November 26

Power Belongs to God

So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.” — John 19:10-11 BSB

Authority is one of the entrusted gifts from God. People often boast about their power, forgetting that it is delegated power they hold and that they must use it for God’s purposes. Every form of authority, whether held by parents, teachers, civil leaders, or anyone else, comes from God, the source of all power, and those who wield it will one day give an account to Him. No one’s power belongs solely to themselves to use as they please; it is a stewardship.

People often seek positions of power, whether in local or national government, but they do not always recognize the weight of responsibility that comes with such authority. Power belongs to God and must be used in service to Him, or its misuse will bring severe consequences. This is true from the smallest influence we hold to the highest offices of leadership. From a child’s influence on the playground to the president’s authority over a nation, “Thou couldest have no power ... except it were given thee from above.”

Yet there is great comfort in these words: “Thou couldest have no power at all against me.” Christ, during His earthly life, was under the protection of His Father, and no one could harm Him without Divine permission. This same truth applies to all God’s children. We are kept under His care, and no one can touch a believer unless God allows it. This means that in all the world’s dangers and threats, we are perfectly safe while we place our trust in our Heavenly Father’s protection.