to stop one from looking down on me in regards to my stature, but I can strive to live as an example.  

In class I work on my own diction and pronunciation of the readings.  I make sure I smile.  I also try and set a  serious tone when necessary.  All in all I have been given the task of teaching English to this class and I have the most experience with the language.  For the two hours of class I have a goal and the authority to fulfill this goal.  Strange feeling but one I can work with.  

This new feeling has given a new angle to look at my call to ministry.  Under no merit of my own will I receive authority.  I have known this, but I never truly understood it.  Now I realize that just because the authority is not granted to me by my own merits does not mean that there is no authority at all.  Timothy was given authority though he was young.  Paul trusted Timothy and left him instructions.  Most of all Paul told Timothy to keep doing what he had already been doing which was setting an example for believers in speech, life, love, faith, and purity.  The most vital insight I have gained from all of this is that it is not my work that achieves my goal.  Looking at the charge to Timothy I realize the example he or I set is not the goal, but rather the encouragement this work provides to other brothers and sisters is.  That encouragement received by others is not in my control.  I cannot say to someone be encouraged look at what I do.  Though at times I might come off this way to people and for that I am sorry.  No, it is not me, but the Holy Spirit.  I can control the way people will react to me.  I can only control my reaction to the charge given to me to share the good news.  For now I do that with the small authority granted me.  I am thankful to serve.

Everything has its costs and this I have discovered too.  A story for another time though.

Blessings!