We all need to learn to respect authority.
My twin brothers went to school for their first day having a teacher who had lived with us for the previous year. The twins received the cane on their first day as they were cheeky and too familiar with Mr Houston. They had to learn that Mr Houston had authority as a teacher in the school. It was a tough lesson but they survived. Jesus shows us just how much His authority was recognized by others including unclean spirits.
‘And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.‘ Mark 1:21-28, ESV.
Jesus had an authority about Him that was recognized by the evil spirits. As we go about our daily interaction with people we can rely on that same authority as the very presence of our powerful God. The closer we walk with Jesus the more likely we will have the wisdom required to handle being a person who is connected to the living God. As we represent Jesus, please rely on His Holy Spirit but it is also good to be humble and to remember the verse in Mark 10.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45.