How do you respond to authority? - Laetitia van Schalkwyk

 

How do you respond?

Especially when it comes to authority.

How do you respond to authority?

We read in 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 TPT

“Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.”

Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:4-6 TPT

“But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace!”

When you are in Christ, you become a complete new species.

The same when it comes to your response to authority.

It always amazes me how everybody wants to be in leadership, in a management position, but the question is:

“What is your response to leadership; to authority?”

Because do you not know? According to the Bible, we must submit to authority.

I know, your response might be:

“Yes, Laetitia but you don’t know my circumstances. You don’t know my boss. You don’t know what I must deal with every single day.  I have a terrible boss.”

Here is my advice:

The moment you receive an order from someone in a leadership position, in any situation you might be, the way you respond matters. It really does.

Do not, and I repeat, do not respond from your soul. Wait. Take time to deal with your soul. First deal with the emotion. You deal with your emotions in your soul. Deal with it in private.

Please read my previous blog “Practice the Pause”.

https://laetitiagloryrealm.blogspot.com/2023/07/practice-pause-laetitia-van-schalkwyk.html

Colossians 4:6 TPT

“Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith”.

When you are in Christ, everything about you changes. You look differently, you walk differently, you act differently, you talk differently, your response to everything you receive is also different.

You represent heaven.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:2 TPT

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think.”

Romans 12:2 shows that we live out God’s will when we change our thoughts to God’s thoughts, rather than living like the world dictates.

The moment you renew your mind, change your thoughts, your response to things also changes.

Romans 13:1 NKJV

For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Romans 13:1 TPT

Every person must submit to and support the authorities over him. For there can be no authority in the universe except by God's appointment, which means that every authority that exists has been instituted by God.

Luke 6:38 NKJV

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 TPT says

“The measurement of your generosity becomes the measurement of your return.”

I honestly believe the same way our leaders, managers, every single one who is in leadership, who have authority over others, will have to give an account for what God placed under their authority, the same way we must give an account for how we respond to authority.

Your response to authority is a reflection of who you are and not on the authority as such.

Proverbs 15:1 NKJV

“A soft answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1 TPT

“Respond gently when you are confronted, and you'll defuse the rage of another. Responding with sharp, cutting words will only make it worse.”

I want to end this blog with a thought, something to meditate on, a quote by Ricky Nieuwenhuis

“We were never meant to live for heaven. We were meant to live from HEAVEN.”

Who or what are you representing? Are you representing the first Adam? Or the last Adam? Which is Christ. Are you a reflection of Christ, of heaven?

Only you can answer this question.

Until next time …

Shalom

Laetitia van Schalkwyk

Glory Realm Ministries