Title
Matthew 11:11 MSG
(11) “Let me tell you what’s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him.
Several years ago, while travelling with a ministry, I was presented with an opportunity to become involved in a company dealing with insurance and securities. Although I had very little knowledge or experience in these areas, I took the necessary courses to become officially licensed to sell them. For the normal entry level person there was a position that allowed for producing sales and generating some income, but to really make the higher commissions with the greater incentives you needed to get to the position of ‘vice-president’. This was something that usually took an extended period of time as the position was supposed to be earned through hard work and proven ability to help build the company. For some reason, though, in an effort to hopefully propel me in my new business adventure, the company leadership chose to bestow the position of ‘vice-president’ upon me before I had even made a single sale. While given something of great significance and potential, I didn’t fully appreciate the value that had been placed in my lap. It would really have taken an extended time of growing into my title before I could have actually lived, walked and acted like a vice-president. I had been instantly elevated, with an importance that I couldn’t fully appreciate until I put to practice the power and influence that was freely mine. It wasn’t enough to just have the title or position, I would have to develop the ability to utilize the full potential it carried or it would be of little significance or value to my life.
According to what Jesus was saying about us, no matter how low we might consider ourselves to be, in the kingdom we’ve been given a title and position that exceeds even that of the great John the Baptist. In Christ we’ve been made to be ‘vice-president’ before we’ve won a single soul or cast out a single devil. From the moment we entered the kingdom through faith in Him, our position has been secured. Now, we’re just in great need of realizing the full potential of this position. Although we’ve been given the complete power and authority of the name of Jesus, there will be no success and no living in the fullness of this identity until it is put to use and applied to every area of life.
For some reason there is this natural tendency to see people on levels that are attained through performance and achievement. In Christ, however, there has been a reversal of this process. Though some have developed a greater understanding of what it means to be in Christ and are operating more fully in their authority, their position is no higher than the one who has just committed to a life of faith in Christ. The free gift of life in Him comes with all that is needed for the best, the brightest and greatest potential. No amount of achievement or failure for that matter will adjust this position either up or down. The greatest scholar and the lowest elementary student share the same title and the same rights and privileges. Unrestricted in access to the full resources of heaven by any limitations of title or position, the only restraint is that of understanding, perception and experience. To just know that this is so will make it possible to begin seeing the reality of identity and then experience the joys and fulfillment of what it really means to be an executive in the company.
More than just unproductive titles holders, may there today be a moving towards the life that place in Him provides and may there be an enjoyment of the blessings that are inevitable for the one that takes their place at His side.
Revelation 5:10 KJV
(10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.