DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FRIDAY - WHY CALL ME LORD? Conclusion.

There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express. - Billy Sunday.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:46-49.

Yesterday in Part 3, we looked at the foolish man who built his house upon the sand, by ignoring the teachings of Jesus, and we realised that obedience is the key, between the wise and foolish people! If we are to call Jesus Lord, then we must remember, that He has all power and authority over us! Today we conclude our series and study why...

WE NEED TO BUILD OUR HOUSE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

If we build on the Lord, we'll never have to answer this question... "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?” Can you imagine standing before Jesus on judgment day, and hearing this? On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' - Mat 7:22-23.

It is Christians only who are in view here. All that we have hidden shall be revealed. The things we have done in the body will come back to us, whether good or bad. Every pious thought, and every thought of sin; every secret prayer, and every secret curse; every unknown deed of charity, and every hidden deed of selfishness; we will see them all again, and though we have not remembered them for years, and perhaps have forgotten them altogether, we shall have to acknowledge that they are our own. Is not that a solemn thing to stand at the end of life? - James Denney, 1856-1917.

It's good to call Him "Lord" We've read before, that God has exalted His name, and expects us to call him Lord. (Phil 2:9-11). But not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom... "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. - Matt. 7:21.

We take the name of the Lord in vain, if we claim his name, but don't do the things he says. It’s not enough to ‘call’ Him Lord. We must ‘make’ Him Lord! We must submit, and we must do the will of His father, which is in heaven.

Remember when they crucified Jesus? They gave him a crown and sceptre, and put a purple robe on him. They bowed and said, "Hail, King of the Jews." I believe that was no more a mockery, than those today, that call him "Lord" and don't do the things he says. If we're in the Lord, submit to his power and authority.

Let’s build our house on the solid foundation of hearing and doing, and Jesus will say to us... '…Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' - Mat 25:23.

The following words are from an old engraving on a cathedral in Labeck, Germany:
Thus speaketh Christ our Lord to us:
You call Me master and obey Me not.
You call Me light and see Me not.
You call Me the Way and walk Me not.
You call Me life and live Me not.
You call Me wise and follow Me not.
You call Me fair and love Me not.
You call Me rich and ask Me not.
You call Me eternal and seek Me not.
If I condemn thee, blame Me not. –

If Jesus is not the Lord of your life, why don’t you make that decision today? Believe the message of the Kingdom and that Jesus is the Christ, the Lord of Lords. Come to him, and listen to his teachings. Repent of your sin and turn from your sinful ways and attitudes. Make Jesus Christ your Lord in every sense of the word.

Loving Father, Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make Jesus Lord of all my life, family, time, finances, and employment. Help me to put into action what I believe and say, that my family, friends, neighbours, workmate and classmates alike, may know, that Jesus Christ is my Lord, and Lord of all! In His wonderful name I pray, Amen!

GBYAY