POA

Published by christi on February 23, 2023

She was old, though not as old as she seemed. The years of stress and cigarettes had stripped her of beauty. Macular degeneration had robber her of most of her sight, small strokes were diminishing her ability to remember, and what she did “remember” became suspect, and cancer was already in her bones. With no family that we knew of, she needed someone to be her POA – power of attorney:  a person trusted with the right and authority to speak and act on her behalf; a person trusted to maintain her reputation and resources; access to her bank accounts, doctor visits and end-of-life decisions.

These are not decisions to be undertaken lightly, and her love for me was demonstrated in her choice of me as her POA.

Jesus operated here on the planet as His Father’s POA.

“The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does His works.”  (John 14:10)

So much does the Father love and trust the Son that He grants Him ALL authority. (See Matthew 28:18)

Jesus’ love and trust in His followers prompts Him to grant a similar thing:  “whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do”  to the extent of this much misunderstood promise: “whatever you ask in My Name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” 

The operative phrase here is “in My Name.” This is power of attorney language. It is not so much a blank check as it is a book full of checks with the deep understanding that how and where those checks are written builds up or tears down Jesus/the Father’s reputation, that is, how He is known in the world.

We are entrusted with the authority and responsibility of making God truly known in the world. Do you know Him well enough to discern whose interests are being represented?

He trusts you enough to make His resources and wisdom available to you!                                   Do you trust Him enough to receive His counsel and act on His behalf?

He has commissioned you to be His hands and feet in the world.                                                     Do you believe Him enough to go where He is working and join in?

Our participation in this is how the Father is made known as glorious!                                            How amazing that we are so loved and trusted!

No wonder I am

Following Jesus every day in the everyday,

Christi